Indian Premier League - final
Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Chennai Super Kings won by 58 runs

• Twenty20 match | 2011 season
• Played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
• 28 May 2011 - day/night (20-over match)

<table class="inningsTable" id="inningsBat1"> <tbody><tr> <td width="11">
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</td> <td width="28">
</td> <td width="28">
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</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsHead"> <td>
</td> <td colspan="2">Chennai Super Kings innings (20 overs maximum)</td> <td style="text-align: right;">R</td> <td style="text-align: right;">B</td> <td style="text-align: right;">4s</td> <td style="text-align: right;">6s</td> <td style="text-align: right;">SR</td> <td style="text-align: right;">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">MEK Hussey </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c Mithun b Syed Mohammad </td> <td class="battingRuns">63</td> <td class="battingDetails">45</td> <td class="battingDetails">3</td> <td class="battingDetails">3</td> <td class="battingDetails">140.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 14.5 this time, the overthrow works for Bangalore. If Dhoni's arrival to the crease at this point in the game can be termed a victory. Hussey looks to launch Syed's full fare with the spin over the leg side, and after a long time he mis-hits one. Gayle at long-on holds on. Bangalore have a wicket. Surprise surprise. Ends a record first wicket stand in all IPL games. 159/1
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">M Vijay </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c Vettori b Aravind </td> <td class="battingRuns">95</td> <td class="battingDetails">52</td> <td class="battingDetails">4</td> <td class="battingDetails">6</td> <td class="battingDetails">182.69</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 18.1 tomorrow morning, Vijay will wake up and kick himself for giving away a century that was there for the taking. But for a man who has been barely able to stand on his feet for the last 30 minutes or so, 95 is not bad at all. That too in a final. Aravind keeps it full and outside off, Vijay looks to go big over the off side but toe-ends it to cover inside the circle. End of a stunningly sublime innings. 188/2
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">MS Dhoni*† </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c Kohli b Aravind </td> <td class="battingRuns">22</td> <td class="battingDetails">13</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">2</td> <td class="battingDetails">169.23</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 18.2 wickets are like London buses for Bangalore. None come for hours on end, and suddenly two in quick succession. Dhoni gets a juicy full toss outside off and smashes it straight to long-on. 188/3
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">SK Raina </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259"> b Gayle </td> <td class="battingRuns">8</td> <td class="battingDetails">5</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">1</td> <td class="battingDetails">160.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 19.5 Bangalore were keeping their best for the last over. Raina goes now, another full ball from the Jamaican sneaks past the big mow over the leg side and disturbs the furniture. On a hat-trick. 199/5
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">JA Morkel </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c Kohli b Gayle </td> <td class="battingRuns">2</td> <td class="battingDetails">4</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">50.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 19.4 and gone. Gayle has bowled a really top over here, and Morkel's inability to do anything with balls that is not in his zone comes to the fore. Full ball, he jumps out and carves straight to long off on the circle. 199/4
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">S Badrinath </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">not out </td> <td class="battingRuns">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">-</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"></td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">DJ Bravo </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">not out </td> <td class="battingRuns">6</td> <td class="battingDetails">1</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">1</td> <td class="battingDetails">600.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"></td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="inningsDetails">Extras</td> <td class="battingDismissal">(lb 7, w 2)</td> <td class="battingRuns">9</td> <td class="battingDetails">
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</td> <td class="inningsDetails">Total</td> <td class="battingDismissal">(5 wickets; 20 overs)</td> <td class="battingRuns">205</td> <td class="battingRate" colspan="5">(10.25 runs per over)</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="inningsTable"> <tbody><tr> <td class="inningsDetails">Did not bat WP Saha, R Ashwin, DE Bollinger, SB Jakati </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="inningsTable"> <tbody><tr> <td class="inningsDetails"> Fall of wickets1-159 (Hussey, 14.5 ov), 2-188 (Vijay, 18.1 ov), 3-188 (Dhoni, 18.2 ov), 4-199 (Morkel, 19.4 ov), 5-199 (Raina, 19.5 ov) </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table id="inningsBowl1" class="inningsTable"> <tbody><tr> <td width="11">
</td> <td width="169">
</td> <td width="50">
</td> <td width="30">
</td> <td width="40">
</td> <td width="40">
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</td> <td width="90">
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</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsHead"> <td>
</td> <td>Bowling</td> <td style="text-align: right; padding-right: 10px;">O</td> <td style="text-align: right;">M</td> <td style="text-align: right;">R</td> <td style="text-align: right;">W</td> <td style="text-align: right;">Econ</td> <td>
</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="playerName">Z Khan</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">4</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">30</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">7.50</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"></td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName">S Aravind</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">3</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">39</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">2</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">13.00</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">(2w)</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"> 18.1 to Vijay, tomorrow morning, Vijay will wake up and kick himself for giving away a century that was there for the taking. But for a man who has been barely able to stand on his feet for the last 30 minutes or so, 95 is not bad at all. That too in a final. Aravind keeps it full and outside off, Vijay looks to go big over the off side but toe-ends it to cover inside the circle. End of a stunningly sublime innings. 188/2

18.2 to Dhoni, wickets are like London buses for Bangalore. None come for hours on end, and suddenly two in quick succession. Dhoni gets a juicy full toss outside off and smashes it straight to long-on. 188/3

</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName">CH Gayle</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">4</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">34</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">2</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">8.50</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"> 19.4 to Morkel, and gone. Gayle has bowled a really top over here, and Morkel's inability to do anything with balls that is not in his zone comes to the fore. Full ball, he jumps out and carves straight to long off on the circle. 199/4

19.5 to Raina, Bangalore were keeping their best for the last over. Raina goes now, another full ball from the Jamaican sneaks past the big mow over the leg side and disturbs the furniture. On a hat-trick. 199/5

</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName">J Syed Mohammad</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">3</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">39</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">1</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">13.00</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"> 14.5 to Hussey, this time, the overthrow works for Bangalore. If Dhoni's arrival to the crease at this point in the game can be termed a victory. Hussey looks to launch Syed's full fare with the spin over the leg side, and after a long time he mis-hits one. Gayle at long-on holds on. Bangalore have a wicket. Surprise surprise. Ends a record first wicket stand in all IPL games. 159/1

</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="playerName">DL Vettori</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">4</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">34</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">8.50</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"></td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="playerName">A Mithun</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">2</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">22</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">11.00</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="inningsTable" id="inningsBat2"> <tbody><tr> <td width="11">
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</td> <td width="28">
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</td> <td width="42">
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</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsHead"> <td>
</td> <td colspan="2">Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (target: 206 runs from 20 overs)</td> <td style="text-align: right;">R</td> <td style="text-align: right;">B</td> <td style="text-align: right;">4s</td> <td style="text-align: right;">6s</td> <td style="text-align: right;">SR</td> <td style="text-align: right;">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">MA Agarwal </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259"> b Ashwin </td> <td class="battingRuns">10</td> <td class="battingDetails">5</td> <td class="battingDetails">2</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">200.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 2.3 the carom comes into play, and Mayank deals with it like someone who's never seen it before. Lands on middle, grips and breaks away past a tame attempt at the cut. The bat isn't in the way, but the off stump is. Ashwin has put Chennai completely in control here. 16/2
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">CH Gayle </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c †Dhoni b Ashwin </td> <td class="battingRuns">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">3</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 0.4 it took Ashwin three balls. He was Chennai's weapon against Bangalore's weapon in the last game too. And he was once again. What a classic set-up. What lovely bowling. Take a bow, Ashwin. He's set him up with the last two offbreaks, and this time he focused on getting one to skid in. He went round arm and slung it in, Gayle spotted the change in pace and trajectory late and by then he had committed himself into the cut. Thin outside edge, Dhoni does the rest. Have CSK got the one wicket they needed? Ashwin does his version of the aeroplane. What a comeback after being smashed on the head in the last game. 1/1
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">V Kohli </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">lbw b Raina </td> <td class="battingRuns">35</td> <td class="battingDetails">32</td> <td class="battingDetails">1</td> <td class="battingDetails">1</td> <td class="battingDetails">109.37</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 9.6 the future of Indian batting falls to the future of Indian batting. This is the Indian Premier League after all. Raina slips a sharp offbreak past Kohli's attempted turn to the leg side, and catches him plumb in front. That one straightened in enough after landing on leg. Chennai Super Kings have one hand on the glittering trophy. 69/5
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">AB de Villiers† </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">lbw b Jakati </td> <td class="battingRuns">18</td> <td class="battingDetails">12</td> <td class="battingDetails">3</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">150.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 6.3 very strange end to AB's innings, and he isn't happy. Not sure why, he is dead plumb. He was hustling this way and that in the crease before the ball came. He first went away to the leg side, then started coming back towards middle, and Jakati landed it short of a length on off. AB was late on the pull after all the fancy footwork, and missed. Hit in front of off, hitting off and middle three-fourths of the way up. 48/3
