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[poondu]

Both teams have only an outside chance of making the semi-finals, but Kolkata's prospects are slimmer than Rajasthan's. The hosts have ten points, two games in hand and are in seventh place, while Rajasthan, presently sixth, have 12 with only one to play. Both teams have a negative net run-rate, which worsens their chances. The bottom line is Kolkata and Rajasthan need victory on Sunday to keep their campaigns alive. And even that may not be enough.

If Kolkata win, they need to do so by a margin large enough to significantly improve the worst net run-rate of the tournament, and do an encore in their last league game. If they lose, their final match will be inconsequential.

Rajasthan also need a large victory to push their net run-rate up towards zero, surpassing Deccan Chargers. And if they manage that, they need to hope Kings XI Punjab beat Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. Should Rajasthan lose to Kolkata, they will be out of the tournament.

Form guide (most recent first)

Kolkata - LLWLW
Rajasthan - LLWWL

Team talk

Kolkata's four overseas players in the nine-wicket defeat in Chennai were Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Angelo Matthews and David Hussey. And yet they managed to score only 139. Three of them, though, will retain their spots while Hussey could make way for either Shane Bond or Ajantha Mendis.

Rajasthan will not change key personnel. They just need Michael Lumb, Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan to fire because it's their batting that hasn't come good. Their bowlers have defended anything over 150.

Previously…

Rajasthan 4 Kolkata 1
When these two teams met in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan managed 168 after winning the toss. A Kolkata without Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum struggled during the chase and were restricted to 134 for 5.

In the spotlight

Gayle and Ganguly: In their last two partnerships at Eden Gardens, Gayle and Sourav Ganguly have added 94 and 56 for the first wicket. They both fell cheaply in Chennai, and they will want to give Kolkata another rousing start to get the crowd going.

Shane Warne: He has 11 wickets at an average of 32 and an economy-rate of 7.68. But Rajasthan need more than just Warne the bowler to perform on Saturday. They need him at his galvanizing best, cajoling and inspiring his charges into raising their performance to levels never reached before. Nothing less will give Rajasthan a hope of making the final four.

Prime numbers and trivia

    * Yusuf began his IPL with a 37-ball 100 against Mumbai and later blitzed 73 against Deccan. In his other 11 innings, however, Yusuf has been poor, scoring only 152 runs in 11 innings.

    * Despite the dip in form, Yusuf has hit 24 sixes this season, the second most after Robin Uthappa, who has hit 25. Gayle's 16 is the most for Kolkata.

    * Sourav Ganguly is Kolkata's highest run-scorer, with 376 runs in 12 innings. His strike-rate of 112, however, is the lowest for any batsmen with over 200 runs this season.

      The chatter

      "We can still get in if Deccan only win one of two games, or lose both. And Chennai lose, and we beat Kolkata Saturday night."
      Shane Warne tells his Twitter followers what Rajasthan needs to do and what else needs to happen

      "The tournament is springing surprises everyday and a few games have produced results to keep us alive. But we need to do this on our own steam, win matches with our own ability."
      Sourav Ganguly wants to depend on other results as little as possible.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ipl2010/content/current/story/456313.html

[poondu]

kkr should drop mccullum and play hussey/hodge.

[ramshorns]

kkr should drop mccullum and play hussey/hodge.

It does not matter who they play. They are not going anywhere anyway. So why would any one care.

Actually I got an idea.  Since SRK is the owner he can have a say in the team and play himself.  Then I want SRK to open the batting with SG. Try imagining SRK walking out into the middle with SG. Now that would be some real entertainment for the crowd who can take something home and in fact will have a story for the rest of their lifes.

[poondu]

kkr should drop mccullum and play hussey/hodge.

It does not matter who they play. They are not going anywhere anyway. So why would any one care.

Actually I got an idea.  Since SRK is the owner he can have a say in the team and play himself.  Then I want SRK to open the batting with SG. Try imagining SRK walking out into the middle with SG. Now that would be some real entertainment for the crowd who can take something home and in fact will have a story for the rest of their lifes.

