Double T20 fun at Jaipur - crucial matches for all teams

In the two matches being played today at SMS Jaipur, all the teams should be looking for a win today so as to make there chances to qualify for the further round little easier.  Two matches to be played today are as follows:

Otago Volts v Perth Scorchers
Rajasthan Royals v Lions

Rajasthan Royals have already won their first mach against Mumbai Indians and one win here would make them sure of qualifying to the next round. For the Lions, Otago Volts and Perth Scorchers the respective matched today would be to ensure first victory as their previous matches were washed our due to rain at Ahemdabad.

Lions today face a huge task to cause a upset win. Reason I use the word upset win is not because Lions is a weaker team but the fact that Rajasthan team is strong at home and they have not lost any match here since IPL last year. 

The other match between Otago Volts and Perth Scorchers is going to be a chance for both teams to prove their worth as chances like Champions League T20 might not come always for these teams. For many players this can also be a stage to get entry to the IPL auctions  for next season.

Best wishes to both the teams.

Can Mumbai Indians Stop winning marathon of Otago Volts

When I read the name of team Otago Volts in the list of pre-qualifiers, I' haven't heard anything about the team. This team came as unknown team in the CLT20 tournament but now they are being seen as a real threat by most of the teams. This team is lead by Brendon McCullum who is in great form at the moment. Also the team is doing great, Otago have won all the last 13 matches they've played so far. Last three won came in the Champions League Qualifiers stage where they defeated T20 teams from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.

Now it'd be interesting to see, how the IPL champions Mumbai India could stop the winning Marathon of Otago Volts. Mumbai Indians is a quiet experienced team but there bowling is little weak with Lasith Malinga opted not to play in the Champions League. As far as Mumbai Indian batting is concerned they were bowled out cheaply in the opening match against the Rajasthan Royals but this strong batting line can strike at any moment they have the ability to win high scoring matches.

The match between the two team would be played at Ahmedabad pitch known to assist the batsmen and this would be a testing phase for Otago Volts. Otago volts have played last three matches at Mohali pitch which assists fast bowlers.

So keep a check on the live scoreboard for the match and enjoy, this is going to be one of the best match of the tournament.

Will it be RCB vs MI or a foreign team in Champions League finals

Royal Challengers Banglalore made it to the finals of the T20 Champions league and during this journey they chased score of 200+ amazingly twice in the series. Thus they are now strong contender to win the finals. Selecting Chris Gayle in the team has changes the RCB teams fortunes dramatically. Chris Gayle not only helped team enter the finals of IPL this year but he also contributed to the journey to the finals of Champions League. And I am sure if Gayle keeps his form in finals this years Champions are the Royal Challengers.

Now second semi final of the tournament is between two unlikely team Mumbai Indian who strongly rely on Lasith Malinga, who is the only player who can single handily guide the team to victory, other Mumbai Indians team is most likely the injury hit Indain cricket team.

Let see who wins the semi final between Mumbai Indians and Somerset to take RCB in finals.

England Team Arrives in India & Champions League T20 Matches Update

England team arrived in India and this team is now the number 1 ranked in ICC test rankings also the team is on a high as they have not let India win a single game in last series in England. Indian team was humiliated like its not a test playing team but a contracted nation of ICC.

England defeated India 4-0 in test, won the only T20 match in which we saw the debut and retirement of Rahul Dravid fr4om the T20s. Also they won the 5 match ODI series 3-0. Now the challenge for England to win the series here in India as well and if they manage to do so then in no doubt they will remain in the top of ICC rankings no matter how many matches they play.

For Indian cricket team there is no need to worry as they already had the excuse to unfit players and one statement for MS Dhoni in post match ceremony that we are playing without key players and its difficult to win matches under such circumstances.

This time there isn't much excitement about Champions league T20 and the updates from the series is that Mumbai Indians, New South Wales, team has qualifies for the semi finals of the tournament whereas the defending champions Chennai Super Kings are out of the tournament with three defeats.

Champions League Twenty20 & Australia tour of Sri Lanka Updates

In my last post about retirement of Rahul Dravid from One day international cricket matches, it felt like that I'll have to wait for a long time to watch him play cricket as team India next test match series yet have few months to go. Perhaps he will be available for the India Vs Australia matches in December.

Since Dravid is not a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore this years other wise we can have him watch playing in Champions League Twenty20 series that began today. However I am sure he will be available for another season of IPL at least.

Today in Champions League Twenty20 qualifiers two matched were played i.e.:

1. Auckland v Kolkata Knight Riders - KKR pulled out a win by just 2 runs defending a small total of 121 runs. Perhaps it was hard luck of Auckland who were once looking as they were win the match bu huge margin and thus can get big net run rate advantage. But few runo outs and inability to play slower bowlers well turned the match in KKR's favor.
   
2. Ruhuna v Trinidad & Tobago - T&T wun the match against Sri Lanka's team Ruhuna by 5 wickets. Trinidad & Tobago had a good Champions League Twenty20 season last time also and it seems they will do well this time as well. May be some players from this team will play in IPL next year as well.
   

Now coming to Australia vs Sri Lanka test match the match seems to be headed towards a draw. Australia lead by 52 runs with 7 wickets remaining at stumps on day 4 thus only one days play left we can expect an early close of the match if both captain agree.

Mumbai v South Australia Champions League T20 Match

Top batsman, top bowlers and a solid hitter, Mumbai Indians team has got a brilliant combination needed for being number one cricket club team. They missed the first match by a small margin and today they must win the match today. Being a solid they still haven't any title to there name. They had a bad IPL 1 and lost IPL 2 final due to some bad captaincy and team strategies. Here are the points why Mumbai Indian lost the IPL 2 final:

• Injured Sachin - An injured horse can win a race only in stories not in real life, Sachin himself should have taken the call not to play the final (perhaps selfishness come to play here) Jaaysurya or any other experienced ply in the team should have lead the team in the final
• Pollard coming late: He should rather be given the chance to open the innings in bing matched.
  

that was the thing of pst now for todays match what Mumbai Indian need is they play the best combination i.e. players like Bravo and Saurabh Tiwary cannot be kept in the dugg out are and the major are of concerns is despite having 5 leading bowlers why part time bowlers bowled 4 overs as in the first match.

Champions League Twenty 20 - Champions league 2010

Well it was a great match every tournament would like to have as beginning match. Close encounter that in the end Lions managed to win. They defeated Mumbai Indians by 9 runs. I think Kevin Pollards wicket was the turning point of the match had he playeh one over more result of the match would have been different.

I still favor him being pushed little ahead in the batting order, a pinch solid hitter like him should be given chance to play more ball, I even don't mind him opening handful of matches as an experiment. Perhaps Mumbai Indian had moved him to bat earlier in the IPL final against they would not be the runners up they could have been the champions.

Tomorrow is a double masti day, you can watch Wayamba from Sri Lanka playing the hosts Warriors, and in the second match you have IPL champions Chennai Super Kings compete the Central Districts from New Zealand.

Trinidad & Tobago beat New South Wales - Champions League

Final Scores:
Trinidad & Tobago 171 for 6 (Pollard 54, Ramdin 23) New South Wales 170 for 4 ( Hughes 83, Warner 63) by four wickets

Hero of the match Pollard who sailed Trinidad & Tobago with his brialliant half century in just less than three overs. Pollard scored a violent 18-ball 54 runs and help achieve a total that at a point seemed to be impossible to chase.

Twenty Twenty Thriller - Diamond Eagles beat Sussex

Twenty Twenty Thriller - Diamond Eagles beat Sussex Yes it was a T20 thriller scores of both team being tied in twenty overs and match then progressing to SUPER OVER, I guessed BOWL OUT would have been more interesting. The match refreshed the memories of ICC Cricket T20 world cup India vs Pak bowl out I have posted the video also ;)

With this win Diamond Eagles qualified for the Super eight of the Champions League Twenty20. Sussex Sharks is now out of the tournament.

Chasing 120 to win, Diamond Eagles made 119 for four in 20 overs as the match ended in a tie and stretched into the Super Over.

Diamond Eagles started off well but lost momentum in the middle overs as they lost a few wickets. Rossouw made a super half-century but fell at a crucial stage.

Ryan McLaren kept his cool to strike two boundaries in the final over and tie the match. Batting first in the Super Over, Rossouw came to the party yet again. Along with McLaren the duo added 9 runs off the bowling off Arafat.

However, only two balls were needed to determine the winner as Cornelius de Villiers shattered Sussex's chances of qualification by bowling Smith and Brown of consecutive deliveries.

Related links
Yahoo News
Champions League Twenty Twenty
Champions League

Wayamba vs Victorian Bushrangers LIVE

Play is in progress, Wayamba won the toss & elected to bat first and has scored 118 for 9 in 20 overs. In return Victorian Bushrangers are struggling at 70/4 in 16 Overs. The second round of the Champions League T20will start soon and below is the current points table:

Today's match will decide who will proceed the next round Wayamba OR Victorian Bushrangers . The home side, Delhi Daredevils have already qualified for the next league stage, leaving Victoria Bushrangers and Wayamba to fight it out for the remaining spot from their group.

Group A

Team	P	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR
HYD	1	0	1	0	0	- 0.20
SOM	2	1	1	0	2	- 1.00
TT	1	1	0	0	2	+2.20

Group B

Team	P	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR
NSW	2	2	0	0	4	+ 2.20
EAG	1	0	1	0	0	- 2.65
SUS	1	0	1	0	0	- 1.75

Group C

Team	P	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR
COB	2	2	0	0	4	+1.53
OTG	2	0	2	0	0	-3.35
BAN	2	1	1	0	2	+1.84

Group D

Team	P	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR
DEL	2	1	1	0	2	+0.70
VIC	1	1	0	0	2	+1.10
WMB	1	0	1	0	0	-2.50

Delhi Daredevils vs Victorian Bushrangers - Champions League

This is going to be an interesting match today. Match is yet to start. It would be intersting to see Virender Sehwag the local hero to watch playing cricket after a long break from internation la cricket due to injury.

Two more interesting matchesd will be played tomorrow between Cape Cobras vs Otago Volts at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad and the other match wil beplayed between Deccan Chargers vs Somerset at the same location. It would be great to see how the IPL champions Deccan Chargers will start the Champions league. Will it be a victory or a upset match.

Champions League Group B Match

New South Wales Blues VS Diamond Eagles
New South Wales Blues have won the toss and elected to bat against Diamond Eagles in the Group B match of ICC Champions League Twenty20. Match is being played at Ferozeshah Kotla stadium New Delhi.

Latest Score: New South Wales (NSW) Blues were dismissed for 144 for six and now Diamond Eagles needed 145 runs in 20 overs. but has lost the match already. Current score is at 83 for 8 in 18 overs

Capetown Cobras beat Royal Challengers Bangalore

Lesser known team for the Indian cricket fans beat the favorites Royal Challengers Bangalore by by 5 wickets. JP Duminy scored unbeaten 99 to get the victory with 2 balls to spare in a close encounter. Duminy never batted this way for Mumbai Indians ;)

Watch the live score and updates of Group B champions league match between Eagles and New South Wales to be played at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Champions League T20 - First match

First match of Champions league T20 will be played between Royal challengers Bangalore and Cape Cobras at Bangalore. All teams are divided into 4 groups A, B, C and D. Below is the groups status.

GROUPS:

GROUP A	GROUP B	GROUP C	GROUP D
A1 Deccan Chargers (India)	B1 NSW Blues (Australia)	C1 Royal Challengers (India)	D1 Delhi Daredevils (India)
A2 England [TBA]	B2 Diamond Eagles (South Africa)	C2 Cape Cobras (South Africa)	D2 Victorian Bushrangers (Australia)
A3 Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies)	B3 England Team 1 [*TBA]	C3 Otago Volts (New Zealand)	D3 Wayamba (Sri Lanka)

After the intial group matches, top 2 teams from each group will enter the league stage you may call it as quarter finals of ICC champions league. Below is the schedule of League stage:

LEAGUE STAGE

LEAGUE A	LEAGUE B
A1	C1
A2	C2
B1	D1
B2	D2

After quarter fials or league stage first semi-final will be played between Winner of League B and Runner-Up League A whereas second semi final will be played between
Winner League A and Runner-Up League B.

The final will be played on Friday, October 23.

Collingwood out of Champions League due to Injury

England all-rounder Paul Collingwood who was to play for the team Delhi Deardevils in this month's Champions League tournament will not be able to play the series due to ton buttock muscle.

Delhi Deardevils is one of the favorites for the tournament. Champions league will feature clubs from ndia, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies fighting for the shorter version of the cricket i.e Twenty Twenty commonly known as T20. Starting on 8-Oct tournament final willbe held on 23 October. Below is the list of teams participating:

• Delhi Daredevils
• Deccan Chargers
• Royal Challengers Bangalore
• Victoria
• New South Wales
• Cape Cobras
• Eagles
• Otago
• Trinidad
• Tobago
• Wayamba

Champions League Twenty twenty T 20 Match schedule

Champions league will begin on Oct 8 within three days of the ICC champions trophy Final. Below is the complete match fixture details of the tournament.

Thu Oct 8
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST Group C - Royal Challengers Bangalore v Cape Cobras
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Fri Oct 9
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT
16:00 IST Group B - Eagles v New South Wales
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Fri Oct 9
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST Group D - Delhi Daredevils v Victoria
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Sat Oct 10
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT
16:00 IST Group C - Cape Cobras v Otago
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Sat Oct 10
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST Group A - Deccan Chargers v Somerset
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Sun Oct 11
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT
16:00 IST Group B - New South Wales v Sussex
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Sun Oct 11
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST Group D - Delhi Daredevils v Wayamba
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Mon Oct 12
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT
16:00 IST Group A - Somerset v Trinidad & Tobago
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Mon Oct 12
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST Group C - Royal Challengers Bangalore v Otago
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Tue Oct 13
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT
16:00 IST Group D - Victoria v Wayamba
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Tue Oct 13
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST Group B - Eagles v Sussex
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Wed Oct 14
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST Group A - Deccan Chargers v Trinidad & Tobago
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad N/A

Thu Oct 15
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST League B - TBC v TBC (C1 v D2)
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Fri Oct 16
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT
16:00 IST League A - TBC v TBC (A2 v B2)
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Fri Oct 16
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST League A - TBC v TBC (A1 v B1)
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Sat Oct 17
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT
16:00 IST League B - TBC v TBC (C2 v D2)
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Sat Oct 17
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST League B - TBC v TBC (C1 v D1)
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Sun Oct 18
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT
16:00 IST League A - TBC v TBC (A2 v B1)
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Sun Oct 18
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST League A - TBC v TBC (A1 v B2)
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Mon Oct 19
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST League B - TBC v TBC (C2 v D1)
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Wed Oct 21
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST 1st semi-final - TBC v TBC (Winner B v Runner up A)
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Thu Oct 22
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST 2nd semi-final - TBC v TBC (Winner A v Runner up B)
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Fri Oct 23
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST Final - TBC v TBC
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad