Craig's blog

Chennai Super Kings thumped Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets in the first playoff at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. Chasing an imposing 176, what seemed impossible at one stage thanks to Chennai’s batting mainstay and finisher Suresh Raina’s unbeaten 73 (50 balls, 4x4, 6x6), launched a blitz along with Albie Morkel (28 off 10 balls, 1x4, 3x6) to romp home with two balls to spare. With this win, CSK stormed into the final to be played in Chennai on Saturday.

Sahara Pune Warriors, making their debut inDLF IPL 4, crushed Kings XI Punjab by seven wickets against Kings XI Punjab at the D.Y. Patil Stadium on Sunday. Chasing 113, the Warriors reached their target in just 13.1 overs, rode by Mithun Manhas 35 off 31 balls. Graeme Smith was out first ball Praveen Kumar and later Jesse Ryder consolidated the innings in company with Manhas. After the fall of Ryderand Manhas in quick succession at 68 for three in nine overs, Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa put on an unbroken 45-run partnership to seal the win for  Warriors.

Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, 29 was named as the player of the tournament unanimously by a select group of experts in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Wankhede, Mumbai. Yuvraj Singh scored a total of 362 runs at an impressive average of 86.19. He also took 15 wickets with his left-arm bowling at an average of 25.13.