Having tipped the Highveld Lions, it was inevitable that the Sydney Sixers would win the Champions League Trophy. However, few would have predicted such a one-sided contest.
The South Africans had got this far despite the poor form of their captain Alviro Petersen, and his miserable run continued. Being dismissed for a single is bad enough but when the opener is fourth back in the pavilion with the score on nine, things looked serious for the men in red. Spinners Nathan McCullum, one of only two non-Aussies in the side, and Steve O'Keefe, ripped out the Lions' teeth inside four overs and it was only through some sensible resistance from Jean Symes that they posted a vaguely defendible target.
The competition has been memorable for the economy and wicket-taking of the Lions' own spin duo Morris and Phangiso but they couldn't provide a repeat of their semi-final heroics. Skipper Brad Haddin and SA-born England international Michael Lumb ensured the Aussies romped to an amazing ten-wicket victory. No surprise that the latter won the Man of the Match award - the top batsman nearly always does - but O'Keefe or Josh Hazlewood deserved the plaudits.
Pink was the colour at the Wanderers and congratulations for the Sixers for not only ending the fortnight unbeaten but also for doing it without star performer Shane Watson in the final three matches. Michael Lumb was the top CLT scorer on 226 and Mitch Starc claimed more wickets than anyone else, so the Sydney outfit really did win everything going.
It'll be interesting to see how the young franchise progresses. Champions of the Big Bash and now the international tourney, they will take some beating. IPL sides like the Daredevils and Indians may be stacked with global superstars but the Sixers looked a more cohesive unit, with a more solid bowling attack than any other side on show. Few of them will be returning in the forthcoming Test series but South Africa must be fancying their chances of gaining revenge against Australian opposition in a few weeks' time, even wearing white instead of garish 'mangenta'.
Showing posts with label Champions League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Champions League. Show all posts
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Thursday, 25 October 2012
IPL 0, Rest of World 3
At last, something about the Champions League to cheer about! For a tournament funded, scheduled and structured to maximise the chances of an IPL franchise victory, it must be galling for the organisers to face the situation of all three remaining teams representing either South Africa or Australia.
The scarlet-clad Lions side ended the Delhi Daredevils' unbeaten run in the competition this evening. Chris Morris took 2-7 in his four overs, including the big wickets of Warner and Pietersen, as the IPL superstars collapsed in the second half of their innings. Morris' figures were especially notable because seamers are rarely so frugal, but he was well supported by spinner Aaron Phangiso and Sohail Tanvir. Neil McKenzie, as he so often is, had been the most impressive home batsman with an unbeaten 46 from 28 balls.
The domestic T20 Challenge runners-up may not boast an international all-star cast but they had enough quality to win three out of their four Group matches. Gulam Bodi is easily the highest scorer in the Champions League so far, thanks to three half-centuries. Phangiso is second in the wicket-taking table, and has conceded on average fewer than five runs an over. Rent-a-T20 paceman Dirk Nannes may have gone with the Lions for this tourney but he has been outshone by most of his team-mates.
Vying to meet them in the Final are their domestic conquerors the Titans and Big Bash winners Sydney Sixers. Plenty of talent in this semi, too. The Aussies are awash with internationals, and on paper their bowlers look particularly impressive. Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood are top-class young seamers, backed by Henriques and a certain Shane Watson. Watto opens the batting with England's Michael Lumb, but Brad Haddin, Dominic Thornely and Steven Smith make for a fragile middle-order. Nevertheless they have a 100% record to date.
I must make the Titans favourites, especially playing at Centurion. Jacques Rudolph has been in the runs, and Roelof van der Merwe's spin has been a potent weapon, even in the thumping defeat at the hands of KKR last weekend. All it takes is for the rest of the team to reach their potential and the Sixers will have a real challenge on their hands. De Villiers, Van der Merwe (with the bat), van Jaarsveld and Alfonso Thomas are amongst the South African line-up who can do considerable damage, but against such am strong Aussie attack, the batsmen have to make steady runs if they are to win. The Warriors have been South Africa's only CLT finalists in the three previous years but it could well be two this time, while he Sixers hope to emulate NSW who won the inaugural competition in 2009. I'll stick my neck out and go for the Lions to go all the way.
