JOIN USMumbai Indians drub Challengers
Chasing Mumbai Indians’ daunting total of 191 for four, Challengers’ famed batting line-up came a cropper as they replied with 134/9 to suffer a massive 57-run loss to finish their league engagements on 14 points from as many matches.
But the silver-lining was that Anil Kumble’s men made it to the last four by accruing the required number of runs. The hosts needed to score 95 to secure their place and deny Delhi Daredevils any chance of sneaking in on a better nett run-rate in the event of their defeat to Deccan Chargers in their last match.
The day got off to an ominous start when two low-intensity explosions near the stadium sent the authorities into a tizzy and ensured the match began an hour behind the schedule. The day was to get only worse for the Challengers. Their bowlers leaked runs aplenty while their batsmen scored a few. After a disciplined show in the Power Play, Challengers’ bowlers were taken to the cleaners by Mumbai batsmen Ambai Rayudu (46, 27b, 3x4, 4x6), Kieron Pollard (20, 7b, 3x6) and Jean-Paul Duminy (42 n.o, 19b, 3x4, 3x6) to help the visitors stack up a big total.
Needing to score close to 10 runs an over, Challengers perforce had to get a headstart during field restrictions, but Manish Pandey and Jacques Kallis showed little urgency. Rahul Dravid and Kevin Pietersen failed to build on their starts while the others failed to get one. It was only because of Virat Kohli’s 37 that the RCB total got a semblance of respect.
Kumble’s decision to bowl first was admirably backed-up by his bowlers till about first six overs when they conceded a mere 34 runs to go with the wicket of Tendulkar, who was well-caught by Taylor at mid-wicket off Kallis. With Tendulkar-threat thwarted early in the innings, it appeared Challengers would restrict the Indians to a gettable target. But Rayudu, Kieron Pollard and then Duminy towards the end pressed on the accelerator as the innings hurtled at jet speed.
The first eight overs had gone for a mere 42 with a fortuitous Ryan McLaren, dropped twice during his sedate 40 off 42 balls, showing little urgency. Sensing the need to step up the scoring rate, Rayudu took it upon himself to provide momentum to the innings and Pankaj Singh bore the brunt of his fury, his third over leaked 22 runs with two huge sixes over long-on. The right-hander then went after Kumble whose second over leaked 16 runs, including two massive sixes again over long-on. The youngster then carted Kallis for two fours before the burly bowler dug one short to induce a return catch.
Rayudu’s exit spelt more misery for Pankaj as he came under some severe punishment from Pollard. The tall West Indian smashed the medium pacer for three consecutive sixes to give Indians a big push towards a huge total. Though Kumble got rid of the danger man quickly, Duminy showed the stuff he is made of with an unbeaten 46 off just 27 balls that included three fours and as many sixes as the hosts conceded a whopping 116 runs in the last 10. Seldom, such profligacy goes unpunished.
SCOREBOARD
MUMBAI INDIANS: Ryan McLaren lbw Pietersen 40 (42b, 4x4), Sachin Tendulkar c Taylor b Kallis 19 (18b, 3x4), Ambati Rayudu c & b Kallis 46 (27b, 3x4, 4x6), Kieron Pollard lbw Kumble 20 (7b, 3x6), Jean-Paul Duminy (not out) 42 (19b, 3x4, 3x6), Abhishek Nayar (not out) 9 (7b, 1x4).Extras (LB-4, W-11) 15. Total (for 4 wkts, 20 overs) 191.
Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Tendulkar), 2-103 (Rayudu), 3-138 (Pollard), 4-142 (McLaren),
Bowling: Dale Steyn 4-0-18-1 (w-1), Vinay Kumar 3-0-26-0, Pankaj Singh 4-0-54-0 (w-7), Jacques Kallis 4-0-41-2 (w-1), Anil Kumble 4-0-38-1 (w-2), Kevin Pietersen 1-0-10-1.
Scoring pattern: after 5 overs: 29/0; 10: 75/1; 15: 138/2; end of innings: 191/4 in 20 overs.
Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 34/1;
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE: Manish Pandey c Zaheer b Fernando 16 (18b, 2x4), Jacques Kallis b McLaren 14 (15b, 1x6), Kevin Pietersen c Tiwary b Harbhajan 21 (16b, 1x4, 1x6), Rahul Dravid c Pollard b Harbhajan 16 (11b, 2x4), Robin Uthappa c Nayar b Pollard 4 (6b), Ross Taylor c Harbhajan b Fernando 9 (11b), Virat Kohli c Tare b Pollard 37 (4x4, 1x6), Dale Steyn b Zaheer 0 (2b), Vnay Kumar (not out) 10 (12b, 1x4), Pankaj Singh c Zaheer b Pollard 1 (2b), Anil Kumble (not out) 1 (3b). Extras (B-1, LB-2, W-2). Total (for 9 wkts, 20 overs) 134.
Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Pandey), 2-31 (Kallis), 3-58 (Dravid), 4-72 (Pietersen), 5-74 (Uthappa), 6-97 (Taylor), 7-107 (Steyn), 8-123 (Kohli), 9-127 (Pankaj)
Bowling: Zaheer Khan 4-0-30-1, Dilhara Fernando 4-0-24-2, Ryan McLaren 4-0-21-1, Harbhajan Singh 4-0-28-2, Kieron Pollard 4-0-28-3 (w-2),
Scoring pattern: after 5 overs: 30/1; 10: 64/3; 15: 98/6; end of innings: 134/9 in 20 overs.
Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 34/2.