Chennai Super Kings v Sydney Sixers – Champions League Twenty20 (Group B) – Match Preview
The third match of the Champions League Twenty20 currently being held in South Africa sees the Chennai Super Kings, runners-up from the 2012 edition of the Indian Premier League, preparing to battle it out with the Sydney Sixers, winners of the 2011/2012 edition of the Big Bash League, at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, today on October 14.
Coached by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stephen-Paul-Fleming-c91190, the Super Kings are old hands at the T20 format of the game, and among the most successful (and most valuable) franchises in the Indian Premier League. Led by skipper of the Indian national team MS Dhoni, who has captained the most T20 matches in the history of the format (126), the team has made it to four of the five IPL finals, and have won the IPL twice in succession – in 2010, and 2011. They were also crowned the 2010 CLT20 champions in South Africa – the first IPL side to win the tournament.
In comparison, the Sydney Sixers are a relatively young side, having been formed for the inaugural edition of Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition, the Big Bash League, in 2011/2012. However, coached by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Trevor-Harley-Bayliss-c94335 and led by Australia’s wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin, the Sixers went on to win the BBL 2011 after defeating the Perth Scorchers in the tournament final.
Both teams, led by wicketkeeper batsmen, boast impressive line-ups featuring star batsmen, experienced bowlers, and powerful all-rounders, making their first encounter an evenly-balanced clash which the crowds at the New Wanderers Stadium are bound to relish.
The Super Kings boast a seasoned line-up, featuring the likes of Suresh Raina, who has been the team’s leading run-scorer, and can also double as a handy off-break bowler, in addition to being remarkably agile in the field. All-rounder Albie Morkel, the most-capped T20 player (with 202 matches under his belt), is also likely to come in handy with both bat and ball, and will be expected to deliver in home conditions.
The batting order will be further bolstered by the likes of veteran batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750’s recent unsuccessful World T20 campaign, but the team will be counting on him lead from the front and live up to his reputation as a successful match finisher.
The bowling attack boasts the likes of spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DE-Bollinger-c1348, who will be expected to make full use of the bouncy South African pitches.
The Sixers’ squad is equally impressive, fortified by the presence of star all-rounder Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326, who will be coming into the tournament after a string of stellar performances for Australia in the World T20.
Although Australia crashed out of the tournament semi-finals, the 31-year-old was in the form of his life, and could do no wrong. He bagged 4 successive Player of the Match awards, in addition to the Player of the Tournament award, and remained the leading run-getter in the tournament (249 runs from 6 matches), and the second highest wicket-taker (11 wickets from 6 matches). The Sixers will be counting on him to continue in similar form.
In addition to Watson, the Sixers have skipper Haddin, Steven Smith, and overseas player Michael Lumb (the most experienced batsman in the team, with 119 T20 games to his credit) to beef up their batting order.
The Sixers bowling attack is likely to be spearheaded by the young pace duo of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in November last year, Cummins has emerged as one of Australia’s most promising potential pacers, and is likely to complement Starc brilliantly.
Starc, meanwhile, has been on a roll this year, having chipped in with remarkable performances for English County club http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, bowling in South Africa should be a breeze.
The match marks the first clash between the two teams, both of whom will be eager to get their CLT20 campaigns started off on the right note. The weather at the Wanderers today is partly cloudy, with an expected temperature of around 12 - 22° C.
Chennai Super Kings squad:
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/WP-Saha-c2800
Sydney Sixers squad:
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Peter-Nevill-c2180
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