For pride and play-off

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Royals Challengers Bangalore’s big win over Mumbai Indians on Wednesday night did two things.

One, it revived the Challengers’ faith in their off-colour pace bowler Vinay Kumar, their $1 million signing at the IPL auction, after having dropped him in their game against the Deccan Chargers last Sunday.

Two, it propelled them from seventh to fourth spot in the IPL points table, keeping their chances of securing a play-off berth alive.

In fact, on the eve of their game the Pune Warriors here on Friday, they are right in the middle of a fierce battle between four other teams for two play-off berths, with less than three points separating all of them.

Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders seem like they will likely secure the top two spots — though it is far from certain as yet — while Deccan Chargers and Warriors can be safely written off.

For the rest, every result from here on onwards will be essentially make-or-break for them, and Challengers will hope they don’t lose steam in such a critical juncture.

Even though they performed admirably on a batting track in Mumbai, the Challengers bowling attack has perhaps been in the weakest in the competition, and it took a selfless decision by regular skipper Daniel Vettori to drop him to turn things around.

His replacement the wily Sri Lankan offie Muttiah Muralitharan with 10 wickets in six matches at an economy of 6.41 runs per over has virtually shut the door on Vettori’s comeback.

Zaheer Khan and Vinay will need to offer a lot more in support though, if the Challengers are to progress ahead.

The batting burden has been plonked on the shoulders of the Jamaican big-hitter Chris Gayle and South African bat AB de Villiers, but of late Tillakaratne Dilshan and stand-in skipper Virat Kohli have struck good form.

Key player : Pune warriors Steven Smith

Steven Smith, the Aussie bundle of energy that can do it all, has been the lone bright star in an otherwise wretched season for Pune Warriors.

The IPL-5 has effectively ended for the Warriors, but that won’t stop Smith from giving his best against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday.

Key player : royal challengers Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan has been largely underwhelming this season, but bowled superbly to Sachin Tendulkar in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s nine-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on Wednesday.

He gave away just 16 runs in his four overs and will hope he can recreate that performance here as well.