Can Delhi compete without Sehwag?

Match facts

Thursday, May 12, Chennai
Start time 2000 (14.30 GMT)

	James Hopes will take over from Virender Sehwag as Delhi Daredevils captain

Big Picture

Chennai Super Kings are the team to beat in the IPL, yet again. Mumbai Indians may have done the early running and may be top of the table, but they have also twice collapsed dramatically for totals of less than 100. Contrastingly, it has taken either the elements or a special performance to conspire against Chennai, who are one of only two teams to have posted totals in excess of 180 on three occasions. With the ball, they have done just about enough to choke off opponents, which is evident from the fact that they have bowled out their opposition only once this season.

As if seven losses weren't enough, Delhi Daredevils now have to compete without Virender Sehwag, architect of three of their four wins so far, who willmiss the rest of the IPL to undergo shoulder surgery. Delhi with Sehwag were average, Delhi without Sehwag will be poor, unless they can manage to step up considerably under new captain James Hopes. Chennai have been unbeaten so far at home this season, and will start as clear favourites on Thursday. A win will mean a play-off berth is more or less secure.

Form guide (most recent first)

Chennai: WLWWW (third in points table)
Delhi: LWLWL (eighth in points table)

Team talk

It is impossible to replace Sehwag, but someone will have to take his place in the XI. It could be young Unmukt Chand, who had two torrid outings at the start of the season. Roelof van der Merwe could also get a game, but that would mean Colin Ingram having to miss out after only one match, in which he faced two balls.

Chennai have grown stronger after the arrival of Dwayne Bravo but what Wriddhiman Saha's role was in the previous match is anybody's guess, considering that he didn't keep, and would have batted at No. 8. At least S Anirudha can bat higher up or Joginder Sharma can bowl.

In the spotlight

After starting this season with three half-centuries and a 46 in five matches, David Warner's form has tapered off sharply, with only 26 runs in his next five innings. He was even left out against Deccan Chargers, but in the absence of Sehwag, his position at the top of the order acquires added importance, if Delhi have to challenge Chennai.

That Doug Bollinger has a better economy rate than even R Ashwin, who is usually difficult to get away, shows how important the fast bowler has been for MS Dhoni. He has chugged in and hustled batsmen with pace, bounce, angle and variation, whether at the start of the innings or at the death. Thirteen wickets from just eight games have made Chennai even more reliant on him.

Prime numbers

• The highest total the in IPL is Chennai's 246 made in 2010; the highest this season is Delhi's 231
• Chennai have the best win-loss ratio in the IPL, 1.43

The chatter

"Irfan Pathan is a solid player and he will be given some more opportunities in the next three games."
Delhi coach Greg Shipperd backs his premier allrounder to come good

Day-night Tests next year a possibility

The ICC's Cricket Commitee wants pink balls used in Intercontinental Cup games and domestic competitions

Floodlit Test matches could become a reality within two years if another 12 months of trials in first-class cricket are successful. The ICC Cricket Committee, which held a two-day meeting at Lord's, recommended that the pink ball should be used in Intercontinental Cup matches and domestic competitions to ensure it can last 80 overs, but the committee is confident that day-night Tests are getting closer.

The trials over the past two years have shown there is little difference between pink and orange balls, and the former version will be the one taken forward. "If the reports coming back are that the ball keeps its condition and colour then I think we will be in a position this time next year to select a couple of venues and trail a day-night Test," Dave Richardson, the ICC general manager of cricket, said.

Now the committee, which makes recommendations to the ICC chief executive committee and board, wants countries to use the pink ball for at least one round of their domestic first-class tournament over the next year. That would mean it appearing in competitions such as the Sheffield Shield, County Championship and SuperSport series. So far, day-night matches of multiple days' duration have been staged in Pakistan and Australia along with two MCC champion county fixtures in Abu Dhabi.

"We've spent a lot of time over the last 24 months trying to develop a ball and to start with we didn't whether it should pink, orange, yellow or whatever," Richardson said. "Now we've crystallised that there's not much difference between the pink and orange balls and it was a question of finding a ball that could retain its colour throughout 50-80 overs.

"In the Abu Dhabi match it did, but the conditions were fairly benign, the outfield was a good one, there was no dew and the balls stood up well. We decided we needed further trailing in multi-day competitions. "

The one significant issue to overcome appears to be the impact of dew, which could impact the venues that are able to host floodlit Tests. It has often been seen in one-day internationals how a team bowling second second under the lights can be severely handicapped by a wet ball and it can make the toss too influential on the outcome. "We were worried by the dew factor," Clive Lloyd, the committee chairman, "if one side bowls first and other bowls at night it could be with a bar of soap."

Richardson added: "The venue still needs to have decent lights, somewhere like Lord's, Sydney or Abu Dhabi. You also need to play it at a venue, and time of year, where dew isn't going to come in a seven o'clock. You can have the best ball in the world but it would be unfair in those conditions."

The push behind floodlit Tests is largely to try to bring crowds back to the game in countries where they have severely dwindled, although Richardson believes all Full Members will be interested in trying the concept.

"I'm not as pessimistic as some when it comes to needing to save Test cricket," Richardson said. "I do think it affords the board the opportunity to play Test cricket when more people are available to watch and also commercially it can be more valuable to play at those times of the day; the prime TV viewing time in the evening."

The hope is floodlights will bring people through gates, but as always television isn't far from the equation.

ICC cricket committee calls for DRS in all Tests

The ICC's Cricket Commitee has called for DRS to be used in all Tests

The ICC's Cricket Committee unanimously recommended the use of the Decision Review System (DRS) in all Tests and also said it should be used in one-day internationals and Twenty20, but with just one failed review rather than two. It also encouraged cricket boards to use the pink ball in day-night first-class cricket to test its durability for the five-day game under lights and called for its trial in the Intercontinental Cup, involving Associate and Affiliate teams, later in the year.

The committee also proposed tweaks to enhance the ODI format, stricter penalties for over-rate offences and time wasting and even amending the law pertaining runners, suggesting they be done away with in international cricket, which an ICC spokesman confirmed to ESPNcricinfo was "under any circumstances".

These are, for the time being, just recommendations that will be tabled during the ICC's Chief Executives' Meeting in Hong Kong in June, where a decision will be taken on whether or not to ratify them.

The DRS system, a source of disagreement between several boards with its moments of controversy as well, was used for the entire duration of the 2011 World Cup where the committee agreed its application had been "successful". However, it still isn't used in all Test series with India continuing to argue against the system.

"The committee's recommendation that the DRS should be used in all formats of the game confirms two key conclusions that came from our discussions," Clive Lloyd, the committee's chairman, said. It shows the group's confidence in the system and it also highlights the committee's view that it does aid the umpires in making correct decisions."

David Richardson, the ICC's general manager of cricket, added that there was now even greater certainty over the accuracy of ball-tracking technology. "The level of believability in ball-tracking systems has improved," he said. "We are hoping the member boards, and we'll be frank the Indian cricket board, will follow suit and take cogniscance of that. We need consistency. It confuses the players and viewers if one series has DRS and the other not. Let us use it in every series possible."

Funding has been a major issue with the DRS with host boards and broadcasters left to pay bills but Richardson said that could change if it was used in all Tests. "I think if we get to a stage where all Full Members are happy to adopt the system for all Test series there would be the increased possibility that ICC could help fund the technology."

He added that the reduction to one failed review in ODIs and T20s would eliminate the 'hunch' that captains often use if they have spare reviews. If it proved successful Richardson said it could be considered for Test cricket, although the length of many innings means it's likely the system will remain at two failed requests.

The pink ball was trialled in Pakistan's first-class season earlier in the year, a practice the committee said should be embraced by other boards in at least one round of their respective four-day tournaments to go alongside the work done by MCC who have staged two matches in Abu Dhabi.

"The ICC remains determined to explore the possibility of day-night Test cricket but at the same time we have to ensure the integrity of that format is also protected," Richardson said. "The further trials proposed by the committee are a reflection of the fact we want to make sure that the pink ball is sufficiently durable to stand up to the rigours of first-class cricket."

There were a series of proposals made to make ODI cricket more appealing although the committee was "delighted" at the recent World Cup. They have suggested two balls be used in an innings, one from each end, as opposed to the current one which is changed at 34 overs for one of similar condition.

