Chennai Champions vs. Beijing Blitzers
3rd/4th Playoff - 1st Leg
And here were are folks, for the opening contest of the final stages of PCPL 3!! This contest brings together our two losing semi-finalists in a 2-game series to decide which team finished 2nd Runner Ups, and which one goes home with no title. It classic cricketing tradition, we kick off these matches on Boxing Day! And what better way to celebrate than to see two sides slug it out with pride and a few million vCash on the line. Chennai, learning from their mistakes, have set a dusty looking pitch and have loaded their sides with 4 spinners, while Beijing have opted revert back to the lineup that got them 7 wins in 8 games. Tough luck for Manee who scored a 50 and bowled well in his few games, but that's the way the world works I guess. Chennai have won the toss and opted to bat first, and we head to the action...
0.1 Surendar to Adyhorn, , Wide, one run (1)
0.1 Surendar to Adyhorn, Very well bowled. (0)
0.2 Surendar to Adyhorn, Easy single. (1)
0.3 Surendar to Cricketman, Fired that one in full and on the offstump, the batsman can just squeeze it away to cover. No run. (0)
0.4 Surendar to Cricketman, The batsman calls for a single, but hesitates and nearly gets his partner run out! An effort that would make Owais Shah proud! No run. (0)
0.5 Surendar to Cricketman, , Wide, one run (1)
0.5 Surendar to Cricketman, Perfect yorker on the leg stump. (0)
0.6 Surendar to Cricketman, , No Ball.
Edged and through the vacant gully region for four! And just after the captained had removed a man from there! Don't you just hate it when that happens? (4)
0.6 Surendar to Cricketman, Tries to late cut that away but misses it, and the ball thuds into the keeper's gloves. No run. (0)
End of over 1
Chennai Champions 8/0 (RR : 8)
Cricketman 4 (5b)
Adyhorn 1 (2b)
Surendar 1-0-8-0
1.1 Shantanu_Rooney to Adyhorn, GOT HIM!! Oh no, wait, sorry. It's just a dot ball. My bad. (0)
1.2 Shantanu_Rooney to Adyhorn,
Good length delivery on the stumps, the batsman just leans forward and drives it past mid-on for four more. Lovely shot. (4)
1.3 Shantanu_Rooney to Adyhorn,
That wasn't a bad ball, but the batsmen went at it with everything except the kitchen sink, and got enough on it to send it over the fence! 6 more! (6)
1.4 Shantanu_Rooney to Adyhorn, Clipped off the legs, the batsmen get two. (2)
1.5 Shantanu_Rooney to Adyhorn,
Slog-sweep time! He completely misses it though, and is rapped on the pads. The bowler is appealing...and yup, he's got to go! Tough luck kid, maybe you'll get it next time!
Adyhorn lbw Shantanu_Rooney
Runs : 13 Balls : 7 S/R : 185.7
(0)
1.6 Shantanu_Rooney to Wilfred Rhodes, , No Ball.
And that's been caught, by a man in the crowd! Six Runs! (6)
1.6 Shantanu_Rooney to Wilfred Rhodes, Yorker full and outside offstump, the batsman just squeezes it away for a quick single to cover. (1)
End of over 2
Chennai Champions 28/1 (RR : 14)
Cricketman 4 (5b)
Wilfred Rhodes 7 (2b)
Shantanu_Rooney 1-0-20-1
2.1 Surendar to Wilfred Rhodes, Good shot, they're running hard, the throw comes in, but they've managed a comfortable two. (2)
2.2 Surendar to Wilfred Rhodes,
Full, wide, the batsman flails at it and finds the edge! But the ball flies between the keeper and slip, who just stare at each other as the ball runs away for four! Unlucky! (4)
2.3 Surendar to Wilfred Rhodes, Very well bowled. (0)
2.4 Surendar to Wilfred Rhodes,
They're running hard, excellent throw, and he's out!
Wilfred Rhodes run out Shalin Hitter
Runs : 13 Balls : 6 S/R : 216.7
(0)
2.5 Surendar to Naresh091,
Ah, he's beaten by the movement! It moved in the air, and deviated away off the pitch, taking the offstump with it! No chance for the batsman there, he just walks away bemused.
