Ganguly goes up against Kolkata

Match facts

Thursday, May 19, Navi Mumbai
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)

	This time, he will be up against men wearing this jersey

Big Picture

Kolkata Knight Riders need to win one of their two remaining games to be guaranteed a place in the play-offs, mathematical miracles notwithstanding. Sourav Ganguly - the biggest player to emerge from their city and a name that was synonymous with their franchise until the most recent player auction - has a chance to stop them. It happens only in the IPL.

Yet, both Ganguly and his team-mates at Pune Warriors will know that they go in as rank outsiders. Kolkata have been consistent through the season, with their big-ticket players pulling their weight at different stages. The domestic Indian players have played their part too, especially Iqbal Abdulla and Manoj Tiwary. Pune, on the other hand, are out of contention after suffering an early-season slump that spanned seven successive losses. Ganguly looked like a batsman who hadn't held a bat in 12 months in his first outing, and fell for a duck in his second. Does Pune's campaign have a sting in its tail? Kings XI Punjab will be hoping it does, since a Kolkata defeat will keep their chances alive.

Form guide (most recent first)

Kolkata: LWLWW (fourth in points table)
Pune: LWWLL (ninth in points table)

Team talk

Kolkata have seemed keen to open with Eoin Morgan, though the move has had little success. Given the lack of muscle in the middle order - excluding Yusuf Pathan - Gautam Gambhir might consider moving himself up the order.

Pune will mull over the option of replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Shrikant Wagh, who was impressive at the DY Patil in the initial part of the season. Will Ganguly continue to play at No. 3?

In the spotlight

Time is running out for Robin Uthappa to deliver returns on the tremendous investment Pune made on him. He has scored 252 runs in 12 innings, but has not produced a single half-century. He has paraded all his shots this season, without displaying the right kind of shot-selection.

Brett Lee has set up a few sparkling mini-battles with Uthappa in the past - a league match in the 2007 CB series, and a 2010 IPL fixture being the most notable. There's something irresistible about a contest between a fast bowler who likes to bowl straight, and a batsman who likes to hit it back, just as straight. Who will triumph when they clash on Thursday?

Prime numbers

• Kolkata haven't hit enough sixes this year. Tiwary, with 12, is their leading six-hitter but he is only 14th on the overall list. Yusuf has only managed 11.
  
• Rahul Sharma is the third-highest wicket-taker this season, with 16 wickets. He has also been the most economical bowler (5.33 per over) among those who have at least six wickets.

The chatter

"We need one win from two games and that's all I will be telling the team. I'm not obsessed with the points table. Our priority right now is to get the two points on Thursday."
Can Pune deny Gautam Gambhir the two points he seeks?

Determined Chennai surge to top spot

Wriddhiman Saha was an unlikely top-scorer for Chennai Super Kings

The MA Chidambaram Stadium continued to be a fortress that couldn't be breached, as Chennai sealed a seventh straight win at home to end Kochi Tuskers Kerala's maiden IPL campaign on a disappointing note. The win for the hosts was the only constant on an otherwise unusual day in Chennai. To begin with, it was not oppressively hot on a summer's day; the pitch played slow and low and Kochi bowled with discipline to limit a power-packed batting line-up to a gettable total. The home side found an unlikely hero in Wriddhiman Saha, who seized on a promotion and an early let-off to play a decisive cameo. Lapses by Parthiv Patel, the replacement captain, with the gloves, and Kochi's struggles to step it up in the chase, meant Chennai's score of 152 was more than adequate.

For those who witnessed Adam Gilchrist's ruthless onslaught against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday, this was a slightly laborious affair. The Kochi bowlers varied their lengths well and did not offer too many scoring opportunities; the seamers refrained from doling out length deliveries, while Muttiah Muralitharan prompted caution. Each time the hosts tried to improvise and go on the attack, they were pegged back by a wicket, earned by Kochi rather than handed out.

Match Meter CSKKTK Runs and wickets: Kochi hit back after bursts from Vijay and Raina to make it 41 for 2 at the end of the sixth over CSKKTK Chennai kept in check: Hyssey departs with the score on 96 in the 15th over, but there is ammunition down the order CSK Finishing on a high: Saha's late surge, including 14 off the final over, takes Chennai past 150 on a tricky pitch CSKKTK A similar pattern: Gnaneswara Rao falls in the seventh over with the score on 45, but that brings together McCullum and Hodge CSK Hosts get ahead: When McCullum falls in the 14th over with the score on 85, and there are no fours or sixes in the next three overs, the game is pretty much decided  Advantage Honours even

M Vijay smashed RP Singh for three boundaries in the third over, but was cleaned up by a perfectly-aimed yorker off the final ball. Suresh Raina was dropped by Parthiv first ball, and Sreesanth, the frustrated party, was made to rue that lapse with two huge sixes over long-on. But the bowler hit back in the same over, when Raina miscued a full toss. S Badrinath smashed a six over midwicket, but was caught brilliantly off the next ball when RP dived full length in the deep to pluck a catch inches from the ground. Saha, though, bucked the trend.

In a contrast to his senior partner Michael Hussey, who was tied down by the steady fall of wickets and his own struggle to push on, Saha infused some urgency in the Chennai innings after surviving a missed stumping by Parthiv. In a clear sign of intent following the second time-out at the end of the 13th over - the scoring rate was fractionally over six at that stage - Saha swept Ravindra Jadeja for six over square leg. In addition to aggressive running between the wickets and an adeptness in rotating the strike, Saha, picked for the Indian tour of West Indies, also indulged in some powerplay. He charged out to Muralitharan to loft him out of the ground and pulled RP into the stands behind deep midwicket to end the Chennai innings on a high.

Kochi needed a big win to keep themselves mathematically alive in this competition, but even the usually dominating Brendon McCullum was forced to exercise restraint against some determined bowling. R Ashwin kept one end locked up with his variations in turn, flight and pace, and sent back Parthiv in his second over. McCullum and Gnaneswara Rao picked up a couple of boundaries each but the innings appeared to stagnate soon after Rao's dismissal. McCullum and Brad Hodge could do little during their stand to get on par with the climbing required-rate. Chennai didn't concede a single boundary in the three overs that followed McCullum's exit at 85 in the 14th over.

Kochi did manage a belated surge with Jadeja and Hodge trying to salvage what they could out of an impending defeat, reducing the margin of the loss to 11 runs - incidentally, the difference in Parthiv's expected target at the toss.

Sizzling Gilchrist conquers Bangalore

Adam Gilchrist hit nine sixes during his second IPL hundred

Adrenalin. Violence. And a lot of skill. The Dharamsala sky cracked with lightning and thunder but the real storm was witnessed from the bats of Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh. Gilchrist rolled back the years to produce a delightfully aggressive century and Marsh unfurled a gem of his own as the pair constructed the highest partnership in a Twenty20 game, 206 runs, to help Kings XI Punjab terminate Royal Challengers Bangalore's winning streak. With this massive 111-run victory, Punjab are level on points with Kolkata Knight Riders and also, racked up their net run rate.

There are many big-hitting batsmen but most of them tend to club, bludgeon, tonk, heave and thump. Gilchrist, though, rarely plays an "ugly" shot. He makes eye-pleasing classical arcs with the bat and tonight was no different. Marsh captured the mood best: "It was a privilege to watch it from the other end," Marsh said.

Gilchrist made his presence felt in the chase too, diving to his left to take a stunner to dismiss Chris Gayle and derail the chase. Ryan Harris removed both Gayle and Virat Kohli, Praveen Kumar bowled his fifth maiden of the tournament, and Piyush Chawla bamboozled the lower-middle order with his googlies and legbreaks to grab four wickets but the night will be, as it should be, remembered for the carnage unleashed by Gilchrist the batsman.

Match Meter

• 
  KXIP
• Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh hit two sixes and two fours to take 21 runs from the seventh over, bowled by S Aravind

• 
  KXIP
• Gilchrist hit a hat-trick of sixes off Charl Langeveldt, who leaked 22 runs in the 10th over

• 
  KXIP
• Marsh blitzed three sixes and two fours to loot 30 runs in the15th over, bowled by Johan van der Wath

• 
  KXIP
• Gilchrist took a stunning diving catch to his left to dismiss Chris Gayle in the second over to derail the chase

 Advantage Honours even

He didn't start flowing until the seventh over, preferring to let Paul Valthaty play the role of aggressor. Gilchrist was on 2 off 9 deliveries, and Punjab on 30 for 1, when a short ball from Abhimanyu Mithun helped him kickstart his flashback. He swivelled to pull the white ball over the midwicket boundary to signal the beginning of the carnage. He then turned his attention to S Aravind, who had given only a solitary run from seven deliveries. He charged down the track to lift one over long-off and crashed another to the straight boundary. With Marsh collecting a six and a four, S Aravind leaked 21 runs in that eight over. The floodgates were well and truly open.

