Biggest turnaround in IPL amid controversy

In two of the closest and exciting matches so far in the DLF Indian Premier League both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings lost their respective matches on Wednesday (May 21) in crunch situations. Though both teams have nearly substantiated their semifinal slot but the matches offer some thrilling cricket.

In the first game, Kings XI Punjab registered a one-run win over the Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians chasing a target of 189 only managed to score 188 despite a heroic effort from the little master Sachin Tendulkar. However, the Mumbai Indians’ fan and skipper Sachin both were unhappy over the performance of third umpire.

Batting first the Kings XI put a mammoth total of 189 and then five run-outs in Mumbai’s innings rest the host with silence at the Wankhede Stadium falling short of just two run to victory.

After losing Sanath Jayasuriya (20 of 12) early Dwayne Smith (20 of 16 balls) joins Sachin to tickle the scoreboard but the run-out hazard starts with Smith. After the depart of Abhishek Nayar (27 for 18), Robin Uthappa (9 for 13) and Shaun Pollock (0) all eyes were on the batting maestro who played a valiant innings of 65 of just 46 balls but Mumbai’s hope receive a bump after his unfortunate run-out on the 17th over at the score of 159-4.

Sachin’s wicket – a run out at non-striker end by Irfan Pathan while batting with Uthappa- did prove costly for Mumbai Indians as no other batsmen stand far as they lost last 7 wickets adding merely 29 runs. Five of Mumbai Indians’ batsmen fell short of their crease including the last ball run out of VS Yeligati by Punjab captain Yuvraj Singh.

There can be several turning points in the match; it can be Ashish Nehra’s final over which conceded 18 runs or wicket of Sachin Tendulkar or some not so convincing umpiring decission. Despite giving away too many runs in first 10 overs, the bowlers of Punjab fought really well with some excellent fielding guided them to a win by 1 run.

Earlier Kings XI batting was up to the mark as inform batsman Shaun Marsh (81 of 56 balls) and Luke Pomersbach (79 of 50) put a 134-run stand and then their bowlers took crucial wickets at regular intervals; Yuvraj and Sreesanth took two wickets each.

Umpiring in question

The skipper of Mumbai Indians has questioned the decission of third umpire Suresh Shastri as his team fall behind Kings XI. In a post match press conference though he declined to go into deep but expressed his gloom over a couple of decisions which went against them.

First it was the decission to give not out Punjab batsman Luke Pomersbach who seemed fall short of his ground in a TV reply in a direct throw from Shaun Pollock and then in Mumbai’s innings Dwayne Smith was given run-out against a throw by Piyush Chawla.

The umpire however defended his decision about giving benefit of doubt to Luke Pomersbach while declining to comment on Sachin’s comment.

Bangalore broke the jinx

In another match Rahul Dravid led Bangalore Royal challengers offer an unlike upset to Chennai Super Kings with a 14-run victory. Spinner Anil Kumble proving his credibility in this shorter version of the game took three wickets for just 14 runs which eventually thrived them successfully defending a small total 126 runs. Chennai Super Kings managed only 112 runs.