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Bangalore Royal Challengers who was looking down and out of the tournament at half way stage will take on Chennai Super Kings in the second semi final of IPL 2009. Going by the form it’s very hard to predict the winner of 2^nd Semi Finals. Since both team entered into the semi finals with wins to their name.

Royal Challengers Bangalore is boosted by the century from young lad Manish Pandey during their last round robin league match against Deccan Chargers. In the same game they have showed how well they are playing. It’s not easy for Chennai to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore. It does all depend on how Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman tackles spin duo (Muralitharan and Ashwin) of Chennai Super Kings.

Chennai have both sputtered and smacked in recent matches, on the one hand being beaten by the Kolkata Knight Riders after posting 188 yet bouncing back to clinch a low-scoring thriller over Kings XI Punjab. Bangalore have won four in a row and can rightfully stare Chennai in the eye.

Royal Challengers Bangalore once again rely heavily on their Captain Anil Kumble and hope he delivered his magical spell for his team and that’s true if Kumble able to bowl decent spell in the middle then Bangalore may well be on right path to qualify for the final. Jaques Kallis who sit out after bowling just one over in the game against Deccan Chargers will be fit for the semi finals and that will be good news for the Royal Challengers since he is the man who has scored heavily for Royals on many victorious occasions for Bangalore.

Chennai Super Kings for the second successive time qualify for the semi finals of IPL, last year they have beaten firm favourite Kings XI Punjab quite comfortably to qualify for the Finals and Chennai fans will hope for something similar this year too.

Chennai Super Kings is also boosted by the arrival of M.Hussey and Dhoni would love to include Mr. Cricketer to give solidity in the middle order in place of big man Jacob Oram.

Let’s hope for cracking 2^nd Semi Finals between two balanced teams Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Pitch & Conditions

The pitch at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg will be full of runs and team winning the toss without hesitation would like to bat first. Any score between 160-170 runs would be defendable total on this wicket.

Team News

Mathew Hayden the orange cap holder is likely to get back into the team for Chennai Super Kings. Michael Hussey could well make into the squad in place of underperformer Jacob Oram. R.Ashwin who bowled really well against Kings XI Punjab is likely to retain his place

On the other hand Royal Challengers Bangalore is likely to go into the match with same playing XI that played in the last two games and came out as winner on both occasions.

Likely Playing XI for both teams (Match is schedule to begin at 20:00 PM India Time on 23^rd Of May)

Chennai Super Kings: Matthew Hayden, Parthiv Patel, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, MS Dhoni (Captain/WK), Michael Hussey, Albie Morkel, R Ashwin, L Balaji, Muttiah Muralitharan, Manpreet Gony.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Manish Pandey, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa, Ross Taylor, Virat Kohli, Mark Boucher (WK), Roelof van der Merwe, Praveen Kumar, B Akhil, Anil Kumble (Captain).

Stats & Trivia

Both teams have played four times prior to this and each team has two wins to their name.

Chennai have won 6 out of nine game batting first while manage just two wins batting second in the four game.

Jaques Kallis the Bangalore to run getter just manage 24 runs in his two outings against Chennai Super Kings.