By Sheriff Michaels
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| Another match-winning show by Neil McKenzie |
DURBAN, South Africa (TheSportsNEXT) October 26, 2012:The Highveld Lions stormed their way into final of the Champions League Twenty20 2012 on Thursday when they outclassed last IPL franchise in the competition Delhi Daredevils in the first semi-final by 22 runs at Kingsmead in Durban.
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The Highveld Lions also put an end to all the speculations about another South African side getting choked at the semi-finals of a big tournament by eliminating the quality IPL side Delhi Daredevils.
Highveld Lions scored 139 for 5, thanks to Gulam Bodi’s half century and 46 not out from Niel McKenzie and while Kevin Pietersen (50) did his best to make a match of the Lions’ batting performance, he lacked support from his mates as the Delhi Daredevils were restricted to 117 for nine from their 20 overs, 22 runs short of their target.
On a bouncy and seaming wicket at Kingsmead in Durban, Delhi Daredevils skipper Ross Taylor decided to bowl first after winning the toss thus relying on his bowling might to topple the Highveld Lions who like to chase down targets.
The Delhi Daredevils team management surprised all and sundry by including Australian opening batsman David Warner, who hadn’t played any game in the Champions League Twenty20 2012 before, in the team in place of Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene.
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| Gulam Bodi hits 3rd fifty in CLT20 |
Ross Taylor was hoping his bowlers would strike early with the new ball on the bouncy track with conditions favoring the new leather to move in the air quite a bit. However, Highveld Lions openers Gulam Bodi (50 from 49 – 4 fours, 1 six) and skipper Alviro Petersen (24 from 19 – 3 fours, 1 six) stayed there for 5.2 overs before Umesh Yadav got rid of Petersen with total at 34 runs.
Young South African batting sensation Quinton de Kock (11 from 13 – 2 fours) failed to force the issue and top-edged one from Ajit Agarkar when he tried to break free and blasted one in the air with Unmukt Chand judging a swirling catch to the perfection.
Alviro Petersen, surprisingly, promoted Dwaine Pretorius (3 from 6) in the batting order ahead of Neil McKenzie but the veteran Twenty20 specialist batsman eventually had to come out with a rescuing job in hand after Highveld Lions were reduced to 63 for three after 10.4 overs.
The Highveld Lions needed someone to not only stabilize the innings but also push the acceleration button to achieve a fighting total with time and balls both running out quickly.
However, Gulam Bodi and Neil McKenzie (46 not out from 28 – 4 fours, 1 six) joined hands for a brilliant partnership of 59 runs from 44 balls which resurrected the innings to a great degree.
However, two quick wickets towards the end didn’t allow the Highveld Lions to achieve that magical 150-run total as Bodi and Jean Symes (Duck) got out in a hurry and Chris Morris (3 not out from 4) couldn’t really launch his big hits against quality fast bowling of Umesh Yadav.In the end, the Highveld Lions scored 139 for five from their 20 overs, which was very much more than a fighting total when consider the playing conditions at Kingsmead.
Umesh Yadav was the most successful bowler for Delhi Daredevils as he grabbed two wickets for 20 runs. Irfan Pathan went for 27 from his four overs, Morne Morkel took a wicket for 32 runs from his four, Ajit Agarkar captured a wicket for 28 runs, while a combination of Kevin Pietersen and Pawan Negi leaked 31 runs for a wicket from four overs.
The Highveld Lions had a huge task in hand when their bowlers took the field as they were required to strike early and Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir got rid of dangerous man Virender Sehwag for a first-ball duck as the hard-hitting batsman tried to impose him without getting hold of the playing conditions and eventually paid the price.
However, David Warner (21 from 18 – 4 fours) and Kevin Pietersen (50 from 44 – 3 fours, 1 six) put their heads down for a 35-run partnership for second wicket from 31 balls which very much undid the early damage.
While Kevin Pietersen looked good in maneuvering the ball in vacant spaces, his partners completely failed to find their feet moving at Kingsmead and India’s young sensation Unmukt Chand (9 from 20) failed to impress with his lack of ability to get accustomed to high bounce of the track.
Irfan Pathan (1 from 2), skipper Ross Taylor (1 from 5), Naman Ojha (7 from 4 – 1 six), Pawan Negi (Duck), and Aji Agarkar (2 from 7) all failed miserably to give a helping hand to Kevin Pietersen who eventually lost his wicket to Chris Morris in a bid to achieve the ever-increasing asking rate.
In the end, Delhi Daredevils were restricted to 117 for nine from their 20 overs and fell 22 runs short of their opponents’ total.
Sohail Tanvir was impressive with his pace and bounce as he took a wicket for 22 runs from his four overs. Australian fast bowler Dirk Nannes also bowled with great pace and hostility as he captured two wickets for 34 runs from his four overs. Chris Morris proved the main difference between the two sides as he gave away only seven runs from his four overs taking two wickets. The off-spinner Aaron Phangiso also took two wickets for 18 runs from his spell.
Neil McKenzie was rightly declared Man of the Match for playing yet another anchor-sheet role innings that saved the day for the South African domestic Twenty20 side Highveld Lions.
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| Highveld Lions enter Champions League Twenty20 Final |
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