IPL 6: CSK v/s KKR – Flops of the Match

The Chennai Super Kings saw off a competitive chase from the Kolkata Knight Riders to ascend to the top of this season’s table in yet another last-over finish at the Chepauk stadium. A nigh-perfect last over from Chris Morris left Kolkata fourteen runs adrift, with only four coming off it, which means that the reigning champions are now in deep waters and sinking quick. It was a high-scoring game with more than a couple outstanding performances, but here are those who failed to deliver:

Dirk Nannes – Rusty as an iron rod

Key stats: Bowling figures – 4.0 – 0 – 50 – 0; Catches – 1

Returning from a short injury layoff, Nannes showed early signs of rustiness when he started the second innings off with a wide down the leg side which went to the boundary as well. He followed it up with a front-foot no-ball, and immediately had all and sundry talking about his lack of match-fitness. 18 runs came from that first over, and many more from the ones he bowled after, especially his last one, which allowed Kolkata a foot in the door which seemed all but firmly shut.

Brendon McCullum – Letting it slip

Key stats: Batting figures – 6 off 7 (1 four)

The last time that Brendon McCullum was in consistent good touch for the Knight Riders was perhaps way back in the second season of the tournament, played in South Africa. Since then, he has produced a few good innings, no doubt, but they have been few and far in between. Most other innings have been promising starts, thrown away either through ill luck or rash play. Tonight was no different, as, having gotten his eye in, McCullum looked to accelerate the scoring and in doing so, chopped one from wide outside off-stump onto his wicket, and departed early, cursing his luck all the while.

Jacques Kallis – Neither with the ball, nor with the bat

Key stats: Bowling figures – 4.0 – 0 – 50 – 0; Batting figures - 19 off 20 (1 six)

When a team loses a game chasing a big total with 6 wickets in hand and a couple of big hitters still left in the shed, one finds it hard to understand the thought process behind sending out someone like Kallis to bat with instructions to take it easy, at his own pace. As if the concession of 50 runs in the four overs he bowled was insufficient, Kallis took to his innings at pedestrian pace, making 19 off 20, with only a couple of attempts at keeping up with the required rate. The manner in which he threw away his wicket was quite embarrassing, as his attempted scoop from outside the off-stump looped up and went straight to Nannes. 5 – 10 runs more in the deliveries he faced, or 5 – 10 less conceded would have made a huge difference to the scoreline.

Lakshmipathy Balaji - Smashed all over

Key stats: Bowling figures - 4.0 – 0 – 45 – 0

Facing off against a team he used to once play for, Balaji produced very little of the guile and variation that made him fairly successful in the past. That is not to say he didn’t attempt them, but that much of what he tried were the wrong choices to make against the batsmen facing him. He did bowl a decent last over of the first innings, at least until Dhoni sent one flying over the fence off the last delivery. If these performances continue, Kolkata might soon face the dilemma of having to bring in Brett Lee, in the absence of former talents like Unadkat and Dinda.