Super Kings v Dolphins, CLT20, Group A, Bangalore September 21, 2014

Dolphins, Super Kings look to overcome shaky start

Match facts

Monday, September 22, 2014
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)

Play 03:49
The pressure is on - Fleming

Big picture

On most days, having reduced the opposition to 51 for 5, Chennai Super Kings would have backed themselves to canter to a win. Against Kolkata Knight Riders in their opening game of the Champions League T20, however, Super Kings' early advantage, built up by Ashish Nehra's strikes, faded against the blitz from Andre Russell and Ryan ten Doeschate.

MS Dhoni later put down the loss to the fact that his team did not have enough runs on the board. There were a few close decisions that went against Super Kings, but the top order was also effectively stifled by the Knight Riders' spin attack. Against Dolphins, the top order will be tested again, this time by the South African franchise's pacers Kyle Abbott, Craig Alexander and Robbie Frylinck. The trio tied down Perth Scorchers in the Powerplay, giving away just 32 runs in six overs, but they will find themselves faced with a tougher challenge when they run in to bowl against Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith, who are part of one of the stronger batting line-ups of the IPL. Super Kings will hope their top order can set a better platform for a big finish.

Apart from needing their top orders to fire, both teams also need their bowlers to maintain pressure after a few tight overs and quick wickets. Against Scorchers, Dolphins gave away 49 runs in the five overs following the Powerplay. Super Kings' spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja struggled against Knight Riders and the five overs they bowled between them cost 54 runs, giving a struggling chase second wind. Against Scorchers, the Dolphins batsmen showed an ability to come back hard at the bowling and it will be important for Super Kings to apply pressure throughout to avoid another surprise charge.

The track at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore is known for being well-suited to batting and that trend may continue during Monday's game as well. The teams will also have to factor in a chance of rain in the evening.

Form guide

Dolphins LWWLW (most recent first, completed matches only)
Chennai Super Kings LLWWL

Watch out for

As captain of the side, one of its senior-most batsmen and one half of one of the franchise's more successful opening partnerships, Morne van Wyk carries the responsibility of being an important player for Dolphins. Equally important for the side is his knowledge of subcontinent conditions gathered from his time with the South Africa team during the 2011 World Cup and during a season of the IPL for Knight Riders.

His return to the Super Kings side after having spent most of IPL 2014 sidelined by injury showed why Dwayne Bravo is one of the core members of the team. As a batsman, he switched gears, along with MS Dhoni, to push the total past 150 and with the ball, he sent down a few quiet overs. Bravo did not have a great Caribbean Premier League for Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, but his early form in the Champions League has looked good.

Stats and trivia

  • 30 - The number of sixes MS Dhoni has hit in the last over of a T20 innings during 24 innings for India and Chennai Super Kings
  • In the current squad, Robbie Frylinck has taken the most wickets for Dolphins in T20s. In 34 matches, Frylinck has 35 wickets at 22.97. Kyle Abbott has 33 wickets in 32 games. Yusuf Abdulla is the overall leading wicket-taker for Dolphins in T20s.

Rachna Shetty is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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