Champions League: Bangalore vs Warriors Match Preview

The qualifying stage is over and now the real business starts within the tournament of the Champions League and the 1st match will be between Bangalore and the Warriors. Bangalore made it through to this tournament with the runner ups badge in the IPL in which they caused fireworks all tournament. Warriors also are runners up in the South African domestic. Bangalore have a very good top order in the batting department including Chris Gayle and TM Dilshan while the Warriors have a long experienced bowling line up consisting of Theron, Ntini, Parnell and Tsotsobe and should be a great match.



Match Information:

September 23, Bangalore
Starting Time – 2000 Local Time


How the Teams Stand:


Bangalore had a very successful later part of the IPL in 2011 in which they managed to grab the runners up award and that was thanks to one man especially. Chris Gayle was a late contracted player for the Bangalore side but his performance at the IPL was unimaginable especially since he managed 608 runs at an average of 67.55 also hit at a strike rate of 183.13. He will be the crucial player for Bangalore and nothing else will matter if he can return to the form he was showing in the IPL previously this year. De Villiers and Dilshan are the other 2 overseas players that can make a big difference in the batting but Virat Kohli will also be important as he knows the Indian pitches very well. It looks like they will have to play both Vettori and Nannes after a limit of talented bowlers in the squad but Aravind proved to be a future international player with a great IPL tournament.
The Warriors staked their claim on the CLT20 last season as they made it all the way to the final but that was short lived as they were defeated in the final by the Chennai Super Kings. Ever since they haven’t coped too well in the domestic competitions but are back this year to hopefully go all the way this time. They are an exciting squad with depth and have plenty of international stars in the squad. The bowling line-up they bring to India is definitely the best out of all the teams. Theron, Botha, Parnell, Tsotsobe and Ntini are some of the names that the Warriors have for their bowling. The batting still has plenty of talent and names include Mark Boucher, Colin Ingram and Ashwell Prince. Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher weren’t in the best of form for the T20 competition in South Africa and the hard work put in was a team effort with individual performances. Here in India they will have to work together in the batting and build solid partnerships to help their bowlers defend a decent total.


Key Match Up:


Chris Gayle vs Rusty Theron

Chris Gayle is Bangalore’s headline player and Rusty Theron is a big name in this Warriors side and both will be influential to how their respective teams go in this prestigious tournament. Chris Gayle is known around the globe for his big hitting and the ability to tear apart a bowling attack and after a brilliant IPL with Bangalore many teams will not want to bowl to him. Theron has the role to bowl at the death but if Theron and Gayle clash during this T20 it will be very interesting as it will either win or lose the match for the players team.

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Champions League: Kolkata vs Somerset Match Preview

Kolkata and Somerset are both in the running to go to the next stage even if the result goes against them in this match as it will depend on the other match of Ruhuna and Leisesteshire. Both have the same strengths and weaknesses when you look at the match both teams played against Auckland meaning it should be a tight battle. Somerset struggled to score runs quickly against the spinners and Kolkata will have a few spinners to bowl to them with while Kolkata struggled to score quickly agains the quick bowlers and Somerset have them.

How the Teams Stand

Kolkata are coming off a narrow 2 run win against Auckland and they should deem themselves very lucky in escape with the 2 points and be placed on top of the Group B table. The same issue is haunting Kolkata around big totals as they have failed to do this in the IPL and failed to do it against Auckland with only Bisla managing to score runs quickly last match. As good as Jacques Kallis is 33 runs off 35 balls while opening in a T20 is not good enough and is really putting pressure on his team to perform so somehow he will have to go out to the middle swinging attempting to find quick runs. Yusuf Pathan only managed 12 off 17 last match which is very much unlike him so Kolkata fans will hope he can find some form. The bowling was very tight at the death which secured Kolkata victory and Kallis used his spinners very well with all his spinners have an economy rate of less than 6. The fielding was a very good sight to see and may have won them the game as Guptill was run out for a diamond duck and Vincent was in having made already 40.

