Date – 25 April 2009

Pragyan Ojha (4-0-21-3) balled the spell which enabled Deccan Chargers to beat Mumbai Indians by 12 runs in an IPL match at Durban on Saturday. Not only he took three wickets, he took the price scalps of Sachin Tendulkar and JP Duminy to break the back bone of Mumbai Indians.

Chasing 169 to win, Mumbai finished at 156/7 and with this win Deccan Chargers retained the top spot.After winning the toss Deccan Chargers decided to bat first and thanks to impressive batting by Gilchirst, Gibbs and Smith they scored 168 runs. Once the opener were back, the middle order collapsed and they were restricted to a target much less than what was earlier anticipated. But when Mumbai Indians started the batting, they lost the priced wicket of Jayasurya in 2nd over. Tendulkar and Duminy reconstructed the innings but Ojha with his dream spell ended the hopes for Mumbai Indians.

Fall of Wickets
Deccan Chargers
FOW:*A Gilchrist (63-1, 6.5), D Smith (124-2, 12.5), R Sharma (136-3, 14.4), V Laxman (137-4, 15), H Gibbs (140-5, 15.4), Venugopal Rao (156-6, 17.4), RP Singh (161-7, 18.4), F Edwards (163-8, 19.2), Ravi Teja (168-9, 20)

Mumbai Indians
S Jayasuriya (4-1, 1.4), *S Tendulkar (86-2, 10.5), S Dhawan (92-3, 12.3), J Duminy (105-4, 14.3), A Nayar (120-5, 16.2), D Bravo (144-6, 18.2), Harbhajan (154-7, 19.3)

Man of the Match – PP Ojha (Deccan Chargers)

Date – 24 April 2009
In an encounter between Kings Punjab and Bangalore Royal Challengers, Preity Zinta’s man routed Mallaya’s Challengers and won the match comfortably by 7 wickets. Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and elected to bat and posted a good competitive total of 169 for winning the match. Kings XI opener gave them a solid start and Bopara scored 85 runs of just 59 balls. All batsmen of top order contributed and had strike rate equal to or greater than 100. In the end it was a cakewalk for Kings XI and they won the match in style by hitting 6 and reaching 173/3 in 19 overs.

Preity Zinta was seen very happy with the team performance.

Man of the match: R Bopara

Date – 23 April 2009

It was Abraham de Villiers hundred in Indian Premier League which helped Delhi Daredevils score an emphatic win over Chennai Super Kings here in Durban. This match is being described as the best one so far in IPL-2 as it was a very close call for both the teams. In a high scoring game, no one could predict till very end that who will win. At last Delhi DareDevils hold on the nerves and registered the win by nine runs.

Delhi DareDevils scored 190 runs, highest in IPL and it looked almost impossible for Chennai Super Kings to even think of winning. But Mathew Hayden gave the best possible start and Chennai Super Kings surpassed the 50-run mark in less than five overs and things seemed to be going their way when Pradeep Sangwan struck in his first over. Soon after Hayden was dismissed for 57 off 27 balls (5×4, 3×6) and Chennai Super Kings were 90 for two after eight overs. After that Chennai Super Kings were were 139 for four (after 14.1 overs) after Raina’s dismissal. They needed 24 runs off the last two overs and Morkel was still in the middle so they had some hope. But three run outs changed the whole scenario and Chennai Lost a well fought match.

Man of the match: AB de Villiers

Date – 23 April 2009

Rajasthan Royals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in a thriller today. When the scored were tied at 150 after 20 overs, the ‘Super over’ was brought into play for the first time in the IPL. Rajasthan Royals batsmen Yusuf Pathan scored 16 runs to win the match and thus Knight Riders faced their second defeat in three matches.

In a super over, the team which scores the highest runs wins. But in case its again a tie then the one with maximum sixes in that over is declared the winner.

Batting first Kolkata Knight Riders scored 15 runs in their over, thanks to three boundaries by Chris Gayle of Kamran’s over. When Rajasthan Royals came to bat, Yusuf Pathan scored 6, 2, 6 and 4 off Ajantha Mendis to win the most closed contest of IPL-2.

Man Of The Match – Yusuf Pathan

Date – 22 April 2009

Deccan Chargers are now at Number 1 position in IPL Standings by registering a 24 runs win over Banglore Royal Challengers. Skipper Gilchrist won the toss and elected to bat first. Former Australian wicket-keeper explosive batsman Gilchrist entertain the crowd with his superb performance. He scored 71 runs from 45 balls including 4 fours and 5 huge sixes. Praveen Kumar provide first breakthrough by dismissing opener Gibbs. After that it was a wonderful performance from Rohit Sharma. He hit three huge sixes in Kumble’s over. Rohit Sharma manage to complete his half century and was out for a score of 52 runs in 30 balls. Deccan Chargers put a total of 184/6 in 20 overs. In reply, RC opener was cleaned bowled from pacer F.Edwards on first ball of the match. Only Dravid (48) and V.Kohli (50) score runs Royal Challengers Banglore manage to score 160/8 in 20 overs

Man Of The Match – Adam Gilchrist

Playing XI –

DC – Adam Gilchrist (C) (W), Herschelle Gibbs, VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Scott Styris, Venugopal Rao, Dwaraka Ravi Teja, Pragyan Ojha, Harmeet Singh, RP Singh, Fidel Edwards

RCB – Robin Uthappa (W), Jesse Ryder, Jacques Kallis, Kevin Pietersen (C), Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Rajesh Bishnoi, Karan Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Dale Steyn, Anil Kumble