Until Tuesday, which marked the halfway point of the ninth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in terms of matches played, 22 of the 30 matches had been won by the team batting second.
At 73 per cent, that is an unusually high proportion of results. It is also a number that has come down significantly as the season has progressed – at one stage 14 out of 15 games had been won batting second, and then 17 out of 21.
Historically the proportion is still far higher than the norm. In the 518 matches of the IPL before the start of this season, sides batting second had won 272 games, or, 52.5 per cent. Given the nature of the format, its evolution over the years, the different conditions it has been played under and the varying strengths of teams, that is actually a remarkably even spread of results.
The best season for chasing sides was 2014, part of which was played in the UAE: sides batting second won 37 of the 60 matches – nearly 62 per cent. Last season was the worst, when only 24 out of the 59 matches – just under 41 per cent - were won by the sides chasing. As an indication of how anomalous this season has been, only two more wins by sides batting second will equal last season’s total number of wins.
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• Also see: MS Dhoni, among his many qualities, also stands apart as evolved wicketkeeper
Is this season anything more than an outlier, as AB de Villiers said in a recent column, and which, as that dropping percentage indicates, will eventually even out into nothing extraordinary by the end? Or is there something more to it, some seminal cracking of a code of chasing?
Empirically speaking, and in certain conditions, chasing in limited overs cricket would generally seem like the preferable option. In the subcontinent, dew can be an issue in the evening when fielders and bowlers struggle to grip the ball.
Chasing a target can also focus batsmen’s minds that much better. They know exactly how much they have to get, how the pitch is playing and which bowlers to target when.
Teams batting first, on the other hand, are stepping into the unknown. They have a blank canvas in front of them. They have to work out the pitch and work their way into a total, guardedly if they lose wickets upfront.
They have to keep calibrating their expectations as the innings progresses. Sometimes you push too hard, sometimes you do not push enough; batting second you always know how hard you need to be pushing.
But numbers, as we have seen with the IPL over eight seasons, do not necessarily bear this out. Even in Twenty20 internationals historically, sides batting second have won 47 per cent of the games; as a probability, batting second is almost equally likely to pay dividends.
What we can say is that openers have been immense in this year’s tournament. Five of the top six run-getters before the start of Tuesday’s games were openers (Virat Kohli, who is top, has played one game at one-down).
But specifically, they have thrived this season batting second, which means that more often than not they have broken the back of a chase with the opening stand. After 15 matches the average opening stand while chasing was 55.07. There were eight 50-plus opening stands in that sample.
Since then a flattening out of the trend has begun. After 30 matches now, for instance, the average opening stand in a chase has dipped to 40.45 and there have only been two more 50-plus stands since.
Openers have continued to thrive individually. There were 16 fifties by chasing openers in the first 15 games and there have been eight in the last 15 games. Already, 11 times this season openers have batted through a chase undefeated; the most in any full season is 15, in the very first year in 2008.
As the season progresses, however, De Villiers’ assertion that the trend was nothing more than “a statistical anomaly” is ringing truer.
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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ELECTION%20RESULTS
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RESULTS
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Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
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2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The specs
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
THREE
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