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Cape Town: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain, has not been having a great time. Be it the Indian team, or the Chennai Super Kings, his boys are somehow not getting the equation right.
In their first match of the CLT20, the Super Kings fell short by just 14 runs, against the Sydney Sixers. It’s not that they played badly, but they were still the second best team.
As they prepare for their second encounter, against the Highveld Lions, on Tuesday, Dhoni’s team will have to tighten their bowling attack a bit.
In the last match, save a mini mid-innings collapse, the Super Kings batted well, but the bowling was a bit of concern for them as they leaked too many runs in the death overs.
Most of the bowlers used by captain Dhoni went for runs and he needs his frontline pacers — Ben Hilfenhuas and Doug Bollinger — to fire in the next game.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja did a decent job and Ravichandran Ashwin played his part well but the side conceded too many runs in the last six overs to make it tough for themselves.
One more defeat would put their semi-final chances in jeopardy, as it will have them facing a must-win situation in the last two matches.
Dhoni may also consider replacing paceman Yo Mahesh, who bowled a very expensive over of 18 runs and was never brought back into the attack again.
On the other hand, the Lions, the local outfit, are also a good batting unit. Veteran Neil McKenzie along with Quinton de Kock mowed down the Mumbai Indians attack without any fuss and hammered the defending champions by eight wickets on Sunday night.
The other Lions batsmen are yet to be tested in this tournament but their bowlers gave a good account of themselves, especially fast bowler Dirk Nannes.
The left-arm pacer bowled a good line and length as he gave away just 15 runs and also took a wicket. Except for Chris Morris, everyone else bowled quite impressively in the game against the Mumbai Indians.
The South African side, apparently, look to be a weaker one, with no big names on their roster.
But the amalgamation of homebred talents and the experience of the playing conditions, make them a dangerous side. (agencies)
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