Kohli tried to the check the Gilchrist flood with the spin of Gayle. No luck, though, as he was swung for two huge sixes. It was in the 10th over, bowled by Charl Langeveldt, that Gilchrist really stepped up the violence in some style. He played the conventional and the short-arm pull to collect two sixes before he produced the longest six (122 metres) to complete the hat-trick. It was a knuckle-ball from Langeveldt but Gilchrist read it early and swung it way beyond the midwicket boundary. Langeveldt winced, Kohli stared into distance and the Punjab camp was agog with utter delight.

Bangalore's woes, though, were only to escalate from that moment as Marsh decided to weigh in with his own brand of aggression. He stamped his presence on the game in the 15th over, looting 30 runs off Johan van der Wath. It went for 6 6 4 4 4 6, as Marsh launched a stunning assault. Three fours sped to the extra-cover boundary, one six flew over midwicket, another sailed over long-off and the final six disappeared over the straight boundary.

By the end it was difficult to keep count of the sixes as the scorecard kept racing ahead as though it was on steroids. It was a violent violent night in the hill-town inhabited by peaceful monks.

BCCI to decide on Warne-Dixit issue

Shane Warne had to travel to Mumbai for his hearing

Shane Warne and Rajasthan Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Dixit, the protagonists of an argument over the changing of pitches in Jaipur during the IPL, are waiting for the BCCI's judgement on the issue after a hearing in Mumbai. They appeared before a panel comprising IPL chairman Chirayu Amin, Ravi Shastri and IMG's legal counsel John Loffhagen, and gave their versions of the incident, which took place after Rajasthan Royals lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

"We had a long meeting and the judgement is awaited," Dixit said. "Our views have been heard by the panel and the hearing was conducted in a very good atmosphere. The proceedings of the hearing are confidential. I am not at liberty to reveal the proceedings."

Dixit said the hearing was only about the complaint he lodged with the IPL regarding Warne's alleged misbehaviour. When asked if the RCA was considering filing a criminal complaint against Warne, Dixit said he would wait for the judgement before making a decision. Warne attended the hearing with Sean Morris, Rajasthan's chief executive, and they left immediately after without speaking to the media.

The RCA had complained to the BCCI and IPL that Warne reportedly abused Dixit after his team's loss to Bangalore in Jaipur. The pitch used for that game, and the previous one against Chennai Super Kings, was different from the one Warne's team had enjoyed a strong home advantage on. The Times of India reported that RCA venue director Narendra Joshi had written to IPL's chief operating officer Sundar Raman, alleging that Warne had publicly abused Dixit by calling him "a liar and egoistic," and demanded action against Warne.

Since the pitch was changed on May 9, Warne and Dixit have engaged in a war of words that has been fought in public, private and through the media. The hearing in Mumbai followed RCA's rejection of an apology offered by the Rajasthan franchise, with the state board also threatening further action if the matter was not resolved to its satisfaction.

Essex drop Tsotsobe

An out-of-sorts Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been left out by Essex

Essex have dropped South Africa fast bowlerLonwabo Tsotsobe from their squad to face Surrey at Whitgift School this week. Tsotsobe has taken just five wickets at 77.60 runs in three Championship games and Essex, who have one win from their five opening matches, have decided he must pay the price for his poor form.

"Quite simply, he's just not bowling well enough," said Essex first team coach Paul Grayson. "We haven't seen enough from him in Championship cricket and the decision comes down purely to form. Whether or not you are an overseas player, it doesn't really matter. If you are not performing then we have to make some changes."

With Tsotsobe sitting out, Graham Napier is set to play his first senior four-day match since sustaining a back injury in the match against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl last June. Michael Comber has also been named but Ravi Bopara is missing due to his involvement with the England Lions against Sri Lanka.

"Maurice Chambers has done pretty well in the second team in the last couple of games and is ready to play and Graham Napier is also back from injury. I thought Chris Wright bowled well last week along with David Masters at Derby, while we also have Michael Comber waiting for his opportunity so we have options.

"We are not scared of making decisions. Tsotsobe's done alright in the one-dayers so far but he's had three Championship games and has not performed to the standard we require in four-day cricket. He has not been good enough."

Surrey have also had to tweak their squad after Jade Dernbach's Lions call-up, but will be able to call upon both Kevin Pietersen and Chris Tremlett, while Mark Ramprakash will also return to a strong 12-man squad after missing the weekend's Clydesdale Bank 40 victory against Scotland.

"With Kevin Pietersen being made available by the ECB for this game, once again we have had to shuffle our batting order," said Surrey Professional Cricket Manager Chris Adams. "This means Jason Roy misses out and Tom Maynard will get the opportunity to open the innings. Whilst it is always preferable to have a settled batting order, in this instance it is a nice problem to have."

