It may be early days yet in the 2013 edition of the Champions League T20, but daylight is beginning to appear between the front-runners, and the rest. In Group B, Chennai Super Kings have laid down a marker with their handsome win over the Titans in Ranchi, while in Group A, with some assistance from the rain gods, the Rajasthan Royals are starting to look a good bet for a last-four berth.
With Mumbai Indians, Otago Volts, Perth Scorchers and Highveld Lions all having to split points at Ahmedabad on Monday, Rahul Dravid’s men have had their path smoothened somewhat. They still need to win at least two games to guarantee themselves a semis slot, but even one could well prove to be enough. That however, will be far from their thoughts when they take on the Lions at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here on Wednesday, in the second match of the evening’s programme after the Scorchers and Otago face off. Led by the experienced — and aggressive Alviro Petersen — the Lions appear a well-rounded side with a fair sprinkling of new and old faces, many of whom have seen action in national colours as well. The problem for the South Africans is that they have had no active cricket since landing in India. No amount of nets can substitute for the real thing, and the Lions are yet to get a hit — or a bowl — in the middle.
For their part, the Royals will be carrying both momentum and morale into the game after the handy drubbing of the Indians. Both marquee players — Tendulkar for the Indians and Dravid for the hosts — did not trouble the scorer unduly, but the teams still dished out a keen contest, Royals prevailing with two balls to spare. Add to that their virtual invincibility at Jaipur — they are yet to lose a game here this year — and it is not hard to see why Dravid’s men are the side to beat in this group.
Perth vs Otago, 4PM
Royals vs Lions, 8PM
Live on Star Sports