It also proposed that teams take the batting and bowling Powerplay between overs 16-40, and not after the 10th over, or following the 40th, as is usually the practice now to create more interest in the middle overs. Further to those, the committee called for experiments with newer ideas in domestic cricket, including removing restrictions for the maximum number of overs for a bowler, no compulsory close-catchers, number of bouncers allowed per over increased from one to two and a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circles during the non-Powerplay overs.

Given the concern with poor over-rates, the committee proposed a captain in international cricket be suspended for one game if found guilty of two minor over-rate offences in the same format in a 12-month period, a harsher penalty than the one that currently exists where a captain is allowed three warnings.

Apart from doing away with runners, the committee, in a proposal that would prevent non-strikers from backing up too far, said bowlers be allowed to run them out provided they haven't completed their delivery swing. It also recommended an end to the practice of batsmen changing their direction while running between the wickets to obstruct the bowler or fielder's view while attempting a run-out which is often seen in one-day internationals.

Committee members Clive Lloyd, Sharad Pawar, Haroon Lorgat, Ian Bishop, Mark Taylor, Kumar Sangakkara, Tim May, Gary Kirsten, Clare Connor, Justin Vaughan, Trent Johnston, Ravi Shastri, Steve Davis, Ranjan Madugalle, David Kendix

Powerful Bangalore outclass Rajasthan

For the second successive match, Rajasthan Royals played on a true surface that did not suit them, and yet again, they were outclassed by a side that was clearly superior in all departments. Their batsmen, used to modest chases on sluggish tracks, were found wanting against a varied Royal Challengers Bangalore attack led by the impressive S Aravind. Their thin bowling resources proved to be expectedly insufficient against the might of Chris Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Virat Kohli. Their fielders dropped whatever chances they had of even hoping to scratch at the surface of a comeback.

The nine-wicket thumping widened the gap between Rajasthan and the top four teams, took Bangalore to within a win of making the play-offs, and left the home side needing a miracle.

The story of the match was encapsulated in the approach of each side's openers. Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson motored to 73 in 57 deliveries before falling in the space of three deliveries to Aravind. Dilshan and Gayle flew to 68 off 40 and it took a sharp take on the deep midwicket boundary by Ross Taylor to prolong the game.

The assault by Dilshan and Gayle left the Jaipur crowd so stunned that noise was conspicuous by its absence for the remainder of the chase. Even Gayle seemed to be lulled into periods of relative inactivity, before enough deliveries found the middle of his bat in another big innings that took him to within 27 runs of claiming the orange cap from Virender Sehwag.

Bangalore had already galloped to 38 when Shane Warne dropped Gayle at mid-off, and that was as close as Rajasthan came to making a breakthrough. The first four overs all yielded 10 runs or more, Dilshan and Gayle taking turns to dismantle an attack that had already been sold short by its misfiring batsmen.

Setting a stiff target was Rajasthan's only hope on a flat pitch with a short boundary, but Aravind continued his impressive performance in this IPL, coming back from an expensive beginning with three crucial wickets that foiled the home side's plans of a late charge after a solid, if unspectacular, start.

Match Meter RRRCB Dravid and Watson solid at the top:Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson put on 73 in an opening stand that does not push Bangalore but provides a base for a late flourish RCB Aravind's double strike: S Aravind removes the openers within three deliveries in the tenth over to stun Rajasthan RCB Rajasthan plod to 146: The middle order fails to get going and Rajasthan stutter to a below-par total on a true wicket RCB Gayle and Dilshan, again: Chris Gayle and Tillakaratne Dilshan smash 68 off 40 balls as Rajasthan's weak bowling crumbles. Gayle and stand-in captain Virat Kohli complete the formalities by the 17th over  Advantage Honours even

Dravid and Watson had put on 73 when Aravind dismissed both in three deliveries in the 10th over. He then came back to remove Johan Botha in the 17th over as Rajasthan lost whatever little steam they had managed to build up.

Rajasthan look much better when they are chasing a modest total on a tough pitch than when they are trying to set a big target on a batting surface. The way Dravid and Watson batted showed just why that is true. On a pitch that could not have been more different from the slow tracks that Jaipur has seen, crisp shots mostly found the fielders.

Dravid hit six boundaries and Watson muscled a couple of sixes but there was always the feeling that they could have gone harder, considering the powerful batting line-up they were up against. Despite being in control throughout, Dravid played out 13 dot balls; Watson outdid him with 17.

