IPL5 - Pune Warriors vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – Match Preview
Pune Warriors face a stiff task of going up against Royal Challengers Bangalore at home in the 57th game of Indian Premier League (IPL5), to be played at Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium on Friday, May 11, 2012.
Pune has already lost the chance of qualifying for the play-offs after suffering nine defeats from a total of 13 games played. Royal Challengers Bangalore on the ohttp://www.senore.com/Cricket/Thomas-George-Burrows-c93472her hand, are still in contention for the final four but needs two wins from four games to be sure.
The match on Friday will be the first game this season in which http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sourav-Chandidas-Ganguly-c90746, skipper Pune Warriors, won’t be playing. The Prince of Calcutta has decided to give his place to a youngster, so as to give him a chance to make a name for himself.
The owner of Pune Warriors, Subrata http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Symonds-c44611 Sahara, has confirmed the news and said, “Sourav wants to give youngsters a chance in the last games.”
Manish Pandey, the 22-year-old batsman from Uttaranchal, is the most obvious choice to replace the iconic cricket. The right-handed opening batsman has already featured in nine games for Pune scoring 143 runs at an average of 23.83. However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harshad-Khadiwale-c1539, 23-year-old batter, is also in consideration.
Michael Clarke, Australian cricketer, is in line to lead Pune http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warriors-c861 in Ganguly’s absence.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, on the other hand, are expected to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians on May 9, 2012.
The pitch at Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium has not fetched many runs in the tournament; therefore another low scoring fixture is expected. The team that scores beyond 150, batting first, would be considered favourite.
Team Form:
Pune Warriors started IPL5 in style; however, the side has lost the sting losing six matches on the trot. Royal Challengers Bangalore on the other hand, have won two matches in succession.
Key Players:
Steven Smith has been the most consistent batter for Pune Warriors. The Australian, along with Robin Uthappa, holds the key for Warriors in the game. Angelo Matthews will also be very crucial for Warriors’ cause.
RCB’s main strength lies in their batting. With explosive players like Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Z-Khan-c98379 are two of the most experienced bowlers in IPL and will certainly trouble Pune’s batsmen.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (probable XI):
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Huzefa-Mohammed-Patel-c63657, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan
Pune Warriors (probable XI):
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Manish-Pandey-c74183
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