13th Match, League B: Bangalore v Victoria at Bangalore

[aussie1st]

This match bills the battle of the runners up from their respective T20 tournaments. The Bushrangers appeared to be more concerned with qualifying for the next round rather than winning their match against Wayamba. The Victorian bowling attack has proven hard to get away and with Clint McKay continuing his form from last season, Victoria have one of the better seam attacks in the competition.

Bangalore coming into the match on the back of two very strong batting displays averaging over 180 per innings. It took the brilliance of JP Duminy to stop Bangalore going to this stage unbeaten. Bangalore weren't tested by Otago so it's hard to gague if their is a weakness in their bowling. Victoria's bowling attack should give the inform Bangalore batters a stern test and their bowlers will also face an International class Victorian batting lineup.

Team information
Both teams should go into this match unchanged from their previous lineup.

Victoria: Quiney, Hodge, White*, Hussey, Blizzard, McDonald, Wade+, McKay, Harwood, Holland, Siddle
Bangalore: JH Kallis, RV Uthappa, V Kohli, LRPL Taylor R Dravid, MV Boucher?, B Akhil, RE van der Merwe, R Vinay Kumar, P Kumar, A Kumble*

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Bangalore to win this one, with the form they are currently in..:happy

 

[angryangy]

Bad news for that form, Kallis is unfit. Considering the brevity of this tournament and that it is half way through, that raises questions as to whether they'll get his services back before it is over.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

well at least they can pick steyn now, they've had no pace in their bowling as yet.

 

[angryangy]

Excellent pitch and outfield for batting, but there is a bit of bounce. The bowlers got too straight early on and too many balls were easily struck through the onside, but they have pegged them back a little since then.

angryangy added 2 Minutes and 23 Seconds later...

A bit of bounce and a lot of turn for Holland, will Victoria rue the omission of McGain? RCB have turned up with plenty of spin bowling.

angryangy added 3 Minutes and 59 Seconds later...

Taking the pace off has worked for them, Pandey hits an aerial one to the off, but it is well caught and bowled by McDonald. Interesting situation now that the dangerous tyro is out of the picture.

angryangy added 8 Minutes and 2 Seconds later...

Dravid too has begun to take off, but Kohli not so much. He struck mightily to wide long on, but a very good catch was taken to give McDonald another wicket. It brings the ravishing Taylor to the crease and they need a good innings from him, it would seem.

angryangy added 4 Minutes and 8 Seconds later...

We're seeing a fiery spell of medium pace here, McDonald picks up an lbw and it is the big wicket of Taylor.

angryangy added 2 Minutes and 12 Seconds later...

And if he only had a slip; Dravid offers a genuine edge for 4. Perhaps he is the unlikely star tonight?

angryangy added 12 Minutes and 42 Seconds later...

McDonald caps off a fine spell with his 4th wicket, another lbw, turned into Dravid who wanted to work it away, but no bat involved and that puts RCB in an awkward position.

angryangy added 6 Minutes and 33 Seconds later...

McKay was feeding the batsmen slower balls and frustrating them, but in the end a simple juicy full toss was the sucker punch, Boucher needed runs and he hit it to long off. RCB are really struggling to finish this innings now.

angryangy added 19 Minutes and 31 Seconds later...

Siddle attempted to bowl yorkers from around the wicket with mixed results, but it is enough. 127 is the final result and they will be very happy after concerns they were facing 160 or more. RCB however, will know the key on this pitch is to use the slow bowlers and slower balls. The new ball came on to the bat very well, but the old one made life more difficult for the batsmen. Their attack includes international stars such as Steyn, Praveen Kumar, Kumble and van der Merwe, but there is little margin for error.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

mcdonald has been absolutely brilliant so far. He's clearly not meant for the test team but I can't see why he's not given a go in the twenty20 team and possibly even the ODI team.

 

[angryangy]

Even then, in his four matches, they won 3 from 4 and his figures were good. He does offer something a bit different to a proper paceman, he can be much more like a slow bowler. In terms of limited overs selection, he needs to bat up the order to show his value to selectors. Down at 6 or 7, he can play a few good shots, but not many big scores.

angryangy added 2 Minutes and 28 Seconds later...

Kumble opened the innings, but the left handed Quiney worked him away for 8, after which they turned to the pace of Steyn. It was perhaps a double bluff, there's no telling whether Hodge may have had more trouble to the leg spinner and Quiney scored just as contently off Steyn.

angryangy added 12 Minutes and 12 Seconds later...

Steyn looked a chance for a second, but Hodge has begun to feast on him.

angryangy added 2 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...

Too much on the pads at first, but then he over-compensated and drifted wide. Feeling the same problems as the Victorian pacemen did, the ball just goes to the fence if it is in the wrong spot.

angryangy added 2 Minutes and 14 Seconds later...

And finally a breakthrough for RCB, Akhil just puts the ball on a length and it goes through Hodge's stumps.

angryangy added 7 Minutes and 12 Seconds later...

Kumble back and would you believe he's getting too much turn and bounce? Two ball simply turned past batsman and keeper to find the fine leg fence.

angryangy added 10 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...

Finally, van der Merwe is given the ball. Eventful first over, but it still went for 7. They can't even afford that any more.

angryangy added 11 Minutes and 26 Seconds later...

Quiney chips Steyn to the safe hands of Dravid at mid off for a sturdy 29, but at the same time, 12 runs including 8 extras in that over leave RCB with little in the bank.

Now Blizzard is out for 21, came out of his crease but missed the slog sweep. van der Merwe has a wicket, are Bangalore back in the hunt? David Hussey is joined by Cameron White.

angryangy added 11 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...

Has proved a disappointing game for van der Merwe. Whereas Holland, with his classical style, gave the ball air and ripped the ball from leg to outside off with aplomb, van der Merwe's devilish faster ball and general flattish trajectories have done him little favour.

 

[SciD]

Bushies are dangerous team. I was impressed by Holland as well.

 

[angryangy]

David Hussey lands the finishing blows; three sixes off Kumble end the game four overs early. Bangalore will rue much in this game, in particular, their middle order batting and the 21 extras conceded.

 

[SciD]

Steyn is not shorter version stuff. Should play Test only.

 

[Sartaj]

This shows how heavily they depend on Taylor and Kallis.

 

[SciD]

DD = 2
RCB = 7
DC = 8

Thats how its in IPL.

 

[Sartaj]

Are those numbers the number of matches they lost in their home grounds?

 

[aussie1st]

Well done Victoria, McDonald is proving a real handful lately. If he keeps this form up he could be pushing for a shot in the ODI and T20I sides. McKay can't be too far either, hes in a real purple patch and continues to take wickets. Holland again economical against an Indian which should give him confidence before the ODI series.

 

[Raj_Aryan]

Good bowling by McDonald, he restricted RCB to a modest looking score...