IPL: Swashbuckling Morkel takes Chennai home

South African smashes 28 off Kohli’s over as Kings overhaul 206-run target.

Albie Morkel smashed Virat Kohli for 28 in the penultimate over of the match as defending champions Chennai Super Kings recorded the highest successful run-chase in the Indian Premier League, overcoming a daunting 206-run total to stun the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Despite Morkel’s hurricane effort, Chennai needed 14 off the final over. Morkel went off the second delivery but West Indies international Darren Bravo took 11 off the next three balls before Ravindra Jadeja edged the last ball to the boundary to take his team past the finish line.

Earlier, Faf du Plessis hit a 46-ball 71 and captain MS Dhoni made 41 off just 24 deliveries to help Chennai’s cause.

Bangalore were indebted to the top-three for a competitive total. Mayank Agarwal hit 46, while fellow opener Chris Gayle made a 35-ball 68. Kohli also contributed a quickfire 57 despite not being in control at all times as Bangalore posted the highest total in the current edition of the IPL.

The five-wicket win was Chennai’s second in four games, while Bangalore suffered their second defeat in three matches.

Mahmood facing visa issues

Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been unable to feature for Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing tournament as he awaits an Indian visa so far.

Mahmood was bought by Punjab for $200,000 at the auction and is the only Pakistan international to feature in the lucrative league. While the team management said the all-rounder had taken a short break after featuring in the Bangladesh Premier League, captain Adam Gilchrist said there were visa issues.

“It’s up to the government,” Gilchrist told Times of India. “I believe that he hasn’t yet got his visa. When we picked him at the auction, we were made to believe that he’d be available for all matches. But that hasn’t happened. He’s a class player and we’re missing him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2012.