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Chennai Super Kings v Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL, Chennai

Chennai poised for final four spot

Siddarth Ravindran

May 20, 2008

Match facts

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Start time 20.00 (local), 14.30 (GMT)

Chennai need to watch out for Sreevats Goswami, who was a revelation on his debut (file photo) © International Cricket Council

The Big Picture

With two of their remaining matches against lowly Bangalore Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers, the Chennai Super Kings are poised to make it to the final four. A win against Bangalore will give them a handy four-point cushion over the team in fifth place and even a loss may not dent their chances so badly. One concern for Chennai is the fitness of their captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is nursing a finger injury. He is expected to play but Parthiv Patel might continue to keep wickets.

With Chennai's openers Parthiv and Stephen Fleming ably negotiating a strong Kolkata attack in their previous game and Makhaya Ntini and L Balaji getting among the wickets, their two major problems - a fragile top order and a less-than-incisive attack - are being addressed.

Despite trying several combinations, Bangalore's woes have continued and their only incentive to win is that it will boost their hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon.

Tournament position

Chennai Super Kings: P11, W7, L4, NRR -0.175
Bangalore Royal Challengers: P11, W2, L9, NRR -1.517

Form (last five matches, most recent first)

Chennai Super Kings: WLWWL
Bangalore Royal Challengers: LLLLL

Watch out for

Sreevats Goswami - He was among the few positives to emerge from Monday's defeat to the Delhi Daredevils. After making an impressive fifty, he handled the tricky task of keeping to Anil Kumble confidently.

Dale Steyn v Mahendra Singh Dhoni - In the previous encounter between the two teams, Steyn's superb opening spell had kept the in-form Matthew Hayden quiet. However, after Dhoni bludgeoned 32 runs off Steyn's final two overs, the fast bowler will be looking for revenge this time round.

Team news

Muttiah Muralitharan had a forgettable outing against Kolkata but should retain his place. With their fast bowlers doing well, Joginder Sharma and P Amarnath are unlikely to get a look-in and the batting line-up could also remain unchanged.

Chennai Super Kings Parthiv Patel (wk), Stephen Fleming, S Vidyut, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Albie Morkel, Manpreet Gony, L Balaji, Muttiah Muralitharan, Makhaya Ntini

Bangalore, being out of the running, have the opportunity to try out some of their unheralded players. That could be good news for left-arm spinner KP Appanna and medium-pacer NC Aiyappa. Zaheer Khan, struggling with a knee injury, and Mark Boucher, who has a sore knee, have been ruled out.

Bangalore Royal Challengers Bharat Chipli, Jacques Kallis, Sreevats Goswami (wk), Rahul Dravid (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Cameron White, B Akhil, Anil Kumble, NC Aiyappa, KP Appanna, Dale Steyn

Stats and trivia

Bangalore have been defeated in their last five matches - the longest losing streak so far in the IPL

Parthiv Patel has opened the batting in eight matches but his highest score is only 21

Quotes

"We are not under any pressure but confident of the team making the semi-finals. We have three more matches to go and our aim is to win all three matches."
VB Chandrasekhar, assistant coach and chief selector of the Chennai Super Kings, is upbeat about his team's prospects.

Siddarth Ravindran is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo