T&T dump Deccan out off Champions League 2009 by Jinu Sabastian

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Ground:	Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Scorecard:	Deccan Chargers v Trinidad and Tobago
Player:	AC Gilchrist, RG Sharma, KA Pollard
Event:	Champions League 2009/10

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DateLine: 14th October 2009

 

The jinx for the Deccan Chargers at their home-ground continued as they continued their losing spree at the ground. To make the matters worse, with this lose they have been knocked out off the Champions League 2009/10 with Trinidad and Tobago and Somerset advancing into the next round from their group. Chasing a gettable target off 150 to stay in the competition, the Hyderabadi side looked favourites to win the match at 125 for 5 with Styris and Rao out in the middle. But it has ended in utter disappointment for them, as they've lost nine out nine games in their home city. Three run-outs, the loss of Rao at the wrong time, the loss of Gilchrist when he was set and some nervous batting at the death meant they fell short by an agonising three runs.

 

In a must win match, Adam Gilchrist after winning the toss elected to field first so that he could negate the net run-rate calculation that might come into picture later. But unfortunately for him his opening bowlers refused to respond to his plans as Fidel Edwards and RP Singh sprayed the ball around in the initial couple off overs to let the batsmen off the hook. Edwards finally got his radar right in the third over off the innings to trap Lendl Simmons leg before to provide some respite for Gilchrist. RP Singh continued to disappoint as he at one point delivered three consecutive no-balls in a over that cost 15 runs and Gilchrist was looking for a solution. Darren Bravo was looking dangerous with his fluent cover-drives, flicks and pulls but part time off-spinner Suman finally beat him in flight who popped up a simple return catch to the bowler.

 

T&T got a body blow when skipper Ganga failed to beat a direct throw from Symonds from mid-off as he was dismissed for a duck and the score read 53 for 3 in six overs. The conclusion of the powerplay brought the spinners into action as Ojha and the other set off tweakers put a lid on the scoring off T&T. Gilchrist brought back Edwards and he trapped the dangerous Perkins leg before with a full and straighter one. Bravo who had endured a painful stay at the crease was finally send back when another direct hit, this time from Suman and T&T slipped to 92 for 5 in 13.1 overs. Pollard displayed his boundary clearing capability by clearing the ropes four times to up the ante as 27 runs came in between the overs 14 to 16 as the run-rate crept past the seven and a half run mark. Edwards cleaned up Pollard to limit the damage that could have been caused had he stayed a little longer. The tail nudged and pushed around to help T&T reach a competitive 149 in their 20 overs.

 

Gilchrist got the chase off to a rollicking start with an upper cut off Rampaul over third man for a huge six but at the other end Bravo removed Laxman with a one that kept a little low. Bravo struck again when a hint off away swing from him accounted for the wicket off Abhinav Kumar and things got worse for the Hyderabadi side when a massive misunderstanding between Gilchrist and Symonds saw the back off the latter. The pressure was building on Deccan Chargers when Rohit Sharma pulled a couple off boundaries off Sherwin Ganga and Gilchrist collected 13 off a Pollard over to ease the pressure.

 

The pair off Gilchrist and Sharma added 55 runs in 7.2 overs and skipper Ganga was looking worried as he handed the ball to Lendl Simmons. Simmons served up a rank long hop which deserved to be put out off the ground but Gilchrist could only manage to find Pollard at deep square-leg who took a brilliant catch. The wicket of Gilchrist was followed by the wicket off Rohit Sharma who drove lazily to backward point and soon Deccan slipped 86 for 5. Venugopal Rao cleared the boundary ropes twice to provide some respite to the derailed innings of Chargers but misunderstanding between Styris and Rao put an end to the innings off Styris.

 

Rao continued to find the gaps and the occasional boundary but round the wicket tactics from Rampaul got the batsmen edging to the keeper. When Bravo took the last over the Chargers needed 8 from six balls. RP Singh swung the bat around but connected only with thin air while Edwards sacrificed his wicket in trying to get Suman on strike. Needing four to tie the score Suman could only manage a single to long-off and in the process Deccan Chargers got knocked out off the competition.