IPL T20 - Matches on 21/05/08 Punjab Vs Mumbai & Chennai Vs Bangalore

Punjab Vs Mumbai

- 21/05/08

Match as expected was a nailbiting one and excitement lasted till the last ball of the match. Punjab batting first posted a decent total of 189 setting target of 190 for Mumbai team. Jayasuriya and Sachin got off to a flying start and at one point it seemed if they stay on the crease for long match will be a cake walk for the Mumbai team. But Jayasuriya lost his wicket when he was on 20(12 balls)... After this Sachin took the match in his control and it was for everyone to see, superb display of strokes and drives by this master batsman. At no point of time he looked in any sort of trouble and match was going away from the Punjab team. But the beauty of T20 cricket is it switches side very quickly and it does not allow any team to be relieved at any point of time. At one point of time Mumbai needed only 32 of 4 overs with 7 wickets in hand, most important Sachin and Robin Uthappa on crease. But in quick succession Punjab got wickets of Sachin and Uthappa and match turned in favour of Punjab. Punjab could manage victory by 1 run. This was the most interesting and thrilling match of IPL and full paisa vasool for the people.

Chennai Vs Bangalore

Bangalore, a lot was expected from this side when IPL started but Dravid's team dissappointed every one. But yesterday night they finally brought smiles on the faces of their supporters with this consolation win. Dravid must be a relieved man with this unexpected win. This match again showed you can never be complacent in T20 game. One point of time match looked in complete control of Chennai, with score 60 for no loss in 8 overs and only 128 to chase no body in the world would have thought that Chennai will throw the match like this. Superb display of disciplined bowling from the senior cricketer Anil Kumble turned the game in favour of Bangalore. Kumble got Man of the Match for his impressive bowling. Chennai can only blame their batsmen for not able to continue the good work done by their bowling. Finally they lost the match by 16 runs and Chennai crowd where dissappointed to see their team losing the way they did.

We hope to see many more matches of this type....

IPL T20

Guys what do you say abt these T20 matches going on ... aren't the players putting in their best effort, all the matches are seriously fought and games have been quite exciting so far. I never really thought that these big names will take this format so seriously and put in their best effort. Because prior to this I never saw any unofficial matches being played so seriously that too by the big names of world cricket. It feels good that we are super power atleast in this area or field ... Cricket. Now everyone is seeing us....
But one most important thing, I found these matches were asking too much from bowlers. Now I dont find any thing exciting when a batsmen hit a bowler for consecutive 6's .... suddenly my love for test cricket has increased and I want to see more of test cricket (if at all I have enough time). I want to see those mind games, strategies on and off the field, attacking bowling and technically correct shots .... I dont know how many of you will agree to me on this point but this T20 is not real cricket and also we will not be able to see good test players because of this format of game, there will be no more very very special innings like the one of Kolkata as no players will have that calibre of surviving.... and very less players will be able to play 100 tests or score 40 centuries in their career as this T20 will leave very less time to regain their strength and maintain their form...