With IPL getting complex and interesting, With 5 teams struggling for 2,3 and 4^th place, it was the “nothing to lose” team KKR had yet another last over finish but fortunately they were on the winning side this time. Apart from 2/3 matches most of the matches for KKR were last over finish and if they were batting first they used to finish it in first few overs itself. ( please do not ask how? ) 

It was great chase by Kolkatta Knight Riders. Macculum played beautifully well for is 81 in 48 balls and Hodge I think played his best innings in IPL so far. Having said this, I know he has also played couple of good innings this season as well but they were on losing side both the times. KKR has been a perfect example of how it is when things are not going your ways. They dropped simple catches, the top edges went to boundaries when they were bowling and then the same top edges or even good shots went directly to fielders when they were batting, few bad decisions against them added something more to it. Frustration was visible on Macculum’s face. 

They say Agarkar is inconsistent but I really feel he also is a damn unlucky man. He was bowling with no fire in first couple of matches but started bowling well later but even for him edges went for boundaries, lower full tosses went for sixers. If you have seen it carefully he has bowled  excellent bouncers this time similar to one he bowled to MS Dhoni yesterday. I think he needed some confidence to be given to him which  Macculum has given and looked pretty active after been dropped twice. He bowled an excellent 19^th over against Deccan Chargers, it was a perfect Malinga over with all the Yorkers bowled on the spot giving away singles on each delivery, had he been with a little luck he would have got atleast couple of wickets. I normally do not believe in luck but incidents like Yuvaraj Singh taking 2 hat-tricks , Rohit Sharma taking one make me believe in luck, fortune etc.

 For Chennai Super Kings it was like they have won the match, half before the match, 25% after the toss and 25% after scoring 188. I heard someone from their team saying it was good enough score to win. ( against Kolkatta J is what actually he meant J ). Dhoni in after match interview perfectly described the match, “ One of the greatest chase in IPL and One of the worst bowling performance in IPL. Dhoni would not have thought even in his wildest dreams that they will lose the match. It really came as shock for them. Now they need to win their last match or at least not lose it with huge margines.   

 I hope KKR to put up another cracking performance against Rajasthan Royals tomorrow and gain some confidence for many of them to claim a position in next year IPL. Let’s look forward to today’s match where I want Royal challengers to beat Delhi Dare devils… this will make it even more interesting

A bookie calls Shane Warne before the match between Kolkata KnightRiders and Rajasthan Royals.

Cell phone rings. Warne picks up.

Warne : hello

Bookie : I am ….. Here.

Warne : yes tell me

Bookie : how is the pitch

Warne : ya dry and good for batting

Bookie : I want u to loose today’s match

Warne : impossible

Bookie : I will pay u $200,000

Warne : will be difficult to make KKR win.

Bookie : I will pay u $250,000

Warne : May be I could help you by reducing the margin. u tell by what margin we should win. will be much more easier

Bookie : no KKR should win

Warne : OK. I will try my best

Bookie : no make it.

Warne : OK.

Bookie : what will be the score

Warne : 200, if we bat first

Bookie : no make it 120

Warne : Impossible. Agarkar and Kartik are playing.

Bookie : 120 no change.

Warne : I will try

Bookie : OK. If KKR bat first

Warne : 110

Bookie : no make it 175

Warne : no u are asking too much. Ganguli is playing.

Bookie : OK make it $300,000

Warne : This would be the toughest match in my life

Bookie : OK, deal is made.

Warne : yes

Bookie : bye.

Match starts KKR bats first. KKR score only 120 in 20 overs. During the lunch break Shane’s cell rings.

Warne : hello

Bookie : its me. why did KKR score only 120. Our deal was 175.

Warne : What can I do ? They run one when they could run three, defend full toss, get out on wide balls, all catches and shots. I mean, if there is any. exactly directed to the fielders. But I will tell you this, Knight Riders are too good at this , I tried re-arranging the field.but they never miss a fielder.

Bookie : still u could bowl more no-balls. We got only 53 extras.

Warne : I asked all my bowlers to bowl badly. I also made Smith and Asnodkar bowl.

Bookie : Okay. leave that. I want u to loose the match.

Warne : I will try.

Bookie : Rajasthan Royals should be all out for 110

Warne : OK.

Bookie : bye.

Rajasthan Royals bats. They are making a serious attempt to not hit the ball and if at all they hit trying their best to hit to the fielders. They try to run only singles for doubles. But sometimes, they can’t stop themselves from running.

All Rajasthan Royals batsmen charged down to Kartik’s bowling and they purposely miss the ball hoping at least one
would hit the stumps. But they got to run a bye for that as McCullum is still searching for the ball . Inspite of the bad display of batting, they score 118 of 19 overs. Last over, 3 runs
required, the worst part is that its an Agarkar over. Warne is batting with Carseldine.

Bookie gets really furious.
Warne is ready to face the last over his cell rings (he plays with his cell).

Warne : hello

Bookie : its me! . What are you upto ?

Warne : We tried the best we could

Bookie : OK forget it. I want u to loose the match

Warne : what can I do. Fate !!! Agarkar is bowling

Bookie : I don’t know. u are loosing

Agarkar bowls. Warne tries to hide his bat behind his back. But the ball hits the bat and goes to third man. So they take a single.
(cell rings)

Warne : sorry what can I do I was hiding my bat but still the ball comes and hit my bat. If I play much worse than this everybody will find out.
Bookie : (gets really tensed). OK I can understand. But please don’t take last two runs.

Warne talks to Carseldine. Agarkar bowls. a juicy full toss. Carseldine uses all his batting skills to restrict that one to a single. Scores are level.
(cell rings)

Bookie : OK. Past is past. Atleast finish it in a tie. I don’t know what u are going to do u are not taking a single or u give u’r bat to the umpire.

Warne : OK. OK. Don’t worry this time I will! see to it we are not taking the single. Let it be obvious also. I am not taking the single.

Agarkar bowls, unfortunately he bowls a no ball. RR wins the match.
Bookie goes mad and Shane warne faints in the field itself

KKR is packed with some of the top-class international players.
Unfortunately, a team can play only 4 of them in any match. Imagine all of them are available for selection for a particular match. Wonder who will get dropped -
1. Ricky Ponting
2. Brendon McCullum
3. David Hussey
4. Mashrafe Mortaza
5. Ajantha Mendis
6. Chris Gayle
7. Brad Hodge
8. Morne van Wyk
9. Moises Henriques
10. Angelo Mathews
11. Mark Cameron

Chalo, lets eliminate no. 8 & below.
Now, choose your 4.

My pick -
2. Brendon McCullum
3. David Hussey
5. Ajantha Mendis
6. Chris Gayle

Considering the bowling line-up as Sharma, Agarkar, Dinda, Mendis and Gayle, Hussey, Ganguly being the part timers.

Oh my god, did I just drop Ponting?