Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs to become DLF Indian Premiere League champions for the second time in a row at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. Bangalore could make only 147 runs in reply of Chennai's huge total of 205 runs. Earlier a record 159-run
partnership between openers Murali Vijay (95, 52b, 6 x 6, 4 x 4) and Michael Hussey (63, 54b, 3 x 6, 3 x 4) powered the Chennai Super Kings to 205 for five in 20 overs against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
It was the highest partnership for the Super Kings for any wicket in the IPL, but the Super Kings were reined in at the finish with left-arm seamer Sreenath Aravind and off-spinner Chris Gayle picking up two wickets apiece in one over.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Super Kings openers put the Royal Challengers attack to the sword with some brilliant batting. Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey complemented each other to make up for an otherwise dismal season that had seen them in just two half-century partnerships until the night of the IPL final.
The home team owed their win to Vijay whose record 159-run stand for the first wicket with Australian Michael Hussey (63) set the platform for a winning total after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat first.
Opener Murali Vijay cracked 95 runs off just 52 balls to help the defending champions pile up 205-5 before Ravichandran Ashwin removed Bangalore's openers early, ensuring a fine win for the hosts at a packed Chidambaram Stadium.
League-toppers Bangalore, who were seeking their maiden IPL title, folded up at 147-8 off 20 overs.
The home team owed their win to Vijay whose record 159-run stand for the first wicket with Australian Michael Hussey (63) set the platform for a winning total after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat first.
Their stand surpassed the 155-run partnership between Adam Gilchrist and Venkatsai Laxman against Mumbai in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008.
Bangalore's chase was derailed early with off-spinner Ashwin (3-16) getting rid of the dangerous Chris Gayle for a duck in the very first over.
Gayle, who still finished as the highest run-getter with 608 runs from 12 innings, offered an outside edge which was snapped up by Dhoni behind the wickets.
Gayle's dismissal triggered a collapse with Bangalore losing their next six wickets inside 11 overs to be reduced to 70-6, a situation from which they could never really recover.
Awards of IPL 2011:
Just after the IPL ended with Chennai Super Kings winning the tournament in a row. Some action was held to be in the post match presentation and it was some awards for the great moments we encountered in IPL 2011. Here are the list of awards :Golden Player of the tournament award : Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore/West Indies)
Gayle was the undoubtly most entertaining player in this year's format of IPL T20. He came to the team and placed RCB in the top of points table from nowhere they were around. Gayle scored 608 runs and also picked up 8 wickets in 12 matches of IPL 2011.
Most Run-scorer (Orange Cap) : Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore/West Indies)
Chris Gayle came up as the surprised player for every one in this IPL, included in RCB side after 6th match. Chris Gayle made 511 runs in 9 group-stage matches and 608 runs in total 12 matches (including 3 play-off matches).
Most-Wicket Taker (Purple Cap) : Lasith Malinga (Mmbai Indians/ Sri Lanka)
Malinga took 27 wickets in 14 group-stage matches and total of 28 wickets in 16 matches including 2 play-off matches. Malinga was really unplayable and had best average as well as economy rate in his IPL.
The rising star award : Iqbal Abdulla (Kolkata Knight Riders / India)
The man from small-town from Inia really impressed the people around him with his slow-left arm orthodox bowling. The 21 years old youngster picked-up 16 wickets at the economy of 6.1 in 15 matches.
Best Individual Performance : Paul Valthaty (Kings XI Punjab / India)
Paul Valthaty scored 120* off 63 balls when they were chasing the score of 189 runs in the match against the Chennai Super Kings.
Karbonn Kamaal Catcher of the tournament : Keiron Pollard (Mumbai Indians / West Indies)