The scarlet-clad Lions side ended the Delhi Daredevils' unbeaten run in the competition this evening. Chris Morris took 2-7 in his four overs, including the big wickets of Warner and Pietersen, as the IPL superstars collapsed in the second half of their innings. Morris' figures were especially notable because seamers are rarely so frugal, but he was well supported by spinner Aaron Phangiso and Sohail Tanvir. Neil McKenzie, as he so often is, had been the most impressive home batsman with an unbeaten 46 from 28 balls.
The domestic T20 Challenge runners-up may not boast an international all-star cast but they had enough quality to win three out of their four Group matches. Gulam Bodi is easily the highest scorer in the Champions League so far, thanks to three half-centuries. Phangiso is second in the wicket-taking table, and has conceded on average fewer than five runs an over. Rent-a-T20 paceman Dirk Nannes may have gone with the Lions for this tourney but he has been outshone by most of his team-mates.
Vying to meet them in the Final are their domestic conquerors the Titans and Big Bash winners Sydney Sixers. Plenty of talent in this semi, too. The Aussies are awash with internationals, and on paper their bowlers look particularly impressive. Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood are top-class young seamers, backed by Henriques and a certain Shane Watson. Watto opens the batting with England's Michael Lumb, but Brad Haddin, Dominic Thornely and Steven Smith make for a fragile middle-order. Nevertheless they have a 100% record to date.
I must make the Titans favourites, especially playing at Centurion. Jacques Rudolph has been in the runs, and Roelof van der Merwe's spin has been a potent weapon, even in the thumping defeat at the hands of KKR last weekend. All it takes is for the rest of the team to reach their potential and the Sixers will have a real challenge on their hands. De Villiers, Van der Merwe (with the bat), van Jaarsveld and Alfonso Thomas are amongst the South African line-up who can do considerable damage, but against such am strong Aussie attack, the batsmen have to make steady runs if they are to win. The Warriors have been South Africa's only CLT finalists in the three previous years but it could well be two this time, while he Sixers hope to emulate NSW who won the inaugural competition in 2009. I'll stick my neck out and go for the Lions to go all the way.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Player of the Week: David Warner
OK, so I was wrong. Somerset did not lose in the Champions League final, but they did lose to the eventual winners, Mumbai Indians. In my mind, it was a shame that the top two sides turned out to be IPL franchises. Somerset and New South Wales gave the Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore a good run for their money, but as so often happens in modern sport, the richest teams tend to win the big prizes and thus become richer still.
Bangalore relied heavily on the massive hitting of Chris Gayle, spraying sixes like confetti, especially over the miniscule boundaries of their home ground, and Virat Kohli. Skipper Daniel Vettori's thoughtful slow bowling was also a factor but strike bowler Dirk Nannes was a disappointment until the last match, when he conceded only 14 runs from his four overs. Indeed, the final itself was a big let-down, not just because it was a low-scoring affair. Bangalore's innings never got going as all the Mumbai bowlers had the measure of Gayle, Dilshan et al, who mustered a single six between them.
In this game and the semi-final, Lasith Malinga was simply brilliant. Poor Peter Trego and Nick Compton had probably never encountered bowling like this, but familiarity made no difference in the final as he topped and tailed the innings in great style. His captain, Harbhajan Singh also enjoyed a fine game, taking 3-20.
However, neither player wins my Player of the Week award.
Instead, I've gone for a man who plundered two huge hundreds in successive games, one of which was lost! David Warner maybe almost 25 years old now but he has played a mere nine first-class matches. Given that his batting average is a very healthy 53, this is a mystery. Maybe his reputation as a Twenty20 specialist runs before him like a storm cloud but recent performances for Australia 'A' may put him in the frame for a Test place should injury befall a Watson, Ponting, Hussey or Marsh.