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">LA Pomersbach </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c & b Jakati </td> <td class="battingRuns">2</td> <td class="battingDetails">3</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">66.66</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 8.3 Bangalore are losing gas too fast here. Jakati nails another one, he's taken some memorable return catches this IPL, and this was one of the easier ones. Full ball on the pads, it was a chinaman out of no where! Luke leans across and looks to whip but he seemed to get a hint of leading edge as he played to back to the left of Jakati who jumped across easily to hold it. 62/4
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">SS Tiwary </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">not out </td> <td class="battingRuns">42</td> <td class="battingDetails">34</td> <td class="battingDetails">1</td> <td class="battingDetails">3</td> <td class="battingDetails">123.52</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"></td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">DL Vettori* </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c & b Ashwin </td> <td class="battingRuns">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">1</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 10.2 this final has lost more fizz than yesterday's beer can that was accidentally left open. Vettori goes for a blob, a tame leading edge back to Ashwin as he looks to work an offbreak to the leg side. Vettori looks sheepish and gutted at the same time. 70/6
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">A Mithun </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c Bollinger b Bravo </td> <td class="battingRuns">11</td> <td class="battingDetails">8</td> <td class="battingDetails">2</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">137.50</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 12.6 Mithun swats a short ball straight to Bollinger at long-on. The fat lady's throat is clear, and the auto-rickshaw meters are being reset. 92/7
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">Z Khan </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">c Hussey b Bollinger </td> <td class="battingRuns">21</td> <td class="battingDetails">21</td> <td class="battingDetails">2</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">100.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"> 18.4 finally someone holds on, it is Mr. Cricket sweeping in the deep cover region. Short ball outside off, he goes for the cut and carves it into Hussey's lap. Start the autorickshaw! 130/8
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="playerName" width="192">J Syed Mohammad </td> <td class="battingDismissal" width="259">not out </td> <td class="battingRuns">2</td> <td class="battingDetails">2</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">0</td> <td class="battingDetails">100.00</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="battingComms"></td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="inningsDetails">Extras</td> <td class="battingDismissal">(b 2, lb 2, w 1, nb 1)</td> <td class="battingRuns">6</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> <td class="battingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
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</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="inningsDetails">Total</td> <td class="battingDismissal">(8 wickets; 20 overs)</td> <td class="battingRuns">147</td> <td class="battingRate" colspan="5">(7.35 runs per over)</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="inningsTable"> <tbody><tr> <td class="inningsDetails">Did not bat S Aravind </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="inningsTable"> <tbody><tr> <td class="inningsDetails"> Fall of wickets1-1 (Gayle, 0.4 ov), 2-16 (Agarwal, 2.3 ov), 3-48 (de Villiers, 6.3 ov), 4-62 (Pomersbach, 8.3 ov), 5-69 (Kohli, 9.6 ov), 6-70 (Vettori, 10.2 ov), 7-92 (Mithun, 12.6 ov), 8-130 (Khan, 18.4 ov) </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table id="inningsBowl2" class="inningsTable"><tbody><tr> <td width="11">
</td> <td width="169">
</td> <td width="50">
</td> <td width="30">
</td> <td width="40">
</td> <td width="40">
</td> <td width="60">
</td> <td width="90">
</td> <td width="140">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsHead"> <td>
</td> <td>Bowling</td> <td style="text-align: right; padding-right: 10px;">O</td> <td style="text-align: right;">M</td> <td style="text-align: right;">R</td> <td style="text-align: right;">W</td> <td style="text-align: right;">Econ</td> <td>
</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName">R Ashwin</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">4</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">16</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">3</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">4.00</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"> 0.4 to Gayle, it took Ashwin three balls. He was Chennai's weapon against Bangalore's weapon in the last game too. And he was once again. What a classic set-up. What lovely bowling. Take a bow, Ashwin. He's set him up with the last two offbreaks, and this time he focused on getting one to skid in. He went round arm and slung it in, Gayle spotted the change in pace and trajectory late and by then he had committed himself into the cut. Thin outside edge, Dhoni does the rest. Have CSK got the one wicket they needed? Ashwin does his version of the aeroplane. What a comeback after being smashed on the head in the last game. 1/1

