Both Rajasthan and Hyderabad had had a very good tournament. Not too many would have expected them to come through to the playoffs and edging out teams like Bangalore and Kolkata to make it here was big. Tonight, one of those teams has entered the semi-final (second qualifier) and their captain Rahul Dravid has laid the gauntlet for the Mumbai Indians. That should be another cracker. For now though, it's all we have from here, have a good, good night!

-------------

Presentation time.

White: Ebbed and flowed in those last few minutes, mixed emotions, Hodgey showed his true class. Good show from us through the tournament but disappointed to lose from here. We will be back next year, fighting harder. We weren't relying on any one person so that was a good thing.

Dravid: Been a pretty difficult week for us but to play a game like this and win was good. Didn't bat too well in that period between 7th-10th over, but it's a young side and they will learn. Hodge put his hand up and got us through. These games are competitive and there's always going to be a bit of a needle. Mumbai is a very good side, in some ways the pressure is on them. In many ways we have a moneyball team and will look to get going at Eden Gardens.

Brad Hodge is the man of the match: Was looking to get the Chris Gayle distance than the Hodge distance in the 19th over! Quite a frustrating week last and so was a good thing to dust it off and play cricket. There's been a lot of celebration going on in the tournament and I was just trying to show that I have got children too with my celebration.

-------------

Exciting match in the end, with Rajasthan coming out on top. There wasn't much to choose from till the very end but the Hodge knock proved to be a crucial one, almost took the opposition by surprise. It must be said that Samson, despite being slow, played his part too in stalling the wicket-flow and that helped the Royals in the end.

Well done Hyderabad to have got back into the game on a couple of occasions there, once while batting and getting 65 off the last six and then picking up those wickets in the middle of the Rajasthan innings to restrict them to 57/5 in 10. Hodge got them out of trouble with that smacking half-century!

-------------

Shikhar Ahuja: "When the commentators wee praising Sammy as someone who couldn't do no wrong earlier today, I was just thinking to myself, "All it takes is one over to spoil your day." Well played Sammy, looking forward to see you play for the Windies team soon."

sh: "SRH might have lost the match but most of them like me would say... SRH TAKE A BOW....You deserve it..."

Jai: "I was just about to say "Experience pays off" but what Hodgey did after hitting the winning runs was a tad uncool."

Sajitha Thoma: "ha ha.. Wat a way to end the match.. Sammy hit 2 sixes to take them to this position and now concedes those 2 sixes to keep them at the same position"

Viral Patel: "C.White missed the trick in last 5 overs. 5 Overs left, 3 from Perera and 2 from Steyn and he gave 16th over to Steyn. Had 16th over bowled by Perera, then Sammy would have never required to bowl. Bad Decision and Wrong Calculation cost Sun Risers the game."

Abhishek: "This means that CSK, MI and RR are in Champions League, correct?" Correct.

Sandeep: "We say this every season. Hodge is one of the best players who didn't get his due in the international stint. he even came one down once and got a double hundred in England. Only to be dropped the very next series. Well played today Hodge...."

Bandish: "Is it just me who actually enjoyed Hodge's shenanigans after winning the match? For one, he was just reciprocating the "child's play" signal to the person who started it!! And also shows how intense the players get!!"

Deepz: "What was it Hodge doing after hitting the second six..Was he pulling Samy ? OR did he have a baby too ?" He was rocking the cradle.

asjad: "That was some taliking by Rahul Dravid!! Putting pressure on Mumbai!!"

------------

Gone down to the last over. 10 needed from six. Hodge takes first strike. Sammy has the ball. Gets his field sorted. Hyderabad had scored 10 off the last over too.

13 from nine now.

Capt Obvious: "That was quite un-Steyn-esque over..not disciplined at all!"