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Champions League: Leicestershire vs Ruhuna Match Preview

The final day of the qualifiers for the Champions League in 2011 and the first of the double headers is between Leicestershire and Ruhuna. Both these teams went red in the face after embarrising defeates, Leicestershire got absolutley smash while Ruhuna choked in the final overs to grant Trinidad & Tobago a win. Both teams can still qualify but only if they smash their opponent and both teams will be desperate to get at least a win on the board.

How the Teams Stand:

Many people had high expectations when it came to Leicestershire’s position in this competition but their reputation has now gone down the drain after a poor performance against Trinidad & Tobago. The 51 run defeat sounds much better than it actually is because majority of their runs were score by James Taylor who would of impressed most of the viewers watching with his clean hitting. In the top order there were 3 ducks and it were those batsman that have major potential in this tournament like Andrew Mcdonald and Nixon. Gurney was the only bowler to pick up wickets as they were controllled by Simmons and Barath for majority of the innings and had no chance to recover. Claude Anderson has 88 wickets to his 96 match T20 career and this is his chance to pick up a few wickets on a pitch that is sure to be deteriating so his role is pivotol. Andrew Mcdonald had an successful stint in the T20 competition in England where he topped the run scoring list so he will have to continue his form to hopefully smash Ruhuna and somehow find a spot in the main draw in this tournament.

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Champions League: Auckland vs Somerset Match Preview

The 4th qualifying game to be held at Hyderabad is between Auckland and Somerset who both have their eyes on progessing to the next round of this tournament. Auckland choked in their 1st match and hope to recover and smash Somerset to keep their dream alive in winning this tournament. Somerset are without a few big names so will have to find some performances from somewhere in their squad.



How the Teams Stand


Auckland will have to find some spark from somewhere as it wouldn’t be a suprise if their confidence was dramatically lost after the lost to Kolkata. Auckland were at 1/60 after 9 overs and having to chase only 122 for the win they failed to reach the total when they should have easily achieved it. They now have to bounce back in this match to have any chance to progress to the next round in this tournament. The bowling will be a worry after they only managed the 1st wicket at the 10th over when they have quality options like Martin, Mills and Andre Adams. Auckland will be very dissapointed with the batting performance, Guptill was run out on a diamond duck so Auckland will be hoping for an impressive performance by him. Colin Munro managed 19 runs from 29 balls and he let his team down as he was too slow in his innings and while Lou Vincent’s runs mainly came from boundaries he had a lot of dot balls.

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Champions League: Leicestershire vs Trinidad & Tobago Match Preview More at: Champions League: Leicestershire vs Trinidad & Tobago

This is the 3rd qualifying match of the Champions League in 2011 which will be contested by Leicestershire and Trinidad & Tobago. Trinidad & Tobago are 1 win away from securing a permanent spot in this tournament but Leicestershire need to win this to keep their dream alive of entering the main draw in the tournament. The Trinidad & Tobago spinners performed very well on the Hyderabad pitch so Leicestershire will have to get on top of the match right away.

How the Teams Stand

Leicestershire may play the role as the party poopers if they manage to win this match as their opponents are only 1 win away from securing a group stage position. When you look at Leicestershire’s squad you don’t see too many stars but they completely suprised England in the T20 competition out playing star teams. Matthew Hoggard is a former England fast bowler and he captain this team full of mysteries but he managed 14 wickets in the FriendsLife t20 competition. Harry Gurney is another surprise in this English county team as he took 23 wickets from the 14 matches he played but he missed out playing in the final. Andrew Mcdonald who also plays in he Delhi Daredevils and Victorian Bushrangers is a key player in this Leicestershire team who scored 584 runs in the English County competition and will be crucial to their chances.

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Sri Lanka vs Australia (Sl vs Aus) | Day 5 Highlights 3rd Test | 20 Sep 2011

Australia playing very peacefully at the stumps of Day 4. Philip Hughes the Centurion played an heart-touching innings of 121*.His Partner Michael Clarke stayed with him and gave a great hand in his century.Philip Hughes still not out on 121 runs and will start the Day 5.The Last of this match will be very interesting we can say Because the Sri Lankans have showed their determined attempt and made 473 runs but now Australia is leading by 127 runs.I think, by my point of view, Australia should give Sri Lankans target above 250 and then they should declare and let the Sri Lankan’s to play.Lets see what happens next.Good Luck for the both extraordinary teams...

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