LOL

[prfsr]

KKR never fails to amaze. Saha dropped and Unadkat in! I am sure Warne will consider forfeiting the match now that our Akram v2 is in.

Aggy is finally dropped. For good effect, this is after the match where he was the most
economical bowler.

[poondu]

Saha has sucked all along...dropping him is not a bad move

[prfsr]

Saha has sucked all along...dropping him is not a bad move

True, but Pujara has hardly inspired (in the matches I saw). Why not get Vignes in? What is this fascination with Saurashtra players?

[poondu]

Saha has sucked all along...dropping him is not a bad move

True, but Pujara has hardly inspired (in the matches I saw). Why not get Vignes in? What is this fascination with Saurashtra players?

Vignesh not getting selected is a surprise to me.. guess he doesn't look good in the nets

[poondu]

ojha doesn't look good against good quality pace

[prfsr]

Love Unadkat! What a bowler!

[prfsr]

Crappy, crappy bowlers. The match is already mostly gone. So much for playing for pride.

[Cover Point]

i am actually missing the national museum of rome to watch this. Tere liye kya kya karna padta hai Dada

just in time to see a six by watto

[Cover Point]

i should be rooting for the bengalis .... we want RR to be out

[Cover Point]

shah ruk seems to have a crappy seat.

[Cover Point]

wow. i must be jet lagged. i thought i saw ganguly dive ... and the ball was actually stopped. wow! I need to get some sleep

[prfsr]

This is plain wrong :-) Wasimv2 gets a wicket off a terrible ball.
Then flexed his muscles like Dwight Howard.

and the wrongs keep coming! SG takes a good catch.

[LosingNow]

Awesome catch earlier by Dada..

..and RR falling apart. This team looks like a miss today after the fall of Watson and Pathan

[prfsr]

wicket maiden for Bond!!!

[Cover Point]

wow .... i go off for 20 mts and they go from zero out to 4 down.

i have to remind myself that i am supporting the bengalis today

go dada go ... and dont screw up!

[LosingNow]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

[ramshorns]

The FTB Yusuf Pathan is not even a flat track bully anymore.

It is very clear he is not a good 20-20 bat in a vast majority of the games.

The point here is if he cannot contribute enough with the ball there is no point having him in the XI at all.

What an useless entity he has turned out to be overall in the last 2 IPL's.

[ramshorns]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

[LosingNow]

133 is the target

[LosingNow]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

If CSK and DC lose their matches, KKR still has a chance ..they just need the NRR to go above DC's which is at -0.36 and will fall if they lose

[ramshorns]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

If CSK and DC lose their matches, KKR still has a chance ..they just need the NRR to go above DC's which is at -0.36 and will fall if they lose

You sound like a typical KKR fan.  All if's and but's which want few of the better teams to fall wayside while hoping a bottom placed team to work miracles in their final two games.

[Cover Point]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

If CSK and DC lose their matches, KKR still has a chance ..they just need the NRR to go above DC's which is at -0.36 and will fall if they lose

You sound like a typical KKR fan.  All if's and but's which want few of the better teams to fall wayside while hoping a bottom placed team to work miracles in their final two games.

the way DC was playing earlier in the tournament they cant be called a better team. Unfortunately Delhi is playing crap themselves ... so DC may get through afterall

[ramshorns]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

If CSK and DC lose their matches, KKR still has a chance ..they just need the NRR to go above DC's which is at -0.36 and will fall if they lose

You sound like a typical KKR fan.  All if's and but's which want few of the better teams to fall wayside while hoping a bottom placed team to work miracles in their final two games.

the way DC was playing earlier in the tournament they cant be called a better team. Unfortunately Delhi is playing crap themselves ... so DC may get through afterall

Does not matter what you or I say.  The point table says they have more points than 4 of the 8 teams and that is what ultimately determines in the end who is better and who is not.  That is what I am basing it on.

