Court intervenes to let play....... CSK pips DD by handsome margin

All roads led to Chepauk where CSK in a smooth operation defeated Delhi Daredevils by 33 runs in the last of their matches at home…… but there was much of drama before the toss……

Elsewhere, rest of Sri Lanka rode on an all-round performance from Nuwan Kulasekara to secure a second comprehensive victory in the List-A tri-series in Pallekele, defeating Sri Lanka A by 58 runs in a low-scoring match.  Having top-scored for Rest SL with 61, Kulasekara combined with Chanaka Welegedara to demolish Sri Lanka A's top order within the first four overs of their innings, reducing them to 6 for 5 - a position from which they never recovered.  Wonder what it has to do here……..

The CSK Vs DD match was saved by Court…… it was the Supreme Court which paved the way for the play but chided the authorities for failing to check violations of law by the increasingly powerful cricket bodies.  It is unfortunate for any country that a cricket body becomes powerful to flout rules, the Court observed. On Monday, the corporation slapped a demolition notice and sealed three stands with a seating capacity of nearly 12,000, along with hospitality boxes. When Sibal said TNCA had secured most of the permissions, the Corporation counsel  Giri said, “Ad hoc process cannot be a substitute for rules and law. TNCA does not have statutory permission yet entire construction has been done. Just because it is a powerful cricket body, it cannot flout law.”

Though the Bench granted permission, it made categorically clear that it was for Tuesday match alone and told TNCA that no more matches would be allowed in the stadium without prior permission from the court during pendency of Chennai Corporation’s appeal.   To bring the stadium facilities up to the standards specified by ICC, TNCA demolished six stands in 2009. When construction of new stands was taken up, the corporation during Aug 2011 slapped a demolition notice on TNCA under Section 56 of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act. TNCA moved Madras High Court and got a favourable order on February 6, 2013. But on appeal, the SC on May 10 granted ex-parte stay of the HC order. On May 12, the corporation slapped sealing order for the three stands.  So much of litigation……… and then the match was on….

Delhi Daredevils never really challenged CSK, more so, after the early loss of Virender Sehwag for a duck.  Even before the match began, Chennai Super Kings had qualified for the playoffs. Still the win was important as it would give them the luxury of a loss in the play off, when they become the no. 1 or 2.  Murali Vijay was in a tearing hurry, before he was run out and around 13 overs CSK appeared playing rather slowly;  MS Dhoni's power-packed half-century changed the complexion.   

Earlier it was David Warner who walked out for the toss alongside Dhoni, - a new captain…… and was it that Mahela Jayawardene had dropped himself ! ~ no !!  It was the reason why Kulasekara was playing Sri Lanka ~ no lankan players in Chennai matches; Mahela could not play and DD had a new captain… his and Uumukt’s did provide little chance but eventually CSK ended up on 22 points. 

Even in IPL where one keeps seeing the balls disappearing, the one in 18^th over when Dhoni smacked Siddarth Kaul almost out of the stadium, the ball landing on the top of the roof will be ever remembered. 

MSD has so far marshalled his resources well, rotating them well and making it click as a team….. apart from those who played yesterday, Anirudha Srikkanth,  Ben Laughlin, Chris Morris, W Saha, Ankit Rajpoot have all played…… Hilfenhaus,  Baba Aparajith, Shadab Jakati have not got a single chance….. the more intriguing being that of Faf du Plessis who scored heavily last time…. Not sure whether Akila Dananjaya is still there and whether he could be surprise weapon in the play-off…….

Overall, CSK looks dominant, though it would not play at their home any longer…..

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

15^th May 2013.