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Punjab v Bangalore, IPL, Mohali

A top order that shoots blanks

Cricinfo staff

May 12, 2008

	Shaun Marsh has an amazing 295 runs from just five matches, 97 more than Rahul Dravid, who is Bangalore's leading run-scorer in the tournament © Getty Images

The forgotten war
No, we're not talking about Afghanistan or ME Waugh. The Royal Challengers' song has the line, Khel nahin, yeh jang hai [It's not a game, it's war]. Presumably, they took a leaf out of the Mike Marquesee book, War Minus the Shooting, because their top stars have been firing nothing but blanks all tournament.

Almost perfect
In the middle of a terrific opening spell, Sreesanth produced a yorker homing in on middle stump. Misbah-ul-Haq backed away, went on bended knee and carved the ball past point for four. A stunning stroke, but the effect didn't linger long as he stepped on to his stumps soon after.

Empty scoop
Misbah will never live down that attempted paddle over short fine leg in the Twenty20 World Cup final. On Monday night, his team-mate, Vinay Kumar, gave it a go, moving well outside off stump to try and scoop the ball fine. He didn't even make contact though, and VRV Singh made a mess of the stumps. Surely a percentage shot left to the Tendulkars of this world.

Dry zone
With local elections round the corner, Mohali is a dry area [no alcohol] on Monday. The few who have followed the Royal Challengers up north would have been justifiably miffed. Watching them play at the moment would drive even a teetotaler to the bottle.

The faster you bowl the farther you go
Dale Steyn had conceded 12 in his opening over, and it got worse when Rahul Dravid recalled him for a second chance. The more Steyn strained the sinews, the faster the ball disappeared to the rope. Three fours and a six came from the first four balls, and when he then followed up with a slower one, it was wide down the leg side.

Australian Job: Punjab's run chase had a very Australian feel to it. Shaun Marsh and James Hopes started the fun, and after Hopes went, Luke Pomersbach kept his Western Australian team-mate company on the cruise to victory. Marsh now has an amazing 295 runs from just five matches, 97 more than Bangalore's leading run-scorer in the tournament [Dravid].

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