Watson tried to target Aravind, a mis-hit just beat deep midwicket but the next ball was smacked over the sightscreen. It was in Aravind's third over that Bangalore wrested control. Watson went hard at a full delivery but only found AB de Villiers - Arun Karthik had replaced him behind the stumps today - on the wide long-off boundary. Two deliveries later, Dravid fell to another soft dismissal, hitting one straight back to Aravind.

Ajinkya Rahane carried on from his half-century in the previous game, but Johan Botha took off after reverse-sweeping to point and Rahane had to sacrifice his wicket with a needless run-out. Botha could not do much to make up for his error as Aravind found the outside edge with one that moved away for Arun Karthik to take the chance.

At 124 for 4 with three overs to go, Rajasthan needed some frenetic hitting from Ross Taylor and Ashok Menaria, but they fell in successive overs.

Against Gayle and Dilshan, 146 was not only inadequate, it set up what became a no-a contest despite Shane Warne trying his best with dipping legbreaks and flat sliders in his last IPL match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Gayle's extraordinary display, and other numbers

Since his entry into this year's IPL, Chris Gayle has had a tremendous impact on Bangalore's fortunes. They have won all five matches that he has played, and in those five games, he scored 328 runs at an average of 82 and strike-rate of 205.00. In contrast, he scored 292 runs in nine innings in the last season and just 171 in seven innings in IPL 2009. In a week dominated by Gayle's hitting, Virender Sehwag also played an outstanding knock against Deccan and led Delhi's successful chase of 175 after they were 25 for 3 at one stage. A look at some of the key numbers from the IPL so far.

	Chris Gayle: 26 sixes in just five innings in IPL 2011

*All stats are updated till the end of the 51st match, between Pune and Punjab, on May 8.

56 - The number of boundary runs per innings that Gayle has scored in IPL 2011. Shaun Marsh is second (33.6) and Sehwag is third (31.2). (minimum qualification: 150 runs scored in boundaries)

66 - The most runs scored in the first three overs of an innings in the IPL, by Bangalore against Kochi. Punjab are second, with 52 runs in their first three overs against Rajasthan.

5 - The number of centuries scored in IPL 2011, with 23 matches to go. In comparison, six centuries were scored in IPL 2008 and four in IPL 2010. Only two centuries were scored in IPL 2009.

275 - Gayle's strike-rate in his innings of 44 against Kochi, the highest for an innings of over 40 in IPL 2011 and the fourth-highest overall. Kieron Pollard's strike-rate of 346.15 in his 45 off 13 balls in IPL 2010 is the highest for a 40-plus score.

26 - The most sixes by a batsman in IPL 2011. Gayle holds the record, and is followed by Sehwag (18) and Paul Valthaty (14). Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for the most sixes in a single IPL season with 31 in 14 innings. Gayle's 26 sixes in IPL 2011 have come in just five innings.

4 - The number of bowlers who have conceded ten runs or fewer in a four-over spell in IPL 2011 so far. Rahul Sharma picked up 2 for 7 in his four overs and is the only spinner - the others are Brett Lee, Sreesanth and Lasith Malinga. Lee is the only bowler to achieve the feat twice across the four seasons.

41 - The number of deliveries remaining after Bangalore's nine-wicket win over Kochi, and Pune's seven-wicket win over Punjab - it's the most after a 100-plus target has been chased in IPL 2011. The record in all IPL matches is 48, when Deccan chased Mumbai's score of 154 in 2008 with eight overs to spare.

16.6 - The number of extras per match in IPL 2011, the lowest among all seasons. The highest was in 2008 - 19.4.

4.66 - The difference in Bangalore's run-rate in the first six overs this year after Gayle's entry (10.20) and before (5.54). Their average has also gone up from 13.30 to 102.00.

28 - The most catches taken by a fielder, by Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma. Jacques Kallis is next, with 23 catches. Sehwag has taken the most catches in IPL 2011 (9) followed by S Anirudha and Kallis (8).

37 - The most runs scored in an over across all seasons of the IPL, by Bangalore against Kochi on May 8, 2011. Kolkata are second, with 33 runs off one over against Punjab in 2010.

29.92 - The runs per wicket in Bangalore, the highest among all venues. Hyderabad and Mohali are next, with an average of 28.43 and 27.48 runs per wicket.

1.27 - The win-loss ratio of chasing teams in IPL 2011, the second-highest across all seasons. The ratio is highest for IPL 2008 (1.63) and lowest for IPL 2010 (0.90).

32.60 - The average balls per innings faced by Marsh, the highest among all batsmen who have faced at least 750 balls across the four seasons of the IPL. Tendulkar is next, with a corresponding figure of 28.2.

54.70 - Michael Hussey's average in the IPL (all seasons), which is the highest among batsmen with at least 500 runs. Marsh is next, with an average of 52.20.

7 - The number of bowlers with 50 or more wickets in the IPL. RP Singh leads the list with 58 wickets in 53 innings. Lasith Malinga is second, with 57 wickets in 36 innings.

50 - The number of fifty-plus scores for Chennai, the highest among all teams. Delhi are next with 46 fifty-plus scores.

94- The number of runs in fours and sixes scored by Gayle for Bangalore against Punjab. This is the highest runs in boundaries in an innings in IPL 2011 followed by Valthaty and Sehwag (88). The record is 118, by Brendon McCullum, for Kolkata versus Bangalore in IPL 2008.

6- The number of players to score over 400 runs and pick up 25 or more wickets in the IPL. Among these players, Kallis has scored the most runs (1473) while Irfan Pathan has the most wickets (54).

14- The most fifty-plus stands for a team in IPL 2011. Chennai hold the record, while Mumbai are next with 11. Across all seasons, Chennai are by far on top with 62 fifty-plus stands, followed by Rajasthan with 48.

IPL- Where talent meets opportunity

The Orange Cap. The Purple Cap. The Dugout. The Fairplay Award. There are several symbols that capture the essence of the world’s biggest carnival of cricket. But there’s one image that perfectly combines the mood, spirit and significance of the tournament: the IPL trophy.

Over the past four seasons, IPL has bridged the gap between the dreams and reality of talented local cricketers. Sharing the dressing room with the game’s elite – past and present – youngsters have learnt more than just cricketing lessons during the competition. More importantly, they’ve imbibed the values and confidence without which success remains elusive. From Yusuf Pathan to Saurabh Tiwary and from Manish Pandey to R Ashwin, the national side has benefitted regularly from breakthrough IPL performances.

No wonder, then, that the sparkling new IPL trophy bears the Sanskrit words : “Yatra pratibha avsara prapnotihi” (Where talent meets opportunity). Crafted in burnished silver, reflecting the quality of the competition, the trophy looks every bit the perfect award for excellence in a gruelling test of talent, nerves and strategising.

Ever since this edition of the tournament began on April 8, 2011, the glittering award has dominated the thoughts of all ten captains and their top-notch sides. Bearing a classic look, it evokes all the splendour and pomp associated with grand sporting achievements. The Sanskrit engraving underscores all the grandeur with a calm insight into the competition.

On May 28, one of the ten captains will come up and receive the resplendent trophy, signifying the triumphant end of a long and arduous journey. But the cup symbolises so much more than victory for 11 players. It is, in fact, the coming together of every little victory that has taken place all along the way. No matter whose mantelpiece the trophy adorns on D-day, its brilliant glow is the result of the combined excellence of 10 remarkable teams.

Pujara doubtful for remainder of IPL

Cheteshwar Pujara is in danger of missing out on the rest of the IPL season after injuring his knee while fielding in Royal Challengers Bangalore's win against Kochi Tuskers Kerala last week. Pujara picked up the injury when his foot got stuck in the turf as he attempted a sliding save in the Chinnaswamy Stadium outfield. He played no further part in the game, though he managed to hobble back to the dressing room, refusing the assistance of a stretcher.

A chat with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) physiotherapist, and some intial scans revealed that there was no swelling in the knee. Pujara has not travelled with his team to Jaipur for tonight's game against Rajasthan Royals. He is currently in his hometown, Rajkot, and will return to Bangalore for an MRI scan later this week, after which the team management will take a call on his further involvement.

This is not the first time Pujara has picked up an injury in the IPL. In the 2009 edition that was hosted in South Africa, he injured his left knee during a warm-up game in the lead-up to the tournament, and was forced out of action for six months. He managed to bounce back from that setback, and even forced his way into the Indian Test team on the back of a series of strong domestic performances. The timing of his injury, and the recovery time, could impact his participation in the upcoming tour of West Indies. The tour begins in early June, though the Test leg gets underway only on June 20.

For the moment, Bangalore are not giving up on Pujara's return. Ray Jennings, Bangalore's coach, said that he would like to wait for the final scans before taking a decision. "There have been a few conflicting reports about Pujara's status," Jennings told ESPNcricinfo. "At first, it seemed quite serious, but now he feels a little better. We are awaiting the results of his scans at the NCA and will take a final call before the next game [against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday].

"Pujara is a very good cricketer, and it will be a disappointment for him if he doesn't recover. But it will open up opportunities for some of the other youngsters in the side."

Pujara has not had too many opportunities so far in the season and has scored only 34 runs in three innings in seven games, batting low in a powerful line-up. Despite the modest returns, Jennings recently suggestedPujara had the potential to replace the England-bound Tillakaratne Dilshan as an opener, but the injury has made things uncertain.

Mohammad Kaif has been in and out of the Bangalore XI, and is the front-runner for Pujara's lower middle-order spot. South African batsmen Rilee Rossouw and Jonathan Vandiar are the other candidates, though they are more likely to replace Dilshan at the top of the order.

Can Watson lift his game and inspire Rajasthan?

Match facts

Wednesday, May 11, Jaipur
Start time 2000 (14.30 GMT)

	Shane Watson's batting form has hurt Rajasthan

Big Picture

Shane Warne is screaming in the headlines. He is angry, and letting the world know. His fans believe he is right about his pitch complaints, his critics believe he is whining and the neutrals are puzzled. Meanwhile, Rajasthan's campaign is in a crucial phase: Fifth in point tables, five wins and five losses, and can either ascend the ladder or slip down the snake. An angry Warne might just be the inspiring factor that can propel this team.

If only Shane Watson can stir himself out of his slumber. He has scored just 187 runs from eight games; it could just be fatigue or it could be the pressure of being the main man and Rajasthan will hope that he can turn the corner. Even Ross Taylor, the other batsman expected to lead from front, has dawdled, tallying 168 runs from 10 games. It's been a tad puzzling, and disappointing, to see Taylor pigeon-holing his arsenal to one big shot- that heave to the leg side.

Meanwhile, Chris Gayle has violently changed the fortunes of Bangalore Royal Challengers. The laughter, not seen very often in maroon colours in recent times, is back, the big shots are booming and Gayle looks a happy man. And Bangalore have prospered. If Gayle is the man who has transformed their batting, S Aravind has been the silent force of change in the bowling fortunes. He has taken 10 wickets at 16.20 and his form has eased up the pressure on Zaheer Khan.

Form guide (most recent first)

Bangalore: WWWWW (fourth in points table)
Rajasthan: LLWWW (fifth in points table)

Team talk

The question of who will replace Tillakaratne Dilshan for Bangalore has been pushed back by one match, as Dilshan has extended his stay in the IPL. Rajasthan dropped Stuart Binny for the last game and they are unlikely to make any more changes.

In the spotlight

Johan Botha is what they call the "100% cricketer". Many wondered how he would fare without the licence to bowl his doosras after their legality was questioned couple of years back. What did he do? He became the Twenty20 captain and even led in a few ODIs, and now in IPL averages over 50 in batting.

Daniel Vettori has been supremely miserly with an economy rate of just 5.58. He has picked up only seven wickets but his accuracy and change of pace has strangled the batsmen. He has been rarely collared and the other bowlers have profited from his parsimonious bowling.

Prime numbers

• Vettori's economy rate this IPL is an outstanding 5.58. Overall, in the all the editions, his economy rate is 6.76 which is the 12th in the list of best rates
  
• With 55 wickets, Shane Warne is the fourth highest wicket taker in IPL history. However, this year, he has taken just 11 wickets

The chatter

"He [Zaheer Khan] is a key bowler for us and swung the match for us against Pune Warriors. He bowls economically in the last overs and he and I bear the brunt of the attack."
Daniel Vettori backs the Indian seamer

Sloppy Mumbai succumb in big upset

Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal was the beginning of a spectacular collapse

After a glut of predictable snooze-fests, the IPL produced the kind of upset the Twenty20 format is made for, with Kings XI Punjab, placed tenth at the start of the game, producing a strong performance to trounce the table-toppers, Mumbai Indians. Punjab came out determined against Mumbai's gun bowlers - Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh - and scrapped their way towards a solid base, before Munaf Patel's five-for kept them to 163. In reply, Mumbai combusted in a rash of ridiculous shots to concede two points on a platter, keeping Punjab's campaign alive.

Match Meter KXIPMI Gilchrist stands up to Malinga: Gilchrist clatters Malinga for four, hits him hard to cover, stands out of the crease, and doesn't flinch when hit on the head. Game on. KXIP Marsh attacks: Marsh plunder Kulkarni for successive fours in the seventh over before creaming Suman to the boundary KXIPMI Munaf sparks a revival: Munaf nails the rampaging Marsh, and Hussey in the 16th over, and picks two more wickets in the 19th for his five-for. Mumbai chase a gettable score KXIP Upset on the cards: Tendulkar steers Praveen straight to point in the third over of the chase. Mumbai begin to wobble, and things get worse when Rohit and Blizzard go cheaply KXIP Three in three overs: Symonds, Rayudu and Suman succumb in successive overs. Game over.  Advantage Honours even

 It was the kind of score Punjab would have taken at the toss, given how badly out of form their batting had been in recent games. It gave them the rare luxury of something to bowl at, and they responded with purpose and vigour. Aiden Blizzard produced three edgy boundaries in the first over from Praveen Kumar, but things went rapidly downhill from there for Mumbai's batsmen. Sachin Tendulkar guided an innocuous delivery from Praveen straight to backward point in the third over, before Adam Gilchrist pulled off an alert stumping to send Rohit Sharma on his way. When Blizzard was adjudged out nicking a leg-side ball from Praveen in the fifth over, Mumbai had slumped to 27 for 3, and there was no middle-order counter-attack to put them back on track.

Even a couple of dropped chances and a missed run-out did not spark a revival, and the exit of Andrew Symonds, Ambati Rayudu and T Suman in successive overs set up a happy evening for the Mohali faithfuls.

Punjab's defiance was captured earlier in the day, in the way Gilchrist fronted up to Lasith Malinga. The bowler of the tournament screamed in for the second over of Punjab's innings, and delivered it full and wide of off stump. The out-of-form Gilchrist rolled back the years by moving across and slicing it through point. The next ball was hit even more fiercely, but it found the fielder. Buoyed by the confidence of having middled two balls, Gilchrist took guard outside the crease for the next delivery. It was a yorker, followed by a bouncer that clattered Gilchrist on the back of his helmet. He was stunned for a moment and floored for a minute, but he got a new helmet and carried on. Punjab were not going to flinch today.

Paul Valthaty did his bit to kick-start the innings before perishing in Munaf's first over, pulling him straight to deep midwicket. Gilchrist carried on though he was clearly not at his best, struggling to pick Harbhajan's straighter ones, and to adapt to the drop in pace once Malinga exited the attack. Symonds let him off on one of those indiscretions, when Gilchrist drove Dhawal Kulkarni uppishly into the covers. Gilchrist celebrated by launching Rohit Sharma for a straight six, while Shaun Marsh checked in by creaming Kulkarni twice through the off side.

Malinga returned and produced the breakthrough, hurling down another pacy bouncer which Gilchrist feathered behind. Marsh had found his range by then, and seamlessly took charge of the innings along with Dinesh Karthik. Blizzard made things easier for Punjab, dropping Karthik when he top-edged Kieron Pollard. Karthik capitalised by sweeping and reverse-sweeping Suman for successive fours in the 14th over, as Punjab coiled for the final assault. It was the cue for the Munaf show to begin.

Marsh welcomed Munaf to the crease by crashing the first ball of his second spell through the covers, before imparting a violent thump to another half-tracker, to send it sailing along towards the deep midwicket fence. Pollard had his own ideas, though, running at full tilt, diving to his right and intercepting the ball with both hands, to pull off one of the best catches of the tournament. That sparked Mumbai's best phase in the game, as Munaf used clever changes in length and pace to cut through the lower order. He dismissed David Hussey for a duck, before foxing Karthik and Ryan Harris into scooping catches into the outfield. Munaf's efforts had restricted Punjab to just 39 off the last five overs, but Mumbai's spectacular batting collapse meant it counted for nothing.