Hyderabad’s new Nizams

In the end the all round strength and combative spirit of Deccan Chargers proved to be the difference.

Chargers beat the Bangalore Royal Challengers by six runs to claim ownership of the glittering IPL Trophy.

With 45 runs required off 41 balls the road looked easy and straight for Bangalore Royal Challengers which was made difficult from the moment Ross Taylor chose to pull a ball that got a bit high on him. Venugopal Rao accepted the catch at deep square leg and off the next delivery Virat Kohli lost his balance and Adam Gilchrist whipped the bails of in a flash. Andrew Symonds in a matter of two balls gave another twist to the final. Full credit to Harmeet Singh for picking two crucial wickets and holding on to an excellent catch under pressure.

If ever there a template can be followed when defending a below par score, following what Deccan Chargers did on Sunday at the Wanderers will not be a bad idea. Coming out from the dug out like men possessed the Chargers put an admirable display in the field. Ryan Harris provided pace and R.P. Singh seam and swing. Jacques Kallis after a few streaky boundaries chopped one on to this stumps. Van der Merwe walking in at three and Manish Pandey under a verbal barrage struck on gamely.

Harris who repeated his maiden over act as against Delhi was struck for two new mighty sixes by Merwe and the heat in the middle intensified.

What the players exchanged will never get the MCC’s approval. Pandey trying to cut a ball close to the stumps nicked to Gilchrist and Merwe after adding another six was flummoxed by Pragyan Ojha who went a little overboard with his celebration.

The match hung on a razor edge at the halfway mark.

Pressure can do strange things even to the most experienced. Rahul Dravid in trying to beat the man at 45 was castled. Ross Taylor ensured the asking rate did not rise by much when he struck Ojha for a six and four. The target ahead was not difficult the key was to keep wickets intact but were unable to.

Anil Kumble did what he had done successfully all his career-stare at the opponent right in the eye. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Kumble sprang a surprise.

But it was a surprise only for those who didn’t know Kumble. He brought himself on in the first over against Adam Gilchrist. It was the mother of all contests.

against each other. Kumble tossed one up and Gilchrist took the bait and played over the ball. Kumble had handed over the advantage to his team exactly two minutes after play started.

Herschelle Gibbs struggled for timing. T. Suman started well but a leading edge when he closed the bat early ensured Symonds walked in much before he would have expected.

Andrew Two fine leaders