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according to plan, let alone expectations of its Towards the end of the league stage they were
fans back home in India and in South Africa. in contention for a semi final spot. But a horrid
But as they say it takes a crisis to separate the batting performance in their final game against
men from the boys, as it is always a true test of the Chennai Super Kings meant that they would
character, and character was a commodity this go into the final day of the league games with
team had in plenty. They showed it in their next their hearts in their mouth and a prayer on their
game against the Royal Challengers. That game lips. It now came down to sheer calculations
added two new names to the Kings XI list of and as luck would have it – for their old friend
match winners. Yusuf Abdullah, who tore into lady luck to shine on them once more, and we
the batting with 4 wickets and Ravi Bopara who know her relationship with them. Needless
destroyed the bowling with his super innings of to state “she” did not disappoint the team to
84. Added to that, a big hitting Yuvraj who also anyone’s surprise, maintaining a consistency in
swung his bat around to take his team to victory. her hostility towards the Kings.
Yuvraj, incidentally, liked these South African
grounds, as it was here in the 2007 Twenty20 “I am glad that we did not get into the semis. I
World Cup that he had reduced Stuart Broad would have hated it if that were how we made
almost to tears. Getting hit for six sixes in an it, with someone else losing. If we did not
over can do that to you. And this time around make it by winning then we have no right to be
the South African tracks were kind to him as there”, said team mascot and owner Preity, but
a bowler. Yuvraj picked up 2 hat tricks in the you could tell that she was speaking for every
tournament adding to the already bustling all- member of the team. The Lions of Punjab were
round strength of the team. all about pride, the pride of winning. Lions also
do not lick their wounds too long. They packed
Things did turn around for Kings XI after that. their bags, and went home with their heads
They won a few, they dropped a few. Out of all the held high. They had done their best despite all
teams in the league this was the most mercurial the external setbacks, and they would be back
and unpredictable. They were brilliant on their to fight another time. And if they managed to
day, and looked a shadow of that brilliant self get Lady Luck to smile like a happy new bride, yusuf abdullah came out of the blue and
on some others. these Lions would surely be Kings of the jungle. almost ran away with the purple cap.
178 KINGS XI PUNJAB KINGS XI PUNJAB 179
