Warner's step too far, and Zaheer's wicket maiden
Plenty of rain, blistering innings, game-changing spells and other stand-out moments from the final week of the group stage of IPL 2015
ESPNcricinfo staff
18-May-2015
Rain played a part in five of Royal Challengers Bangalore's 14 league games this season • BCCI
The rainmen
Looking for monsoons? Don't check satellite pictures, check Royal Challengers Bangalore's schedule. They had two of their first 11 games affected by rain. In the last week, though, that strike rate improved to 100%. They found rain in Mohali, then found some more in Hyderabad, and as they returned to Bangalore, the clouds arrived one more time.
Looking for monsoons? Don't check satellite pictures, check Royal Challengers Bangalore's schedule. They had two of their first 11 games affected by rain. In the last week, though, that strike rate improved to 100%. They found rain in Mohali, then found some more in Hyderabad, and as they returned to Bangalore, the clouds arrived one more time.
The commentary pearl
"It is the googly that will help the boys from the Hoogly,"
IPL presenter Gaurav Kapoor, on the possibility of a double wash-out on Sunday, which would have helped Kolkata Knight Riders qualify for playoffs.
"It is the googly that will help the boys from the Hoogly,"
IPL presenter Gaurav Kapoor, on the possibility of a double wash-out on Sunday, which would have helped Kolkata Knight Riders qualify for playoffs.
The ball of the week
Despite the cacophony from the sound system, quiet prevailed at the Wankhede the moment Sunil Narine bowled Rohit Sharma with his best slow-motion impression of a Dale Steyn delivery - the ball angling in, then turning away past the outside edge to hit the top of off.
Despite the cacophony from the sound system, quiet prevailed at the Wankhede the moment Sunil Narine bowled Rohit Sharma with his best slow-motion impression of a Dale Steyn delivery - the ball angling in, then turning away past the outside edge to hit the top of off.
The slip of the week
With four needed off two balls, Virat Kohli swung Bhuvneshwar Kumar down the ground. David Warner took the catch in the deep and was even starting to celebrate just before he stepped on to the boundary. This is what he had to say:
With four needed off two balls, Virat Kohli swung Bhuvneshwar Kumar down the ground. David Warner took the catch in the deep and was even starting to celebrate just before he stepped on to the boundary. This is what he had to say:
Kids if you watched tonight's game make sure you check for the boundary rope. Costly mistake.1 more game to go we can fight back @SunRisers
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) May 15, 2015The set-up
Chennai Super Kings had crawled to 16 for 0 in five overs, with Zaheer Khan keeping the openers on leash. In the sixth over, a twitchy Brendon McCullum tried to reverse-scoop, then charged down the pitch, played a cut, but couldn't score. Desperate, he could only mis-time the last ball to mid-off, giving Zaheer a wicket maiden.
Chennai Super Kings had crawled to 16 for 0 in five overs, with Zaheer Khan keeping the openers on leash. In the sixth over, a twitchy Brendon McCullum tried to reverse-scoop, then charged down the pitch, played a cut, but couldn't score. Desperate, he could only mis-time the last ball to mid-off, giving Zaheer a wicket maiden.
The shot of the week
With12 required off four balls, Bhuvneshwar bowled a perfect yorker. Kohli calmly guided it to the point boundary. Seeing the batsman premeditating a scoop over short fine leg, Bhuvneshwar then bowled a wide yorker. At the last instant, Kohli adjusted the stroke and bisected point and short third man.
With12 required off four balls, Bhuvneshwar bowled a perfect yorker. Kohli calmly guided it to the point boundary. Seeing the batsman premeditating a scoop over short fine leg, Bhuvneshwar then bowled a wide yorker. At the last instant, Kohli adjusted the stroke and bisected point and short third man.
The innings of the week
Shane Watson's return to the Rajasthan Royals side had coincided with the team's poor run this year. Under pressure, Watson even gave up the captaincy. Then, in a must-win match, he brought his top game. He started with crisp boundaries in the first over, then reached his second T20 century off 59 balls with a boundary in the last over of the innings.
Shane Watson's return to the Rajasthan Royals side had coincided with the team's poor run this year. Under pressure, Watson even gave up the captaincy. Then, in a must-win match, he brought his top game. He started with crisp boundaries in the first over, then reached his second T20 century off 59 balls with a boundary in the last over of the innings.
The scare
Kings XI Punjab were all but out of the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad when they needed close to 15 an over from the last six overs. David Miller, however, started teeing off and brought it down to 28 off the last over. Sunrisers waited nervously as Miller smashed the first four balls from Ishant Sharma for 16 runs, but missed the penultimate ball. Just to make a point of how close he was, Miller smashed the last ball for a six too.
Kings XI Punjab were all but out of the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad when they needed close to 15 an over from the last six overs. David Miller, however, started teeing off and brought it down to 28 off the last over. Sunrisers waited nervously as Miller smashed the first four balls from Ishant Sharma for 16 runs, but missed the penultimate ball. Just to make a point of how close he was, Miller smashed the last ball for a six too.
The spell of the week
In a game that saw batsmen ransack 389 runs from 40 overs, one bowler stood out with figures of 4 for 23. Rajasthan Royals' Chris Morris picked up a wicket in his first over and just when Kolkata Knight Riders were threatening the 200-run target, he returned to pick up three more.
In a game that saw batsmen ransack 389 runs from 40 overs, one bowler stood out with figures of 4 for 23. Rajasthan Royals' Chris Morris picked up a wicket in his first over and just when Kolkata Knight Riders were threatening the 200-run target, he returned to pick up three more.
The thunderbolts
A bowler getting smashed by Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers is a given. A bowler picking up the two batsmen off consecutive deliveries is a rarity. And no, it wasn't Trent Boult.Moises Henriques was having an excellent day: he had hit a 22-ball 57 and it got better as Gayle pulled one straight to midwicket before de Villiers mistimed a loft to long-on.
A bowler getting smashed by Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers is a given. A bowler picking up the two batsmen off consecutive deliveries is a rarity. And no, it wasn't Trent Boult.Moises Henriques was having an excellent day: he had hit a 22-ball 57 and it got better as Gayle pulled one straight to midwicket before de Villiers mistimed a loft to long-on.
The guest appearance
Sachin Tendulkar still rules the Wankhede. As the camera focused on the actor Amitabh Bachhan being interviewed on the sidelines, the fans began to roar. But the moment it moved to the tiny man standing next to the tall actor, the noise rose to deafening levels. "Saaachin, Sachin," still echoes.
Sachin Tendulkar still rules the Wankhede. As the camera focused on the actor Amitabh Bachhan being interviewed on the sidelines, the fans began to roar. But the moment it moved to the tiny man standing next to the tall actor, the noise rose to deafening levels. "Saaachin, Sachin," still echoes.