IPL’s El Clásico: Lungi Ngidi, Ambati Rayudu remember the heartbreaking first-round loss against MI

It was one of the most entertaining matches in the first leg of the Indian Premier League 2021 India leg, when Kieron Pollard, single-handedly defied all odds to take Mumbai Indians to a win, chasing down 219 set up by the Chennai Super Kings.

Lungi Ngidi and Ambati Rayudu, the two of the most important players from that game for the Super Kings revisited that day, just ahead of the start of the second round of Mumbai vs Chennai clash, what is also termed as El Clásico of the IPL.

“It was a run-fest I mean, 220 playing 220, I mean the batsmen were unbelievable,” said Ngidi in a video released by CSK on their official Twitter handle. “You know, the captain did say that the game was gonna go to the last ball and it did,” added the South African, who in fact bowled the last over and the last ball of the match.

After some dismissive batting by Pollard, where he had scored 71 off 28 balls, the Mumbai Indians needed 16 to win from the last over and Ngidi was given the ball at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He bowled brilliantly, executing the yorkers and giving away only eight runs off the first four balls. But as fate would have it, a low full toss down the leg and Pollard needed no second invitation to cash on.

With a yorker drilled down to long-on and Pollard than running two runs with his giant steps and the match was all over. Ngidi, reflecting on that moment said, “You know, it was tough, the guys, they batted really well and we did as best as we can to try and defend it but to take the game right down to the last ball, I think, everybody got their monies worth watching that game.”

On being asked what he thinks, it is going to be like this time around, the 25-year-old Proteas said, “You never know what’s gonna happen when you are playing Mumbai Indians, so it’s gonna be an exciting one. Yeah, we came out on the wrong side of the results last time, but we are definitely looking forward to rectifying that.”

Rayudu, who scored a belligerent and unbeaten 72 off just 27 balls thinks that the team knew it was going to be tough and believes that Mumbai can always be a tough opponent. “MI is an important game for us, but having said that, we are also focussing on the broader picture and that is the tournament itself,” he said.

The two teams clash in the opening match of the UAE leg of the season at Dubai International Cricket Stadium and nothing less than a crackerjack is expected from that game.

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T20 Blast Final: Jordan Cox, Joe Denly help Kent win its first T20 trophy in 14 years

It was a blast indeed on the Finals day at the T20 Blast 2021 season as Kent Spitfires went on to win their first-ever final in the last 14 years in what was also their first-ever appearance in the final in 13 years after an antagonising final loss by three runs against Middlesex in the 2008 season. Jordan Cox and Joe Denly turned out to be the heroes with the bat and ball respetc9vley for the Spitfires, who had reached the final by beating Sussex in the second semi-final of the T20 Blast Finals Day. The first semi-final was won dramatically by Somerset when they defeated Hampshire, chasing down 151 after being 34-5 to win the game by two wickets. In the final, though, nothing dramatic happened as Kent went about their defence of 167 in a very methodical way with Denly removing Tom Banton off the very second delivery of the Somerset innings. That set the tone for the Kent bowlers who then went on to pick wickets at regular intervals, eventually reducing the Taunton based side to 119-9 in the 18th over before some nice shots by Josh Davy took them to 142 at the end of the innings. Denly was the pick of the bowlers for Kent removing both the Somerset openers in Banton and Will Smead alongside Tom Lammonby. Earlier in the evening, after winning the toss, Somerset invited Kent to bat first and even as the team kept on losing wickets regularly, Jordan Cox with his patient approach but very fiery innings of unbeaten 58 off just 28 balls took the Spitfires to 167-7 from their 20 overs. With this loss, Somerset have now lost four of their five Blast finals with the lone victory coming in their first-ever final appearance in 2005.

Extremely disappointed that NZ chose to abandon white-ball tour against Pakistan: Wasim Akram

