Indian Premier League (IPL)

Match 56 Dubai 8-10-21 (3pm UIK)
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Capitals
RCB elected to field
DC 164-5 Shaw 48 Dhawan 43 Hetmyer 29 Siraj 2-25
RCB 166-3 Bharat 78 no Maxwell 51 no Nortje 2-24
RCB won by 7 wickets

So my understanding now is that Delhi play Chennai in what is effectively a semi final for a guaranteed place in the final.

Then RCB play Kolkata in what is effectively a quarter final.

The winners of that quarter final then play the losers out of Delhi and Chennai in a second semi final.

Surprising to see Mumbai not make the top 4 but it opens things up nicely now.

Qualifier 1 Dubai 10-10-21 (3pm UK)
Delhi Capitals v Chennai Super Kings
CSK elected to field
DC 172-5 Shaw 60 Pant 51 no Hetmyer 37 Hazlewood 2-29
CSK 173-6 (19.4 overs) Uthappa 63 Gaikwad 70 T Curran 3-29
CSK won by 4 wickets

Dhoni steered CSK through to Fridays final, with 3 boundaries off the last over bowled by Tom Curran. Delhi capitals have a 2nd chance of making the Final, when the play the winners of tomorrows Eliminator between RCB & KKR, Qualifier 2 takes place on Wednesday.

Eliminator - Sharjah 11--10-21
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders
RCB elected to bat
RCB 138-7 Kohli 39 Narine 4-21 Ferguson 2-30
KKR 139-6 (19.4 overs) Gill 29 Yusvendra Chahal 2-16 Harshal Patel 2-19 Siraj 2-19
KKR won by 4 wickets

Not the best way for Kohli to finish his captaincy of RCB, despite top scoring for his side, they looked under par, KKR had a little wobble late into their innings, when they looked to have the chase under control. The out of form Morgan was batting at 7, with Dinesh Karthik, as the got over the line.
KKR will take on Delhi Capitals at the same venue on Wednesday (3pm UK).

Qualifier 2 - Sharjah - 13-10-21 (3pm UK)
Delhi Capitals v Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR elected to field
DC 135-5 Dhawan 36 Shreyas Iyer 30 no Chakravarthy 2-26
KKR 136-7 (19.5 overs) Gill 46 Venkatesh Iyer 55 Ashwin 2-27 Rabada 2-23 Nortje 2-30
KKR won by 3 wickets

KKR made is an exciting game in the end. On a difficult batting surface, slow & low, but a small ground, chasing 136 wasn't going to be easy. Shreyas Iyer hit the last ball of the Capitals innings for a maximum to give his side a chance. KKR looked in control as the openers put on 96 inside 13 overs. The 2nd wicket fell on the last ball of the 16th over, which sparked a collapse of 6 for 7 runs. Tripathi was facing Ashwin on a hat-trick ball, which he hit for six to win the match with a ball to spare.

Delhi Capitals finished top of the regular table but then fluffed their lines somewhat when it mattered in the playoffs.

Should be an interesting final though.

Final - CSK v KKR
KKR elected to field
CSK 192-3 du Plessis 86 no Ali 36 no Gaikwad 32 Uthappa 31 Narine 2-26
KKR 165-9 Gill 51 Venkatesh Iyer 50 Thakur 3-38 Hazlewood 2-29 Jadeja 2-37
Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs