Semi Final Match-up @ IPL-3

Image via Wikipedia

Over the weekend we got the other 3 semi finalist for IPL-3. 3 matches and 3 semi finalists identified. what a keen contest it was through out the competition. it took the entire league matches  to be completed to identify all the semi finalists unlike other version of IPL where the semi finalist were identified by the 3/4th of the league stage and it was easily guessable who will be the semi finalists by half of the league stage.
MI will face RCB ,the most dangerous team of this IPL because of the very strong star studded batting line-up. RCB used to play with 7 batesman and all of them are capable of changing match in their own on their day. Bowling headed by Kumble and Steyn is not a concern at all. Vinay kumar got the T20 India nod mostly based on this years IPL performance. So lots of +ve for the RCB before the semi finals. Whereas MI which is mostly a one man army till last week, showed some good performance as a team in last 2 matches. Still batting revolves around Sachin Tendulkar who is a big match player, so can expect the piercing cover and straight drives in the semi final with Pollard who is coming to his own self blasting anything and everything out of ropes. Needs a special mention about Ambati Rayudu once considered as Jr Sachin in Andhra cricket is going through a purple patch. Look at his shots all are good cricketing shots. Sachin will not mind if Rayudu is being campared with him. Bowling is not a concern for MI since they are very good as a unit.MI also have the benefit of playing infront of home crowd. So can expect a cracker of the match provided both the teams have strong mental and nerves of steel.

DC with CSK ideal match since each player of one side has a corresponding player matching in the other side. Both the teams are patchy in the league stage. Both the teams have huge hitters in the line-up but successful in patches only. Rohit Sharma and Raina are the only 2 players have shown some consistency otherwise who will play well on a given day God only knows. Both the team has good captains but has done average this year. As far as bowling is concern nobody had bowl consistently for any of the team. Though DC have upper hand with Pragyan Ojha in their rank. Both the team are god fieling units. Lets see whether it will be Murali Vijay or Adam Gilchrist who will rock the first 6 overs.
So good semi finals are waiting. it will be like 4 hrs of Mega block busters telecast live with light and without action and cut.

Related articles by Zemanta

• IPL3 - semi-finalists identified (myhistoryisinteresting.blogspot.com)
• What a win for CSK! (computerknowledge1.blogspot.com)
• IPL semi-finals switched to Mumbai following Bangalore explosions (telegraph.co.uk)
• Bangalore 'match delayed' but no IPL official announced why (guardian.co.uk)
• Two blasts before Bangalore IPL match, five injured (teabreak.pk)
• 'Bomb' targets India cricket game (news.bbc.co.uk)