Wow, that was a magnificent opening to the Twenty20 Champions’ League. The first game was between the Bangalore Royal Challengers and the Cape Town Cobras. Playing at home (the tournament is being staged in India), the Royal Challengers won the toss and batted. Thanks mainly to 51 from Robin Uthappa and 53* from Ross Taylor, they set a very competitive target of 180. (US readers please note that these games are limited to 120 pitches per side.)
The Cobras did not look a happy side. Their captain, Graeme Smith, was lost to an injury before the tournament even stared. Star fast bowler, Dale Steyn, was not available for this game either. After three very economical overs Charl Langeveldt injured himself diving for a catch and would probably not be able to bat. And their star batsman, Herschelle Gibbs, was out first ball. Bangalore should have won easily. But the Cobras didn’t give up, and thanks to a magnificent 99* from JP Duminy they reached the target with two balls to spare.
To progress in the series the Royal Challengers now have to beat New Zealand’s Otago Volts, led by Brendan McCullum. They will be at home again, but the Chinnaswamy Stadium was also the site, in April 2008, of the first ever match in the Indian Premier League. In that game McCullum, playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders, scored 158 off just 73 balls. He’ll fancy his chances against the Royal Challengers again.
Meanwhile tomorrow sees both Australian sides in action. The New South Wales Blues take on the Eagles from Bloemfontein, while the Victoria Bush Rangers play the much fancied Delhi Daredevils.