It was an eventful week for cricket-lovers, a tentative start notwithstanding. The action witnessed in most of the 56 league matches of the IPL had convinced most people that the semis would be as riveting. However, that was not to be.
The Rajasthan Royals, by far the best team in the competition, had the better of the Delhi Daredevils, and the Chennai Super Kings blew Kings XI Punjab away the following day. Delhi Daredevils floundered in their response to a stiff target, while Kings XI Punjab were undone by the Chennai bowling and fielding.
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There was some apprehension that the IPL, which had started on an explosive note and carried on in an entertaining and exhilarating fashion, would have an anti-climactic finish. But that did not happen. Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings deserve all the credit for contesting a tussle that will hold its own in any discussion on epic cricket matches. The target that Chennai set was gettable, as well as defendable, and what followed was a fascinating chase. Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan, winners of the 'Player of the Tournament' and 'Player of the Match' awards respectively, batted splendidly, and that man Shane Warne held his nerve at the end.
It is an indication of the great sport that cricket is, that one side of the globe witnessed a spectacular T20 final, and the other, an absorbing Test match.
Australia dominated the second Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy Test series in the Caribbean, batting first and scoring 479. The hundreds scored by Simon Katich and Michael Clarke emphasised the riches at Australia's disposal. Clarke had missed the first Test of the series, and Katich hasn't been around for quite a while. Ricky Ponting must be a happy man, and not merely for completing 10,000 Test runs.
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The Windies were set 372 to win, and given the way they had collapsed in the first Test, even their staunchest backers would have doubted the home team's capability to last the distance. It was a situation wherein the seniors had to take the initiative and the responsibility. Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul did just that, and secured an honourable draw.
Both players were in the running for the top spot this week, as were Katich and Clarke, but they were pipped to the post by Brett Lee, who took eight wickets, and scored an unbeaten 63 in the first innings. His all-round performance gave him a total of eleven CEAT points, and made him the CEAT Cricketer of the Week.
Professional Management Group
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