Can Jayawardene-less Kochi test Chennai?

Match facts

Wednesday, May 18, Chennai
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)

	Brad Hodge has had a disappointing IPL. Will he come good against Chennai?

Big Picture

Chennai Super Kings' strength is their batting; they have crossed a total of 175 four times and four batsmen have accumulated over 300 runs. They have done just about enough with the ball to keep rolling out the wins. Three bowlers are in the list of top ten wicket-takers this season and the team has gelled as a unit. You might be able to make a criticism of the table-toppers Bangalore that they are heavily dependent on Chris Gayle but you can't pick too many holes in the Chennai campaign.

This could well be the last IPL game of the season for Kochi Tuskers Kerala. They have a mathematical chance of making the top four but to topple Kolkata, the only team they can get ahead on points, they have to beat Chennai by a huge margin. They have to then hope Kolkata lose both their remaining games convincingly. In contrast to Chennai, they have only one batsman, Brendon McCullum, who has tallied over 300 runs. To make things worse, they will be without the services of Mahela Jayawardene; Parthiv Patel will lead the side.

Form guide (most recent first)

Chennai: WWLWW (second in points table)
Kochi: WLLWW (sixth in points table)

Team talk

It will be interesting to see if Chennai continue with Wriddhiman Saha or get in S Anirudha, who can at least belt the ball lower down the order. In Jayawardene's absence, Muttiah Muralitharan might get a game.

In the spotlight

Brad Hodge, who made 33 in the last game against Rajasthan Royals, hasn't had a great IPL season, tallying 234 runs. Much was expected from the man who had the most number of runs in the Twenty20 format but he hasn't sparkled. Will he leave his imprint against Chennai?

Dwayne Bravo has just played two IPL games and has done the job with the ball. With fellow West Indian Gayle firing in style for Bangalore, it will be interesting to track Bravo's progress in the remainder of the tournament. He will slip in the slower yorkers and cutters, and be restrictive with the ball; will he get a chance to showcase his prowess with the bat?

Prime numbers

• With three ducks this season, Kochi's Raiphi Gomez is second on that inglorious list, behind Mithun Manhas' four zeroes. Kochi have three more men on that list: Brendon McCullum, Parthiv Patel and RP Singh have two ducks. 
• With 16 sixes, McCullum is sixth on list of batsmen with most sixes. Chennai's MS Dhoni is seventh on that list with 14. 

The chatter

"We are still disappointed. Every team wants to get to the final four. We had our chances but didn't grab on to them. Like I said we lacked consistency in the tournament."
Mahela Jayawardene looks back on the season 

"To be honest, Twenty20 is a game of luck. There is a lot of luck in it because the risk is more for a batsman, for a bowler or for that matter, even for a fielder. And when the risk is more, you need luck."
S Badrinath makes a frank assessment of this format

New SA coach likely to be named on June 6

Will Gary Kirsten be South Africa's next coach?

Cricket South Africa (CSA) is likely to announce the new national coach on June 6. A specially appointed CSA panel met the candidates in Johannesburg on Monday and will discuss the appointment on Tuesday.

The interview committee includes CSA chief executive Gerald Majola, outgoing coach Corrie van Zyl, cricket committee chairperson Andy O'Connor, players' association representative Boeta Dippenaar, convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson and Professor Johann Coetzee, a human development expert. "The panel will meet today [Tuesday] to have a discussion around the interviews that were conducted," a source told ESPNCricinfo.

CSA has not revealed the names on the shortlist, which it had initially said consisted of six names. The only clues as to who might be in the running came from the interview venue, a hotel in the upmarket suburb of Sandton. Gary Kirsten, widely considered to be the frontrunner for the job, and former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus were seen there. According to the source, all interviews were conducted in person.

Kirsten has just returned from a two-year stint in India, during which India climbed to the top of the Test rankings, and culminated in the winning of the World Cup. He has indicated that he would like to spend more time with his family in South Africa and with a third child due in November, it remains to be seen how much travel Kirsten would be willing to do.

Pybus is currently in charge of the Cape Town based Cobras franchise and was previously involved with the Titans. He has been involved with South African cricket since 2003 and is widely acclaimed for his innovative and creative coaching methods.

Duncan Fletcher and John Buchanan, who were believed to be on the shortlist, accepted positions in India and New Zealand respectively, before the interview process began. Others reportedly in contention for the job are Tom Moody, Stephen Fleming and Vincent Barnes.