Naresh091 b Surendar
Runs : 0 Balls : 1 S/R : 0
(0)
2.6 Surendar to Karachi Xpress, He walks across his stumps trying to paddle it away, but misses it. And the keeper's appealing! There was a sound as the ball passed the batsman, and the umpire is unmoved. Replays show it was off the pad. Good call. (0)
End of over 3
Chennai Champions 34/3 (RR : 11.3)
Karachi Xpress 0 (1b)
Cricketman 4 (5b)
Surendar 2-0-14-1
3.1 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, Good ball, he goes for the cut, it's too close to cut, he's inside edged it, and it misses the stumps by a whisker! The keeper tidies up and there is no run. Phew that was close. (0)
3.2 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, Good shot, they're running hard, the throw comes in, but they've managed a comfortable two. (2)
3.3 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, The bowlers runs in, the batsman taps his bat, and...oooohhhh! An aeroplane! Huh, what? Oh right, no run it seems. (0)
3.4 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, Dabbed into the gap for a quick single. The captain decides to shift the field around a little bit. (1)
3.5 Shantanu_Rooney to Karachi Xpress, Shortish delivery on the stumps, the batsman backs away and swats it to cover for a single (1)
3.6 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, Tucked on the leg side, two more to the total. (2)
End of over 4
Chennai Champions 40/3 (RR : 10)
Cricketman 9 (10b)
Karachi Xpress 1 (2b)
Shantanu_Rooney 2-0-26-1
4.1 Surendar to Karachi Xpress, Swing and a miss. No run. (0)
4.2 Surendar to Karachi Xpress,
My GOD that's massive! 6 runs! (6)
4.3 Surendar to Karachi Xpress, Shortish delivery on the stumps, the batsman backs away and swats it to cover for a single (1)
4.4 Surendar to Cricketman, Nice yorker! The batsmen gets a thin inside edge and the ball flies past the legstump and the keeper. Fine leg fields to keep it down to two. (2)
4.5 Surendar to Cricketman, Very well bowled. (0)
4.6 Surendar to Cricketman, He walks across his stumps trying to paddle it away, but misses it. And the keeper's appealing! There was a sound as the ball passed the batsman, and the umpire is unmoved. Replays show it was off the pad. Good call. (0)
End of over 5
Chennai Champions 49/3 (RR : 9.8)
Cricketman 11 (13b)
Karachi Xpress 8 (5b)
Surendar 3-0-23-1
5.1 Shantanu_Rooney to Karachi Xpress, That one deviated sharply of the pitch, the batsman had no chance of playing that. Dot ball. (0)
5.2 Shantanu_Rooney to Karachi Xpress,
Excellent bowling, catches the batsman off-guard with a vicious bouncer! Unfortunately for the bowler, the batsmen top edges it over the head of the keeper for six! Tough luck son, maybe you'll get him next time. (6)
5.3 Shantanu_Rooney to Karachi Xpress, Good slower ball, the batsman doesn't pick it up. Still gets a single though. (1)
5.4 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, No shot offered. (0)
5.5 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, And the camera pans to show a hot chick in Row C. Rumours have it that she is either Zorax's date for the night, or an assasin out to kill him. I guess we'll find out one way or another by tommorrow...oh, right. No run. (0)
5.6 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, Swing and a miss. No run. (0)
End of over 6
Chennai Champions 56/3 (RR : 9.33)
Cricketman 11 (16b)
Karachi Xpress 15 (8b)
Shantanu_Rooney 3-0-33-1
6.1 NightProwler10 to Karachi Xpress, Easy single. (1)
6.2 NightProwler10 to Cricketman, BANG! The batsman absolutely nailed that shot! Luckily for the bowler there is a man in the deep, so only two runs. (2)
6.3 NightProwler10 to Cricketman,
He tried to go over the top but doesn't connect well. However, it's placed in the gap the ball trickles away for four. (4)
6.4 NightProwler10 to Cricketman, The batsman looks surprised that that ball wasn't called a wide. The bowler's grinning as he makes his way back to his mark. (0)
6.5 NightProwler10 to Cricketman, Tucked to off side, one more. (1)
6.6 NightProwler10 to Karachi Xpress, Full toss, the batsman doesn't cash in and hits it straight to the man in the deep. Only two. (2)
End of over 7
Chennai Champions 66/3 (RR : 9.43)
Karachi Xpress 18 (10b)
Cricketman 18 (20b)
NightProwler10 1-0-10-0
7.1 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Good shot, bad placement. Won't get a run for that. (0)
7.2 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, That's skied, but he's dropped it! Two more runs. (2)
7.3 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Swing and a miss. No run. (0)
7.4 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, GOT HIM!! Oh no, wait, sorry. It's just a dot ball. My bad. (0)
7.5 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Very well bowled. (0)
7.6 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, The batsman looks surprised that that ball wasn't called a wide. The bowler's grinning as he makes his way back to his mark. (0)
End of over 8
Chennai Champions 68/3 (RR : 8.5)
Cricketman 20 (26b)
Karachi Xpress 18 (10b)
Ravi Shastri 1-0-2-0
8.1 Bladescape to Karachi Xpress, Inside edge, and past the stumps. The batsmen take a quick single (1)
8.2 Bladescape to Cricketman, Short and pulled away for a single (1)
8.3 Bladescape to Karachi Xpress, Full toss, the batsman doesn't cash in and hits it straight to the man in the deep. Only one. (1)
8.4 Bladescape to Cricketman, Scorching bouncer, the batsman clearly didn't expect that and just sways out of the way at the last moment! (0)
8.5 Bladescape to Cricketman, Swing and a miss. No run. (0)
8.6 Bladescape to Cricketman, Dabbed into the gap for a quick single. The captain decides to shift the field around a little bit. (1)
End of over 9
Chennai Champions 72/3 (RR : 8)
Karachi Xpress 20 (12b)
Cricketman 22 (30b)
Bladescape 1-0-4-0
9.1 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman,
And that's a slower ball gone horribly wrong. Sits up and begs to be smacked for four, which it promptly is. (4)
9.2 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, , No Ball. I'd like to complement the gentleman in Seat 24 Row A for being so sharply dressed in that Armani Suit. Especially in this heat. Great show...huh? What's that? Oh right, the batsmen took a single, I think. (1)
9.2 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, Perfect yorker on the leg stump. (0)
9.3 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, GOT HIM!! Oh no, wait, sorry. It's just a dot ball. My bad. (0)
9.4 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, Dabbed into the gap for a quick single. The captain decides to shift the field around a little bit. (1)
9.5 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Hammered down the ground. Two more. (2)
9.6 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Down the track, driven to the deep. Two more. (2)
End of over 10
Chennai Champions 83/3 (RR : 8.3)
Cricketman 31 (34b)
Karachi Xpress 21 (15b)
Ravi Shastri 2-0-13-0
10.1 Bladescape to Karachi Xpress, Scorching bouncer, the batsman clearly didn't expect that and just sways out of the way at the last moment! (0)
10.2 Bladescape to Karachi Xpress, Easy single. (1)
10.3 Bladescape to Cricketman, Lofted drive, falls into the gap. The ball gets stuck in the outfield meaning the batsmen get only two. (2)
10.4 Bladescape to Cricketman, Perfect yorker on the leg stump. (0)
10.5 Bladescape to Cricketman, And the batsman pulls out the sweep shot! Takes a lot of skill to play that, and he has enough to place it for two. (2)
10.6 Bladescape to Cricketman, He walks across his stumps trying to paddle it away, but misses it. And the keeper's appealing! There was a sound as the ball passed the batsman, and the umpire is unmoved. Replays show it was off the pad. Good call. (0)
End of over 11
Chennai Champions 88/3 (RR : 8)
Cricketman 35 (38b)
Karachi Xpress 22 (17b)
Bladescape 2-0-9-0
11.1 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, Pah, that was a useless shot! I've seen better batters in my fridge! No run. (0)
11.2 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, GOT HIM!! Oh no, wait, sorry. It's just a dot ball. My bad. (0)
11.3 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, Tucked to off side, one more. (1)
11.4 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, , No Ball. Bah, I've seen better fielding by armless seniors in wheelchairs while blindfolded! Terrible effort, the batsmen laugh as they make the third run. (3)
11.4 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress,
And the batsman unveils the sweep shot, and it's done beautifully too! Four more! (4)
11.5 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, Tucked on the leg side, two more to the total. (2)
11.6 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, Perfect yorker on the leg stump. (0)
End of over 12
Chennai Champions 99/3 (RR : 8.25)
Karachi Xpress 29 (23b)
Cricketman 38 (39b)
Ravi Shastri 3-0-24-0
12.1 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman, And the batsman pulls out the sweep shot! Takes a lot of skill to play that, and he has enough to place it for two. (2)
12.2 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman, And the camera pans to show a hot chick in Row C. Rumours have it that she is either Zorax's date for the night, or an assasin out to kill him. I guess we'll find out one way or another by tommorrow...oh, right. No run. (0)
12.3 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman, And the camera pans to show a hot chick in Row C. Rumours have it that she is either Zorax's date for the night, or an assasin out to kill him. I guess we'll find out one way or another by tommorrow...oh, right. No run. (0)
12.4 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman,
And that's going all the way, four runs! (4)
12.5 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman,
Text-book cover drive, four more. (4)
12.6 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman, Easy single. (1)
End of over 13
Chennai Champions 110/3 (RR : 8.46)
Karachi Xpress 29 (23b)
Cricketman 49 (45b)
Giggity Giggity 1-0-11-0
13.1 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Tucked on the off side, two more to the total. (2)
13.2 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Good short ball, the batsman is caught off guard and top edges it high in the air! The keeper is after it...he's runs hard...and the ball lands just after him! He hurls the ball in to keep the batsman to a single. (1)
13.3 Ravi Shastri to Karachi Xpress, EDGED AND TAKE...DROPPED! The keeper drops it! A simple chance and he fluffs it! Deary me. The batsmen steal a single while laughing, the bowler has his hands on his head... (1)
13.4 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Very well bowled. (0)
13.5 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Good ball, he goes for the cut, it's too close to cut, he's inside edged it, and it misses the stumps by a whisker! The keeper tidies up and there is no run. Phew that was close. (0)
13.6 Ravi Shastri to Cricketman, Dabbed into the gap for a quick single. The captain decides to shift the field around a little bit. (1)
End of over 14
Chennai Champions 115/3 (RR : 8.21)
Karachi Xpress 30 (24b)
Cricketman 53 (50b)
Ravi Shastri 4-0-29-0
14.1 Bladescape to Cricketman, Inside edge, and past the stumps. The batsmen take a quick single (1)
14.2 Bladescape to Karachi Xpress, Pah, that was a useless shot! I've seen better batters in my fridge! No run. (0)
14.3 Bladescape to Karachi Xpress, Good slower ball, the batsman doesn't pick it up. Still gets a single though. (1)
14.4 Bladescape to Cricketman, Good bouncer. The batsman attempts the hooks, and gets a top edge which lands safe. Only one. (1)
14.5 Bladescape to Karachi Xpress, That one deviated sharply of the pitch, the batsman had no chance of playing that. Dot ball. (0)
14.6 Bladescape to Karachi Xpress, Reverse sweep! Cheeky. Only one run though. (1)
End of over 15
Chennai Champions 119/3 (RR : 7.93)
Cricketman 55 (52b)
Karachi Xpress 32 (28b)
Bladescape 3-0-13-0
15.1 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, Good shot, bad placement. Won't get a run for that. (0)
15.2 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, Easy single. (1)
15.3 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman, That's skied, but he's dropped it! Two more runs. (2)
15.4 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman, No Run, excellent bowling. (0)
15.5 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman, Easy single. (1)
15.6 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, Short ball, worked off the hips for a single (1)
End of over 16
Chennai Champions 124/3 (RR : 7.75)
Cricketman 58 (55b)
Karachi Xpress 34 (31b)
Giggity Giggity 2-0-16-0
16.1 NightProwler10 to Karachi Xpress,
The batsman lines up a big slog over cow corner, but inside edges it past the stumps and keeper for four! The bowler has a wry smile, if the batsman keeps that up, it won't be too long till he's back in the pavillion. (4)
16.2 NightProwler10 to Karachi Xpress, Scorching bouncer, the batsman clearly didn't expect that and just sways out of the way at the last moment! (0)
16.3 NightProwler10 to Karachi Xpress, Pah, that was a useless shot! I've seen better batters in my fridge! No run. (0)
16.4 NightProwler10 to Karachi Xpress, Gosh, how unlucky can you be. He's absolutely nailed that, but straight to the fielder. No run. (0)
16.5 NightProwler10 to Karachi Xpress, ......what? Why are you looking at me like that? Oh right! The commentary! Umm...looks like that was a dot ball! No run. Now leave me alone. (0)
16.6 NightProwler10 to Karachi Xpress,
Full, wide, the batsman flails at it and finds the edge! But the ball flies between the keeper and slip, who just stare at each other as the ball runs away for four! Unlucky! (4)
End of over 17
Chennai Champions 132/3 (RR : 7.76)
Karachi Xpress 42 (37b)
Cricketman 58 (55b)
NightProwler10 2-0-18-0
17.1 Giggity Giggity to Cricketman, That's a single. (1)
17.2 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, Tries to work it off his legs, misses, and the fielders go up in appeal! It has to be out, it HAS to be out! NOOOOO! The umpire is unmoved! Gosh that must have been close. (0)
17.3 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, Tries to late cut that away but misses it, and the ball thuds into the keeper's gloves. No run. (0)
17.4 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, , No Ball.
The batsman lines up a big slog over cow corner, but inside edges it past the stumps and keeper for four! The bowler has a wry smile, if the batsman keeps that up, it won't be too long till he's back in the pavillion. (4)
17.4 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, ......what? Why are you looking at me like that? Oh right! The commentary! Umm...looks like that was a dot ball! No run. Now leave me alone. (0)
17.5 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, Edged and over the slip fielder! Two runs while third man tidies up. (2)
17.6 Giggity Giggity to Karachi Xpress, Short ball, cut away for a run. (1)
End of over 18
Chennai Champions 141/3 (RR : 7.83)
Cricketman 59 (56b)
Karachi Xpress 49 (43b)
Giggity Giggity 3-0-25-0
18.1 Shantanu_Rooney to Karachi Xpress, Short and pulled away for a single (1)
18.2 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, Swing and a miss. No run. (0)
18.3 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman, That was a very good delivery. (0)
18.4 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman,
And that's been caught, by a man in the crowd! Six Runs! (6)
18.5 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman,
And it's a DLF Maxix...uhh...six runs! (6)
18.6 Shantanu_Rooney to Cricketman,
Wide full toss, the batsman slashes at it and gets four more through point! Poor bowling. (4)
End of over 19
Chennai Champions 158/3 (RR : 8.32)
Cricketman 75 (61b)
Karachi Xpress 50 (44b)
Shantanu_Rooney 4-0-50-1
19.1 Surendar to Karachi Xpress,
Slapped away through the offside for a glorious boundary! Lovely shot. The captain's fuming now and removes a man from third slip to cover that region. (4)
19.2 Surendar to Karachi Xpress, , Byes, another 1 run(s) (1)
19.3 Surendar to Cricketman,
Short, wide, you know the drill. 4 runs. (4)
19.4 Surendar to Cricketman, Neat little late cut, beats the slip and short third man. The batsmen get two. (2)
19.5 Surendar to Cricketman, ......what? Why are you looking at me like that? Oh right! The commentary! Umm...looks like that was a dot ball! No run. Now leave me alone. (0)
19.6 Surendar to Cricketman, Slower ball, made the batsman look like a giant moronical half-brained dim wit. No run. (0)
End of over 20
Chennai Champions 169/3 (RR : 8.45)
Cricketman 81 (65b)
Karachi Xpress 54 (45b)
Surendar 4-0-34-1
The final scorecard for first innings was :
Score: 169
Wickets : 3
Overs : 20.0
Boy, that was a fun innings wasn't it? The first 3 overs had it all. Runs and wickets, big hits and close calls, good fielding and bad. Unfortunately for Beijing, it became rather one sided from there on, as Cricketman and Karachi Xpress took control of the innings. Runs came easily as GG and NP10 looked rusty and didn't have the same control over the flow of runs as they did in the early stages. The spinners bowl very well, but they lacked support, and Shantanu's first and last overs (20 runs and 17 runs respectively) didn't help their cause one bit. Chennai have racked up an excellent target, and with 4 spinners in their side, will be backing themselves to pick up the win while Beijing, well, they've really sizzled out and have nothing much but pride on the line here. Will that be enough? Stay tuned as we find out!
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