2.3 to Agarwal, the carom comes into play, and Mayank deals with it like someone who's never seen it before. Lands on middle, grips and breaks away past a tame attempt at the cut. The bat isn't in the way, but the off stump is. Ashwin has put Chennai completely in control here. 16/2

10.2 to Vettori, this final has lost more fizz than yesterday's beer can that was accidentally left open. Vettori goes for a blob, a tame leading edge back to Ashwin as he looks to work an offbreak to the leg side. Vettori looks sheepish and gutted at the same time. 70/6

</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td>
</td> <td class="playerName">JA Morkel</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">3</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">24</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">8.00</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"></td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName">DE Bollinger</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">3</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">28</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">1</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">9.33</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">(1w)</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"> 18.4 to Khan, finally someone holds on, it is Mr. Cricket sweeping in the deep cover region. Short ball outside off, he goes for the cut and carves it into Hussey's lap. Start the autorickshaw! 130/8

</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName">SB Jakati</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">4</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">21</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">2</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">5.25</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">(1nb)</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"> 6.3 to de Villiers, very strange end to AB's innings, and he isn't happy. Not sure why, he is dead plumb. He was hustling this way and that in the crease before the ball came. He first went away to the leg side, then started coming back towards middle, and Jakati landed it short of a length on off. AB was late on the pull after all the fancy footwork, and missed. Hit in front of off, hitting off and middle three-fourths of the way up. 48/3

8.3 to Pomersbach, Bangalore are losing gas too fast here. Jakati nails another one, he's taken some memorable return catches this IPL, and this was one of the easier ones. Full ball on the pads, it was a chinaman out of no where! Luke leans across and looks to whip but he seemed to get a hint of leading edge as he played to back to the left of Jakati who jumped across easily to hold it. 62/4

</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName">SK Raina</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">4</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">39</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">1</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">9.75</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsComms" style="display: none;"> <td></td> <td colspan="8" class="bowlingComms"> 9.6 to Kohli, the future of Indian batting falls to the future of Indian batting. This is the Indian Premier League after all. Raina slips a sharp offbreak past Kohli's attempted turn to the leg side, and catches him plumb in front. That one straightened in enough after landing on leg. Chennai Super Kings have one hand on the glittering trophy. 69/5

</td> </tr> <tr class="inningsRow"> <td class="inningsIcon">http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/col_ps.gif</td> <td class="playerName">DJ Bravo</td> <td class="bowlingDetails" style="padding-right: 10px;">2</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">0</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">15</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">1</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">7.50</td> <td class="bowlingDetails">
</td></tr></tbody></table>

Right, enough of the pre-match goss. The umpires are marching out and Chepauk is packed to the rafters. The fielders follow, Vijay and Hussey bound out as well. Umpire Taufel asks the scorers, 'Asad-bhai', Daniel and everyone else if they are ready. "Let's play!" Zak runs in.
Rahul: "Hey hey! What about the closing ceremony? Was that applicable only during LKM-era? Too bad." Can't believe that people actually like those shows.



