Losing semi-finalists have Champions League spot to play for

GENERALLY third place matches are meaningless affairs, but the Indian Premier League game between losing semi-finalists Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore will be as hard fought as any key battle.


Adam Gilchrist will be one of the key players for Deccan Chargers
against RCB today

The two Southern teams have had little time to recover from the huge disappointment of losing out on the big game on Sunday, but they will have every reason to be motivated in today's game. As however disappointed you may be, there is something to look forward to in the play-off game. The stake in fact is very high as the winner earns the opportunity to play in the million-dollar prize money Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

Challengers coach Ray Jennings said his team would have the advantage as they had an extra day's time to get over the defeat.

"It is difficult to get the team up after losing in the semis, but they have had less time than us to recover. Hopefully, we will be more professional than the opposition," said Jennings yesterday.

Chargers skipper Gilchrist however said motivation would not be a problem for his team. "The team has now great motivation to try and qualify for the Champions League T20 and all the guys are geared up for that now. We played the CLT20 last year and it was a great tournament and we would like to play in it again this year," said Gilchrist.

The difference in the two teams attitude is due to the fact that Chargers look at their semi-final finish as an achievement while Challengers were aiming higher.

Gilchrist said: "To reach the semifinals when no one gave us a chance is a great achievement and I am proud of the guys." Challengers skipper Anil Kumble said: "That (CL slot) would be a consolation for us but the big prize is winning the IPL and we have missed out on it."