Earlier last week, in a dramatic turnaround ahead of their first ODI match against Pakistan, New Zealand cancelled their historic white-ball tour citing security reasons. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has now reacted to the Blackcaps abandoning the tour and has expressed his disappointment on the same. "I think the world underestimates how powerful our security forces are. Cricket is more than a sport to us and we will do everything in our power to prevent cricket (from) being taken from us again. The world needs to give us a chance to prove that!," Akram tweeted on Sunday. The former left-handed bowler further added that the Pakistan forces have made the country one of the safest places in the world to play cricket. This tour would have been NZ's first in 18 years in the subcontinental national and could have paved away the roadmap for other countries to visit Pakistan. "Extremely disappointed in NZ choice to abandon the #PAKvNZ tour. Pakistan has proven that our security measures for international games is of the highest order, making Pakistan one of the safest places in the world to play cricket today. I feel we are not hearing the whole story," Akram said. The two sides were slated to play three ODIs and five T20Is. While the ODIs were scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi, the T20Is had to be played in Lahore. With NZ's cancellation of the trip, teams like England have put their own tour under scanner and it is expected that they will try to force a move out as well. Pakistan have been one of the busiest touring teams in the pandemic and have played several series away from home. The conversation in recent months had been about the countries extending their gratitude by touring Pakistan, but the NZ pullout would be a huge dampener on the plans.

Less than 16 years old won't be granted access in Sharjah, PCR tests required in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has opened the entry of fans to the cricket stadiums in UAE for the second half of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However certain guidelines need to be followed when the spectators make their entry in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The regulations in place which has also been shared with all the eight franchises, states that the fans attending games at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium need not produce RT-PCR tests 48 hours before the commencement of the game. However, they need to produce a double vaccination report. The fans will also need to follow social distancing regulations and have to wear masks for the full length of the game. Children below 12 won’t require vaccination proof. The authorities have also asked the spectators to download their tickets prior to their departure for the stadium which needs to be scanned at the gates. When it comes to Sharjah, the rules are a bit different. One needs to be 16+ in order to be granted access in the stadium. In addition to the vaccination report, the spectators also need to produce RT-PCR tests 48 hours before the commencement of the game. For spectators who is keen to watch the games, a green status of the Al Hosn App is a must. For every spectator over 16 years of age watching games in Abu Dhabi needs to produce a double vaccination report along with a PCR test which will be valid no more than 48 hours before entry into the stadium. Age group between 12-15 doesnt need to produce vaccination reports but a PCR test in required. Those below the age of 12 needs to be accompanied by elders over the age of 21. Masks have to be worn all through the process of entry into the stadium and till the exit. Temperature checks will be done upon arrival. Fans won’t be allowed re-entry into the stadium. The 14th season of the IPL resumes later today with a high octane clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. While CSK occupies the 2nd position with 10 points in 7 games, MI is currently at the 4th spot with 8 points in as many games.

IPL 2021: Brian Lara backs Mumbai Indians as the favourites for the Classico

The wait is finally over and the second half of the 14th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick off later today with arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings locking horns against each other at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Despite CSK’s dominance in the first half of the season, former West Indies great Brian Lara feels that MI will start the 2nd half of the tournament as favourites given their excellent form in UAE. MI won their 2nd successive title in UAE back in 2020. While CSK is currently at the 2nd position in the points table with 5 wins from 7 games, MI occupy the 4th spot with 4 wins from 7 games. After a below-par performance in the 2020 edition, CSK bounced back strongly in the first leg of the 14th season until the tournament was abrupted owing to covid-19. “The fact that Mumbai Indians left Chepauk with a little bit of success, I think that will give them the confidence they need. They are going back to the UAE where they won the IPL 2020. For me, they are going to start favourites. Their confidence is going to be high just from the fact that they have got good memories of playing in the UAE. I think they can get the better of CSK,” Lara was quoted as saying in cricket.com’s show Man vs Machine. Kiwi speedster Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack and will continue to their two frontline pacers but Lara feels that Aussie quick Nathan Coulter-Nile will be the third pacer. “You want a third seamer in the UAE. It’s very hot. You expect the pitches to be dry and turn a bit. Nathan Coulter-Nile for me is always a good choice with the ball and he also fills the gap with the bat. Their dilemma is whether to go with a double spin or go in with a third seamer. I’ll have to see the conditions in the UAE to make that decision, but Coulter-Nile will be my choice,” Lara said. While Lara feels that CSK won’t have the same dominance which they had in Indian conditions, he does feel that good all-round attributes in the team could bring them glory in the tournament. “They might have been the unhappiest team when it was curtailed in May. They have changed up a few players and I feel they have a more all-round team, especially getting Moeen Ali in,” the former West Indies captain said. “I don’t think they’ll have the same dominance but definitely (will be) one of the qualifiers when the tournament gets to that stage. They will have to work hard in the UAE to get the same success. I believe the team is well gelled, the success they have had in the first half of the tournament is going to serve them well moving forward,” he added.