[LosingNow]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

If CSK and DC lose their matches, KKR still has a chance ..they just need the NRR to go above DC's which is at -0.36 and will fall if they lose

You sound like a typical KKR fan.  All if's and but's which want few of the better teams to fall wayside while hoping a bottom placed team to work miracles in their final two games.

I was just painting a scenario.. not sounding like a fan.

KKR has to do what it has to do.. win games and win big.. they cant think of other teams. In that context, I wanted BM/CG to open.

BTW, SG has not done bad in the first over

[ramshorns]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

If CSK and DC lose their matches, KKR still has a chance ..they just need the NRR to go above DC's which is at -0.36 and will fall if they lose

You sound like a typical KKR fan.  All if's and but's which want few of the better teams to fall wayside while hoping a bottom placed team to work miracles in their final two games.

I was just painting a scenario.. not sounding like a fan.

KKR has to do what it has to do.. win games and win big.. they cant think of other teams. In that context, I wanted BM/CG to open.

BTW, SG has not done bad in the first over

You sounded like one to me generally seeing your posts on KKR over the past few days.  May be you are a closet KKR fan who knows?  That is fine too.

[LosingNow]

BM gone.. he has been a disaster this IPL

[LosingNow]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

If CSK and DC lose their matches, KKR still has a chance ..they just need the NRR to go above DC's which is at -0.36 and will fall if they lose

You sound like a typical KKR fan.  All if's and but's which want few of the better teams to fall wayside while hoping a bottom placed team to work miracles in their final two games.

I was just painting a scenario.. not sounding like a fan.

KKR has to do what it has to do.. win games and win big.. they cant think of other teams. In that context, I wanted BM/CG to open.

BTW, SG has not done bad in the first over

You sounded like one to me generally seeing your posts on KKR over the past few days.  May be you are a closet KKR fan who knows?  That is fine too.

Whatever..
Frankly, after a very busy week of travel and meetings .. 4 cities in 5 days .. I got up early today (4AM PHX) and am finally watching some cricket.

[ramshorns]

Let us hope RR gets one or two more quick wickets and slow it down a bit more.

I want KKR to win but want them to use 16 or more overs in the process.

[Cover Point]

why did ganguly open? Why not gayle? (irrespective on how he does)

[LosingNow]

Gayle bowled.. Paper Maharathis fail at Eden

[LosingNow]

why did ganguly open? Why not gayle? (irrespective on how he does)

moot discussion now

[ramshorns]

Thank you Kamran Khan for getting Gayle.

May be this is Gayle's way to protest Ganguly demoting him and he opening instead.

[ramshorns]

I do not want KKR to lose anymore wickets and give RR hope.

SG/Pujara need to take the score to 66/2 or something like that in 10 overs.

[ramshorns]

Agree with the commentator.. send BM/CG to open and start putting a dent in the NRR. They should be chasing 140 at most

What commentators?  No matter what they do there are not making to the SF's period.  Anyone seriously think that this team is capable of climbing over 3 others team that have more points and better NRR.

If CSK and DC lose their matches, KKR still has a chance ..they just need the NRR to go above DC's which is at -0.36 and will fall if they lose

You sound like a typical KKR fan.  All if's and but's which want few of the better teams to fall wayside while hoping a bottom placed team to work miracles in their final two games.

I was just painting a scenario.. not sounding like a fan.

KKR has to do what it has to do.. win games and win big.. they cant think of other teams. In that context, I wanted BM/CG to open.

BTW, SG has not done bad in the first over

You sounded like one to me generally seeing your posts on KKR over the past few days.  May be you are a closet KKR fan who knows?  That is fine too.

Whatever..
Frankly, after a very busy week of travel and meetings .. 4 cities in 5 days .. I got up early today (4AM PHX) and am finally watching some cricket.

WoW.  That is a lot of travel for a week.  Hope it is not this way week in and week out.

[dextrous]

CG and BM dropped the semi-finals

[LosingNow]

CG and BM dropped the semi-finals

Not so fast.. your hero is doing well today