Bangalore to make home advantage count
October 07, 2011 08:38:02 UK
Playing at home is generally regarded as an advantage in any sport and Royal Challengers find themselves in that position in their Champions League T20 semi-final.
The side who specialise in starting the competition slowly before exploding into life just when all seems lost, have repeated last year's Houdini act to again reach the last four where they will play New South Wales.
They could however wish that it was at a different venue. Their tight stadium creates a wonderful atmosphere but, apart from Dirk Nannes and captain Daniel Vettori, their attack struggle to bowl either quickly enough or with sufficient guile to keep the runs down.
Pacer Sreenath Aravind was spanked for 69 off his four overs in the final qualifying game and slow left armer Jamaluddin Syed Mohammad limped from the field after their bowling stint against South Australia.
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The Australian side must still wonder how they failed to defend 214 but, having won the toss, should probably have put their opponents in to bat. The small ground surface requires the real pace of Nannes as Shaun Tait's five-wicket haul on Wednesday proved, or real guile and control, as Vettori displayed as he went for just 24 runs.
Any loose deliveries particularly at medium pace are there to be plundered. Another concern for Vettori, apart from Syed's fitness, will be Virat Kohli, who damaged a thumb in the last contest when fielding. He went on to take the man-of-the-match award, but no doubt the injury will have stiffened up and he is likely to need pain-killers in order to perform.
Royal Challengers are 1.72 to reach the final while New South Wales can be backed at 2.10.
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