How CSK and RCB made it to the playoffs

Agencies

New Delhi, 24 May 2011: Chennai Super Kings meet Royal Challengers Bangalore at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday in the first match of the playoff stage, with the winner getting a direct entry into the final of the Indian Premier League, while the loser getting a second chance by way of playing the second qualifier.

The two teams have clearly been the most consistent in the tournament and were separated only by a single point, with Bangalore topping the leaderboard with 19 points and MS Dhoni’s brigade close on their heels at 18 after losing their last league encounter to Daniel Vettori’s men.

But RCB will go into the playoffs with a psychological edge, having confirmed their place in the Champions League T20. However, it would be a matter of who plays well on the day and who is caught napping on a complacent bed.

 

 

Looking at the rundown of CSK’s campaign in season four, they have registered nine wins and crashed to five losses.

- vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Chennai – April 8, 2011

(Won by 2 runs, Aniruddha Srikkanth 64, R Ashwin 1/26)

- vs Kings XI Punjab at Mohali – April 13, 2011

(Lost by 6 wickets, Murali Vijay 74, Suraj Randiv 1/32)

- vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai – April 16, 2011

(Won by 21 runs, Michael Hussey 83, Suraj Randiv 2/24)

- Kochi Tuskers Kerala v Chennai Super Kings at Kochi – April 18, 2011

(Lost by 7 wickets- D/L method, Suresh Raina 50, R Ashwin 2/31)

- vs Mumbai Indians at Mumbai – April 22, 2011

(Lost by 8 runs, S Badrinath 71, Doug Bollinger 2/30)

- vs Pune Warriors at Chennai – April 25, 2011

(Won by 25 runs, Michael Hussey 61, Albie Morkel 3/29)

- vs Pune Warriors at Mumbai – April 27, 2011

(Won by 8 wickets, S Badrinath 63, Doug Bollinger 3/21)

- vs Deccan Chargers at Chennai – May 1, 2011

(Won by 19 runs, Suresh Raina 59, Albie Morkel 3/38)

- vs Rajasthan Royals at Chennai – May 4, 2011

(Won by 8 wickets, Michael Hussey 79, Shadab Jakati 2/22)

- vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Kolkata – May 7, 2011

(Lost by 10 runs- D/L method, S Badrinath 54, R Ashwin 2/12)

- vs Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur – May 9, 2011

(Won by 63 runs, Murali Vijay 53, Doug Bollinger 3/22)

- vs Delhi Daredevils at Chennai – May 12, 2011

(Won by 18 runs, MS Dhoni 63, R Ashwin 2/19)

- vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala at Chennai – May 18, 2011

(Won by 11 runs, Wriddhiman Saha 46, R Ashwin 1/16)

- vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Bangalore – May 22, 2011

(Lost by 8 wickets, MS Dhoni 70, R Ashwin 1/18)

One the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore, with a revamped side this year, have to thank Jamaican power of Chris Gayle for turning their campaign from floundering to flourishing.

The West Indian came into the RCB camp at the expense of Australian quick Dirk Nannes, who was ruled out due to injury. And with the orange cap resting nicely on his head, Gayle holds the key to RCB’s fortunes.

This is how the Vijay Mallya-owned franchise made it to the playoffs:

- vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala at Kochi – April 9, 2011

(Won by 6 wickets, AB de Villiers 54, Daniel Vettori 1/17)

- vs Mumbai Indians at Bangalore – April 12, 2011

(Lost by 9 wickets, T Dilshan 59, Dirk Nannes 1/1)

- vs Deccan Chargers at Hyderabad (Deccan) – April 14, 2011

(Lost by 33 runs, Virat Kohli 71, Zaheer Khan 3/32)

- vs Chennai Super Kings at Chennai – April 16, 2011

(Lost by 21 runs, AB de Villiers 64, Ryan Ninan 2/31)

- vs Rajasthan Royals at Bangalore – April 19, 2011

(Match abandoned)

- vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Kolkata – April 22, 2011

(Won by 9 wickets, Chris Gayle 102, S Aravind 2/37)

- vs Delhi Daredevils at Delhi – April 26, 2011

(Won by 3 wickets, Virat Kohli 56, Abhimanyu Mithun 2/37)

- vs Pune Warriors at Bangalore – April 29, 2011

(Won by 26 runs, Virat Kohli 67, Daniel Vettori 1/23)

- vs Kings XI Punjab at Bangalore – May 6, 2011

(Won by 85 runs, Chris Gayle 107, S Aravind 4/14)

- vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala at Bangalore – May 8, 2011

(Won by 9 wickets, T Dilshan 52, S Aravind 2/20)

- vs Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur – May 11, 2011

(Won by 4 wickets with D/L method, Chris Gayle 38, Charl Langeveldt 2/10)

- vs Kings XI Punjab at Dharamsala – May 17, 2011

(Lost by 111 runs, AB de Villiers 34, Charl Langeveldt 2/48)

- vs Chennai Super Kings at Bangalore – May 22, 2011

(Won by 8 wickets, Chris Gayle 75, Daniel Vettori 2/15)