Back Story: Table-toppers in a fight for bragging rights

Rajasthan Royals sweat it out. (Source: PTI)

RR v CSK | Ahmedabad | Notes from last games

Rajasthan (beat SRH)

What went right: The Royals’ win over SRH was orchestrated by two workhorses, the tireless Dhawal Kulkarni and the ageless Pravin Tambe. While one Mumbai boy saw off Hyderabad’s top-order with swing, seam and bluster, his city-mate had too many tricks up his sleeve for their middle-order, including the ‘ball’ of IPL 8 to Naman Ojha that pitched outside leg and hit middle.

What went wrong: Tim Southee is the only weak-link for the table-toppers. Not for the first time he failed to take wickets with the new-ball and simply couldn’t put the brakes on the opposition in the death overs.

Chennai (beat MI)

What went right: Dwayne Smith showed that Brendon McCullum wasn’t the only dashing dynamite that opposition attacks needed to fear. Suresh Raina, too, struck another warning note by tearing apart what was left of Mumbai’s down-in-the-dumps morale. Ishwar Pandey and Ashish Nehra stood out with their bowling.

What went wrong: Ravindra Jadeja was the big bugbear for MS Dhoni. He started decently, but was then torn apart by Kieron Pollard.

Conclusion

Both teams go into the match without having lost a match this season. But CSK have won 10 out of the 15 overall clashes between the two former champions.

Source:: Indian Express