April 24, 2010 7:45 PM

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IPL 3: DC, RCB to fight for third place

Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore would be eyeing a slot in the Twenty20 Champions League when they take on each other in the third-fourth place play-off of the Indian Premier League in Mumbai this evening. The team that finishes third would confirm the berth in Champions League joining this year's finalists Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in September. Toss is again expected to play a crucial role as the team that bats first will hold a big advantage with the wickets in the country having slowed down in the summer heat. Royal Challengers would expect Jacques Kallis to fire and Robin Uthappa, Kevin Petersen, Manish Pandey along with Virat Kohli to demolish opposite bowling attack as they have been doing this season. The bowling attack looks potent though a bit jaded at the fag end of the 45-day tournament in which teams crisscrossed the country leading to tired bodies and minds. On the other hand, two big guns of Chargers have failed to fire. Skipper Gilchrist has had a very poor tournament, with only one half century to show for in 15 starts, while Herschelle Gibbs has not lived up to his reputation either. Rohit Sharma, T Suman have got out playing some discrete shots which have led to their downfall. Andrew Symonds has had a mixed bag. In the bowling department, Ryan Harris has been penetrative for the Hyderabad franchise, while the other bowlers, especially left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha with 21 wickets have also done well.But the batting needs to pick up force in the final clash for the team.

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