In the Champions League T20, it showed that his short-format reputation is well deserved. Against the Super Kings at Chennai, he thumped 135 not out in 69 balls, making fellow Aussie Doug Bollinger look very awkward indeed. Three days later, there was more of the same, crashing an unbeaten 123 in 68 deliveries, this time including 11 sixes, three more than Gayle managed in the Bangalore reply. Only Kohli's 49-ball 84 deprived him of the Player of the Match prize. Warner easily top-scored in the tournament, with 328 in a mere five innings at a strike rate of 173 per 100 balls. Having accumulated only one century in his previous 110 T20 appearances, he tripled that number in the next two, and adds my Player of the Week award to his collection of honours. I just wish he gets his chance to play in five-day cricket, although I doubt it would happen in partnership with Shane Watson. Maybe at number six? Anyway, he brought the CLT20 to life and gave non-IPL clubs a little glimmer of hope.
Bangalore relied heavily on the massive hitting of Chris Gayle, spraying sixes like confetti, especially over the miniscule boundaries of their home ground, and Virat Kohli. Skipper Daniel Vettori's thoughtful slow bowling was also a factor but strike bowler Dirk Nannes was a disappointment until the last match, when he conceded only 14 runs from his four overs. Indeed, the final itself was a big let-down, not just because it was a low-scoring affair. Bangalore's innings never got going as all the Mumbai bowlers had the measure of Gayle, Dilshan et al, who mustered a single six between them.
In this game and the semi-final, Lasith Malinga was simply brilliant. Poor Peter Trego and Nick Compton had probably never encountered bowling like this, but familiarity made no difference in the final as he topped and tailed the innings in great style. His captain, Harbhajan Singh also enjoyed a fine game, taking 3-20.
However, neither player wins my Player of the Week award.
Instead, I've gone for a man who plundered two huge hundreds in successive games, one of which was lost! David Warner maybe almost 25 years old now but he has played a mere nine first-class matches. Given that his batting average is a very healthy 53, this is a mystery. Maybe his reputation as a Twenty20 specialist runs before him like a storm cloud but recent performances for Australia 'A' may put him in the frame for a Test place should injury befall a Watson, Ponting, Hussey or Marsh.
In the Champions League T20, it showed that his short-format reputation is well deserved. Against the Super Kings at Chennai, he thumped 135 not out in 69 balls, making fellow Aussie Doug Bollinger look very awkward indeed. Three days later, there was more of the same, crashing an unbeaten 123 in 68 deliveries, this time including 11 sixes, three more than Gayle managed in the Bangalore reply. Only Kohli's 49-ball 84 deprived him of the Player of the Match prize. Warner easily top-scored in the tournament, with 328 in a mere five innings at a strike rate of 173 per 100 balls. Having accumulated only one century in his previous 110 T20 appearances, he tripled that number in the next two, and adds my Player of the Week award to his collection of honours. I just wish he gets his chance to play in five-day cricket, although I doubt it would happen in partnership with Shane Watson. Maybe at number six? Anyway, he brought the CLT20 to life and gave non-IPL clubs a little glimmer of hope.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Champions League T20 comes to life!
I must confess that until today the Nokia Champions League T20 seemed like just another meaningless, albeit financially lucrative bashfest in India. However, with the Royal Challengers Bangalore's thrilling last-ball victory over South Australia and Somerset's dismantling of the highly-fancied Warriors, suddenly the competition has acquired a new sheen of credibility and excitement.
OK, so I'm a Somerset fan and therefore I have a personal interest in the outcome. Having reached the semi-finals, we all know that Somerset will lose in the final. Given their record in recent one-day tournaments, that's inevitable! Nevertheless, the £1million or so prize money will be a fabulous boost to the coffers. Just as significantly, while the tournament waves farewell to the likes of Hussey, Dhoni, Gibbs, Steyn, Tait, Kallis and Lee, new names on the global stage now include Peter Trego, massive six-hitter Jos Buttler, Roelof van der Merwe and young Adam Dibble, who had a memorable T20 debut today!
So if Alfonso Thomas and his merry men don't unearth any celebratory cider - against their tweeted wishes! - and beat Harbajhan Singh's Mumbai Indians, who will replace the Chennai Super Kings as the 2011 champions? The other semi will be fought between New South Wales and Bangalore. The latter were heading out of the competition until Chris Gayle found his mojo and flayed the Somerset attack for eight sixes on Monday, then Dilshan and Kohli plundered 15 more against South Australia this afternoon just as the Redbacks must surely have thought their 214-2 had been enough to guarantee progress. Don't forget Daniel Vettori either. In today's runfest, he was once again Mr Economical, conceding only a run a ball.
New South Wales lost their first game against the Cape Cobras and their prospects weren't looking rosy. They sneaked through against Trinidad & Tobago by virtue of a one-over eliminator, then they struggled against the Mumbai Indians after Clark, Cummins and O'Keefe had throttled the opposition batsmen. However, against the Super Kings, David Warner produced an outstanding innings of 135 not out in just 69 balls, and now momentum seems to be on their side.
Both NSW and RCB boast some sparkling T20 batsmen and there could be some real fireworks when Gayle, Dilshan, Warner and Watson get going. However, I think the deciding factor could be in the bowling. Without Brett Lee, lured away by superior IPL cash, the Aussies look a bit weak in that department and Dirk Nannes and Vettori could have the edge. Most teams playing against Bangalore probably have one tactic: get Gayle out in the first over and you'll probably win. Let him off the hook and get his eye in, and it's curtains! One Nannes yorker or a mistimed hoik to a boundary fielder and it's in the bag for NSW. Nevertheless, I'll go for the IPL franchise to win the semi and go on to beat the perennial English bridesmaids.
Oh, how I'd love to be wrong and see Somerset right a few wrongs and emerge as world beaters on Sunday. Give Kieswetter a knighthood and Thomas the freedom of Taunton! Don't forget Marcus Trescothick either. He may not travel abroad with his team but without him, Somerset would never have qualified for this end-of-season beano in the first place. Come on, lads. Do it for Banger!
OK, so I'm a Somerset fan and therefore I have a personal interest in the outcome. Having reached the semi-finals, we all know that Somerset will lose in the final. Given their record in recent one-day tournaments, that's inevitable! Nevertheless, the £1million or so prize money will be a fabulous boost to the coffers. Just as significantly, while the tournament waves farewell to the likes of Hussey, Dhoni, Gibbs, Steyn, Tait, Kallis and Lee, new names on the global stage now include Peter Trego, massive six-hitter Jos Buttler, Roelof van der Merwe and young Adam Dibble, who had a memorable T20 debut today!
So if Alfonso Thomas and his merry men don't unearth any celebratory cider - against their tweeted wishes! - and beat Harbajhan Singh's Mumbai Indians, who will replace the Chennai Super Kings as the 2011 champions? The other semi will be fought between New South Wales and Bangalore. The latter were heading out of the competition until Chris Gayle found his mojo and flayed the Somerset attack for eight sixes on Monday, then Dilshan and Kohli plundered 15 more against South Australia this afternoon just as the Redbacks must surely have thought their 214-2 had been enough to guarantee progress. Don't forget Daniel Vettori either. In today's runfest, he was once again Mr Economical, conceding only a run a ball.
New South Wales lost their first game against the Cape Cobras and their prospects weren't looking rosy. They sneaked through against Trinidad & Tobago by virtue of a one-over eliminator, then they struggled against the Mumbai Indians after Clark, Cummins and O'Keefe had throttled the opposition batsmen. However, against the Super Kings, David Warner produced an outstanding innings of 135 not out in just 69 balls, and now momentum seems to be on their side.
Both NSW and RCB boast some sparkling T20 batsmen and there could be some real fireworks when Gayle, Dilshan, Warner and Watson get going. However, I think the deciding factor could be in the bowling. Without Brett Lee, lured away by superior IPL cash, the Aussies look a bit weak in that department and Dirk Nannes and Vettori could have the edge. Most teams playing against Bangalore probably have one tactic: get Gayle out in the first over and you'll probably win. Let him off the hook and get his eye in, and it's curtains! One Nannes yorker or a mistimed hoik to a boundary fielder and it's in the bag for NSW. Nevertheless, I'll go for the IPL franchise to win the semi and go on to beat the perennial English bridesmaids.
Oh, how I'd love to be wrong and see Somerset right a few wrongs and emerge as world beaters on Sunday. Give Kieswetter a knighthood and Thomas the freedom of Taunton! Don't forget Marcus Trescothick either. He may not travel abroad with his team but without him, Somerset would never have qualified for this end-of-season beano in the first place. Come on, lads. Do it for Banger!
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