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Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kings XI Punjab, IPL, Bangalore

Punjab seek to extend winning streak

Kanishkaa Balachandran

May 5, 2008

Match facts

Sunday, May 4 2008
Start time 20.00 (local), 14.30 (GMT)

 
Jacques Kallis is yet to make a significant impact for Bangalore, especially in the bowling
 
The Big Picture

The relief was palpable in the Bangalore camp on Saturday after they finally registered their first victory at home, against the Deccan Chargers. A team of experienced internationals wasn't expected to struggle early in the tournament, but at least they salvaged pride in a match which nearly fell out of their grasp in the final over. While they have every right to cherish the victory, it goes without saying that they would have to double their efforts against a team on a high, now with four consecutive wins. The Yuvraj Singh-led Kings XI Punjab have moulded into a dangerous unit and after two early defeats, are currently third in the points table, tied with three other teams on eight points. There's little to separate the top four at this stage and it would be fair to say they start as favourites, despite playing away from home.


Watch out for ...

... Kumar Sangakkara taking on Dale Steyn and Zaheer Khan. Sangakkara leads the run charts for Punjab with 203 in six games with two half-centuries. Steyn came back well after a pasting at the hands of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his first match to concede 20 runs in four overs. Zaheer is one of the leading wicket-takers in the tournament. Shaun Marsh would also be a tough nut to crack for Bangalore, like most Australians in this tournament.


Team news

Bangalore have in their ranks Cameron White, an Australian who can pack a punch with his big hitting. He was omitted after his team's forgettable rout at the hands of Kolkata in the opening game of the tournament, but one would feel a player of his ability ought to get more opportunities. Jacques Kallis could face the axe after failing with the bat against Deccan and he hasn't clicked with the ball either. It could be a gamble, as White is mainly a part-time legspinner and perhaps not the most reliable fifth-bowling option.

Bangalore (probable) 1 Bharath Chipli, 2 Wasim Jaffer, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Rahul Dravid, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Cameron White, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Praveen Kumar, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Anil Kumble, 11 Dale Steyn.

Punjab wouldn't want to alter their winning combination. Depth in batting is one of their strengths and the lower order demonstrated that in the previous game. James Hopes had a poor outing with the ball after missing three games but Punjab should see that as a blip and play him, not least for what he can do up the order.

Punjab: (probable) 1 Shaun Marsh, 2 James Hopes, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Mahela Jayawardene, 6 Karan Goel, 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Piyush Chawla, 9 Sreesanth, 10 VRV Singh, 11 Ga*eep Singh

If Kallis is replaced by White , I would like to see the inclusion of NC Aiyappa instead of Bharat Chipli as it will strengthen the bowling without relying on part-timers.

[gouravk]

oh puhleez for gods sake play chanderpaul !!! drop boucher if necessary. put in goswami and play chanderpaul !!

BRC is so annoying ! one can see that they can take the step up but they are refusing to do so because of an adamant mindset that puts a weak top 3 in the batting !!! 

[gouravk]

ideally my lineup for BRC would read

Chanderpaul
Jaffer
Kallis
Misbah
Dravid
Kohli
Goswami
Praveen
Zaheer
Steyn
Kumble

harsh to leave out boucher while keeping kallis when both have really flopped with the bat but kallis CAN be an asset with the ball. the role that boucher has played so far can easily be played by goswami. but chander at the top is a MUST. kohli is not mature enuf to bat at 3 but can do a good job at 6.

kallis-misbah-dravid should form a good core and kohli and goswami can provide the finishing touches.

[broadbat]

Keep Praveen as a floater. Without Boucher firing he looks the only one capable of clobbering 20 in an over.

[Blwe_torch]

I hope Mohali just stream-rolls BRC!

[keep-it-cool]

ideally my lineup for BRC would read

Chanderpaul
Jaffer
Kallis
Misbah
Dravid
Kohli
Goswami
Praveen
Zaheer
Steyn
Kumble

harsh to leave out boucher while keeping kallis when both have really flopped with the bat but kallis CAN be an asset with the ball. the role that boucher has played so far can easily be played by goswami. but chander at the top is a MUST. kohli is not mature enuf to bat at 3 but can do a good job at 6.

kallis-misbah-dravid should form a good core and kohli and goswami can provide the finishing touches.

I am not convinced about Kumble in this format. Otherwise, this is a good team. Alternatively, I would move Boucher to the top of the order and keep Chanderpaul out.

[gouravk]

oh did you not see kumble doing a jonty in the field the other day ? 

[keep-it-cool]

oh did you not see kumble doing a jonty in the field the other day ? 

was talking about his bowling .. he almost did a symonds!!

[broadbat]

Btw does Bracken even stand a chance of turning out for BRC? I thought he was a contracted player for the Aussie's.

[keep-it-cool]

Btw does Bracken even stand a chance of turning out for BRC? I thought he was a contracted player for the Aussie's.

he generally does not play tests .. so, should not be an issue.. given that hopes and watson are still here

[cricinfo]

I hope Mohali just stream-rolls BRC!

why  so ? In fact i want BRC to win this one ....

[keep-it-cool]

if BRC wins this one, it becomes a very open tournament once again .. with atleast one more team within striking distance of the top four

[pzd]

What time does it start? Can anyone PM me a working link? Thanks

[pzd]

Except for their match against KKR and Raj Royals, BRC have either won or lost by narrow margins.. Maybe something do with their fielding & strike rates.

[ganavk]

Boucher is out and Cameron White is in. I hope they play White on top. Chipli is also out and they have got the WK Devaraj Patil in the team.

By the way, Punjab has won the toss and will bowl

[pzd]

Boucher is out and Cameron White is in. I hope they play White on top. Chipli is also out and they have got the WK Devaraj Patil in the team.

By the way, Punjab has won the toss and will bowl

Who is going to open for BRC? WJ & RD.... 

[Blwe_torch]

Unplayable balls by Sree!
What a way to clean up the BRC batsmen!

[Blwe_torch]

Nice to see the 'Test' batsmen being foxed by Sreesanth!
He has made up for his sobbing faux pas with those 2 deliveries!

[Blwe_torch]

Kallis gone!....Pathetic!.......Virat Kohli is not even looking....really stupid!

[ruchir]

Don't know whose fault it is!!! Kohli ran 4 steps then stopped, in the mean while Kalllis had already crossed half pitch. By the time he saw Kohli stop he was 3/4 way down.

[Blwe_torch]

This is Kohli's fault.......................anyway Dravid the Wall comes in~

[ruchir]

This is Kohli's fault.......................anyway Dravid the Wall comes in~

Agree... it looked like that.

[pzd]

RD/Kallis should have replaced Jaffer... White should be assigned the role of a finisher.Anyway Misbah is yet to come.

[ruchir]

BRC are giving it back to them.... Hopes drops a catch.

[Blwe_torch]

BRC are giving it back to them.... Hopes drops a catch.

is this a way of giving back?
they are just saved from further embarassment.

[ruchir]

Katrina and Preity together!!! Yum yum...

[ruchir]

BRC are giving it back to them.... Hopes drops a catch.

is this a way of giving back?
they are just saved from further embarassment.

I mean, RD and VK have started to hit out now. I am supporting Punjab anyway. 

Kohli out... caught SS b YS IKP.

Edited.

[Blwe_torch]

BRC are giving it back to them.... Hopes drops a catch.

is this a way of giving back?
they are just saved from further embarassment.

I mean, RD and VK have started to hit out now. I am supporting Punjab anyway. 

Kohli out... caught SS b YS.

Good to know this ............there is a lack of Punjab supporters across the board here!

[ruchir]

I am supporting teams in this order:

1. DD
2. CSK
3. RR
4. PKXI

[Blwe_torch]

Mine is like....

KKR
KXIP
RR.............we considered them underdogs initially
BRC............ I admire their boss Mallya quite a bit........and the players too are the serious types.....misfits in this format

[Blwe_torch]

Dravid is batting very, very well here.

[pzd]

Anything less than 150 is not going to challenge KXIP

[Debkumar]

Anything less than 150 is not going to challenge KXIP

Anything more than 150 would be miracle

[Blwe_torch]

Misbu gone!

[pzd]

BRC commit hara-kiri

[OldPal]

Actuall it is not as that bad as the score card shows, Yes wickets have fallen , but not much balls were wasted either . Close to 140 + may be something to ball at. As Per PKXI's batting line up. It depends on that day who can live upto expectations. BRC has the line up to play for 2 days but crummbled in 15 overs, so we never know.

[Debkumar]

BRC missing Boucher....it was a dumb decision(if he is not injured)

[ruchir]

RD slapped all other top batsmen of his team on their faces today. 66 in 51 balls, very good inning considering that no one gave him good company except Kohli.

[pzd]

BRC don't have good openers nor good allrounders... PK should always open  and White should come at 5/6

[cricinfo]

RD slapped all other top batsmen of his team on their faces today. 66 in 51 balls, very good inning considering that no one gave him good company except Kohli.

Kudos to RD...i really wish somehow BRC could pull off this one