Staggered by Bollinger's burst

Doug Bollinger was at his menacing best as Chennai Super Kings defended a modest 142. The Australian fast bowler flattened Deccan Chargers by claiming the wickets of Adam Gilchrist, T. Suman, B. Sumanth and Ryan Harris. Nandakumar Marar reports.

Subramaniam Badrinath helped Chennai Super Kings climb out of a hole with some sensible batting against a charged-up Deccan Chargers Hyderabad. He kept trying to rotate the strike with captain M. S. Dhoni and faced 41 balls before storming off in frustration after a soft dismissal.

Badrinath's 37 runs played a huge part in Chennai Super Kings' recovery. And Dhoni chipped in with a hard-earned 30 off 32 balls.

Sometimes in Twenty20 cricket, bowlers call the shots on helpful wickets. At such times, the batsmen can only bide their time.

Doug Bollinger was in adangerous mood as Chennai Super Kings defended a modest 142. The Australian fast bowler flattened Deccan Chargers by claiming the wickets of Adam Gilchrist, T. Suman, B. Sumanth and Ryan Harris.

“It's pretty exciting, especially in T20 cricket. I am happy to get ones and twos, but 4 for 13 is a great achievement for me. Hopefully I can keep getting wickets like that. I think it just comes down to enjoying my cricket,” said the burly fast bowler.

Bollinger was all praise for Ravichandran Ashwin, who bowled with accuracy and put pressure on the Deccan Chargers batsmen after opening the bowling for Chennai Super Kings.

The Australian said he was happy to share the new ball with an off-spinner. “I think we have done a pretty good job actually. Ashwin is bowling really well. I think that's the best part, getting a good start with the new ball – and hopefully getting one, or maybe two wickets.”

Ashwin showed the knackof hitting the right length straightaway. He frustrated the openers, Adam Gilchristand Herschelle Gibbs in the Powerplay overs. Chennai Super Kings' key wicket-taker explained the feelings within the squad en route to the final. “For us, apart from fielding and bowling, it was all about attitude. We just went out there with nothing to loseand just enjoyed the game. I think that's why we did well – we just went out and played the game. It's worked in our favour.” Dhoni's cool head helped his team to realise that 142 was a defendable total.

Bollinger said he enjoyed playing under Dhoni. “Mahi is a great captain and a great player. He grabbed the bull by the horns against Kings XI Punjab. He didn't get as many runs in this game but led as a captain should and everyone just followed him. I think he has been a great captain, a great person for me and for the rest of the team.”

Dhoni is clear about the bowlers he wants and puts faith in the trusted ones.

Ashwin, Bollinger, Morkel,Muralitharan and Jakati all have their strong points and quirks, but getting them to raise their performances when the pressure is on is all about man-management.

Bollinger is a late addition to the Chennai Super Kings team and he is happy with the atmosphere within. “Chennai have been great company, a great cricket team. All the guys have been great and have welcomed me into the team.”

Chennai Super Kings has a mix of Indians, Lankans, South Africans and Aussies in its line-up. “Half the guys in the team, I have never met before. They turned out to be great blokes and great players. I think that's a great thing for IPL cricket and world cricket.

“You are playing with all these guys that you normally play against. Now they are on your team. I think that's fantastic. You are enjoying each other's success,” said Bollinger.

SCOREBOARD

Second semifinal: Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers, Dr. D. Y. Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai.

Result: Chennai Super Kings won by 38 runs.

Chennai Super Kings: M. Vijay lbw b Harris 15, M. L. Hayden c Symonds b Harris 8, S. K. Raina c Gilchrist b Symonds 2, S. Badrinath st Gilchrist b R. P. Singh 37, M. S. Dhoni c Sharma b Harmeet Singh 30, J. A. Morkel c Symonds b Ojha 4, S. Anirudha c Gibbs b Harris 24, R. Ashwin (not out) 6, S. B. Jakati (not out) 0, Extras (b-8, lb-5, w-3) 16. Total (for 7 wkts; 20 overs) 142.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-25, 3-29, 4-81, 5-96, 6-117, 7-137.

Deccan Chargers bowling: Symonds 4-0-18-1, Harris 4-0-29-3, R. P. Singh 4-0-33-1, Ojha 4-0-27-1, Harmeet Singh 4-0-22-1.

Deccan Chargers: A. C. Gilchrist c Anirudha b Bollinger 15, H. H. Gibbs b Jakati 18, T. L. Suman c Raina b Bollinger 4, R. G. Sharma c Muralitharan b Morkel 2, A. Symonds c Vijay b Ashwin 23, M. D. Mishra st Dhoni b Jakati 2, B. Sumanth b Bollinger 16, R. J. Harris c Vijay b Bollinger 15, Harmeet Singh lbw b Muralitharan 0, R. P. Singh (not out) 0, P. Ojha c Bollinger b Raina 1, Extras (lb-2, w-6) 8. Total (in 19.2 overs) 104.

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-23, 3-31, 4-48, 5-54, 6-82, 7-103, 8-103, 9-103.

Chennai Super Kings bowling: Ashwin 4-0-14-1, Bollinger 4-1-13-4, Muralitharan 4-0-16-1, Morkel 3-0-15-1, Jakati 4-0-44-2, Raina 0.2-0-0-1.