Dr. Freud follows cricket too. No kidding. "I love CSK, absolutely and positively, but from a Freudian point of view, RCB might take it," he says. "Every letter of Gayle's name has concave shapes, while Dhoni doesn't."
Kalyan: "Dont know whom to support, so bought a whistle and whisky! In my room with whistle in mouth and whisky in friend's hand!"



Sharat does some da Vinci code-cracking: "4 time semifinalist, 3 time finalist, 1 time champion India won the world cup this time. CSK are also 4 time semifinalist, 3 time finalist, 1 time champion..."
Girish: "@Raaki: RCB have also broken few things... Gayle - Most runs in an over, Most runs, MoMs this season, Virat - Pomersbach's jaw, RCB - Most wins on the trot...!"



Vibhu: "Wordplay comment #31 : Its going to be Dhoni vs. Gayle-iath. Will Dhoni's slingshot do the trick?" A little contrived, but the effort is appreciated! Wordplay comments always get first preference.
Raaki: "Many things broke in this IPL: 1. Deccan won in Home Ground. 2. Malinga with his Yorkers. 3. Ashwin almost broke his head. 4. RCB will break Orange cap Rule!"



Joe: "Zaheer seems to have Hussey's number. So, Dhoni should send in Saha and Vijay to open, bring in Hussey after the first 10 overs." Can't forget that incredible knuckle ball Zak bowled to dismiss Hussey in the World Cup. He's had his number a bit, before and since.. Still think CSK will open with The Huss tonight.
Anand sends in the first comment for the day: "Challengers challenge ... Kings RULE!" No doubts over where his allegiance lies. Charankumar chips in with an interesting fact. "Team with Orange cap has never won the IPL! This is the Law of the orange cap!"



1935 IST Chennai v Bangalore .. Since I am from Chennai, I can vouch for just how brilliant the city is. It has a lovely charm, a pace of it's own, is lesser crowded than most of the other Indian metros and is steeped in culture. A bit like the CSK team - an all-round force. Bangalore matches up to Chennai on the basis of one single variable - its unbelievably brilliant weather (and this doesn't take anything away from the other aspects of Bangalore). A bit like team RCB, which some would say is a one-man team. Fitting.



"Whistle Podu Chennai!" yells Ravi Shastri. Toss it is. Dhoni has won the toss right, and Chennai will bat first. "This pitch will slow down as the game goes.. The track is on the softer side, looks a little dull, but it won't be tough to make runs on this." Chennai are unchanged, for the sixth game on the trot. Vettori says he would have batted as well. "Morale is good, fortunate we are playing again today since the players are feeling good after yesterday's game," Vettori says. Bangalore are unchanged from yesterday.



Pre-toss discussions now. Dhoni: "Big achievement to be in the finals again, since we retained players before the auction and bought back several others .. and the players have delivered on that faith."
Vettori: "These are the two form teams in the competition, so should be a good game. Great to have got a chance to play on this wicket yesterday, gives us a bit of a headstart."
1915 hours IST Hello all! The IPL is ending tonight. No kidding! Let me recollect .. World Cup 2011 ended a while back and the IPL began immediately after. Seems like it has been years. World Cup 2015 must be around the corner now.



For tonight, it is southern spice all the way. Bangalore v Chennai. Interestingly, South Indian teams have in general done far better than the rest in the IPL. Four IPL finals so far have featured six South Indian sides (CSK thrice, RCB twice and DC once). Mumbai and Rajasthan are the only other sides to have got this far in the IPL. Once each. I am stumped for a reason. I am also stumped for a choice today. I am a Chennai-ite living in Bangalore. Not sure whom to support.



Meanwhile, I hear there is some significant football action happening today as well. And a Formula 1 race. And some tennis in Paris. Cricket trumps them all. We have three games of cricket happening in different parts of the world, each a different version of the sport. Beat that! You can follow live commentary for all those games on out site. I hear we are among the few covering the Pakistan v Ireland game, which is not being aired on television in most parts of the world.