With the Pepsi IPL moving from the United Arab Emirates to India, matches have warmed up and have become more exciting. The IPL has become more attractive with Glenn Maxwell’s merciless pounding, a 200+ scoring game and a nail biting super over already with about 40 matches to go, and has become all the more unpredictable by a stunning turn of events which has put the Defending Champions Mumbai Indians right at the bottom of the points table.
Well, this match Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab, was quite a exciting one, where the top of the points table was challenged by the bottom of the points table.
George Bailey, skipper of the away team, won the toss and chose to post a target, i.e. bat first. Mumbai, under pressure of not winning a single match in this edition of the Pepsi IPL, were desperate to open their account.
Rohit Sharma was confident to get a win at their home ground. Zaheer Khan opened the bowling for Mumbai. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virendra Sehwag opened the batting for Punjab. Pujara looked in smooth flow with a first ball flick for boundary and another classic cover drive in the second over. Suprisingly the first ball of the third over was just the second ball Sehwag faced. He pushed it towards cover and it was an easy single, but the pick up, quick release and a direct hit at the stumps by Rohit Sharma gave Mumbai the first break through in the form of the wicket of Sehwag.
Pujara continued his excellent form until Corey Anderson of the Mumbai Indians came into attack. A boundary of the first ball followed by a dot. On the third ball Pujara with a lack of footwork, swung his bat at the ball getting a distinct edge and the Mumbai keeper Gautam making no mistake. As the crowd roared, the Centre of attraction of the whole Pepsi IPL, Glenn Maxwell came in to bat for Punjab, and as expected, he played a lofted shot over cover on his very second ball for a boundary.
After the loss of Maxwell, Punjab Skipper Bailey planned to change the batting order, promoting himself before David Miller, and got off the mark with a first ball boundary. After Punjab had crossed 100 runs, it was Saha who dominated the Mumbai bowlers especially Kieron Pollard and Corey Anderson. It was Harbhajan who got rid of Maxwell and it was him who got rid of Captain George Bailey. Corey Anderson taking a amazing catch at square leg to send Skipper Bailey to the pavilion.
In came another strong hitter, David Miller, who also had the power Maxwell contained. But it was Saha who helped Punjab reach a decent total. He got to his 50 with a terrific hook for six. Miller too joined the party in the second last over hitting pollard for a 84 meter six over long on and a couple of boundary’s.
For me the turning point of the game was Slinga Malinga’s last over. A wicket of Miller, three dots and just three runs restricted Punjab to 168-5.
As the sun went down, Mumbai Indians had to chase 169 in 20 overs at a run rate of 8.45 per over. Mumbai Indians had changed their batting order again with Ben Dunk and Gautam opening. Ben Dunk scored a first ball boundary, but his stay was short as Sandeep Sharma with his swing got a thick edge of Dunks bottom, and a flying catch by Saha, the wicket keeper. Ben Dunk was out because he was stuck at a place. No footwork. In came Ambati Rayudu to accompany Gautam.
Well, this match Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab, was quite a exciting one, where the top of the points table was challenged by the bottom of the points table.
George Bailey, skipper of the away team, won the toss and chose to post a target, i.e. bat first. Mumbai, under pressure of not winning a single match in this edition of the Pepsi IPL, were desperate to open their account.
Rohit Sharma was confident to get a win at their home ground. Zaheer Khan opened the bowling for Mumbai. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virendra Sehwag opened the batting for Punjab. Pujara looked in smooth flow with a first ball flick for boundary and another classic cover drive in the second over. Suprisingly the first ball of the third over was just the second ball Sehwag faced. He pushed it towards cover and it was an easy single, but the pick up, quick release and a direct hit at the stumps by Rohit Sharma gave Mumbai the first break through in the form of the wicket of Sehwag.
Pujara continued his excellent form until Corey Anderson of the Mumbai Indians came into attack. A boundary of the first ball followed by a dot. On the third ball Pujara with a lack of footwork, swung his bat at the ball getting a distinct edge and the Mumbai keeper Gautam making no mistake. As the crowd roared, the Centre of attraction of the whole Pepsi IPL, Glenn Maxwell came in to bat for Punjab, and as expected, he played a lofted shot over cover on his very second ball for a boundary.
After the loss of Maxwell, Punjab Skipper Bailey planned to change the batting order, promoting himself before David Miller, and got off the mark with a first ball boundary. After Punjab had crossed 100 runs, it was Saha who dominated the Mumbai bowlers especially Kieron Pollard and Corey Anderson. It was Harbhajan who got rid of Maxwell and it was him who got rid of Captain George Bailey. Corey Anderson taking a amazing catch at square leg to send Skipper Bailey to the pavilion.
In came another strong hitter, David Miller, who also had the power Maxwell contained. But it was Saha who helped Punjab reach a decent total. He got to his 50 with a terrific hook for six. Miller too joined the party in the second last over hitting pollard for a 84 meter six over long on and a couple of boundary’s.
For me the turning point of the game was Slinga Malinga’s last over. A wicket of Miller, three dots and just three runs restricted Punjab to 168-5.
As the sun went down, Mumbai Indians had to chase 169 in 20 overs at a run rate of 8.45 per over. Mumbai Indians had changed their batting order again with Ben Dunk and Gautam opening. Ben Dunk scored a first ball boundary, but his stay was short as Sandeep Sharma with his swing got a thick edge of Dunks bottom, and a flying catch by Saha, the wicket keeper. Ben Dunk was out because he was stuck at a place. No footwork. In came Ambati Rayudu to accompany Gautam.
Gautam looked in good touch as boundary’s flowed from his bat. But he couldn’t find a partner to rotate the strike and stay at the crease. Rayudu too due to lack of footwork was caught plum LBW by pacer Sandeep Sharma. Mumbai was struggling at 24-2 when Skipper Rohit Sharma came to the crease. After almost half a dozen dots he hooked one right into the stands for a maximum. Typical Rohit.
Too many dots were putting MI under pressure, when Gautam and Rohit Sharma broke free. Mitchell Johnson was being hit for boundary’s all over. When Bailey decided to bring in his only spinner, Akshar Patel. But Gautam attacked him for two boundary’s in his first over. Finally to get rid of in form Gautam, Rishi Dhawan caught him Leg Before Wicket with top class accurate bowling. In came Corey Anderson.
By the 15th over, Corey Anderson and Rohit Sharma took on Punjab Bowlers to get a partnership of 53 of just 34 balls. Victory looked within reach, as Balaji, got a top edge of Rohit Sharma, and another catch for keeper Saha. It was a good knock by the captain of 39.
Punjab turned the tables around with another wicket of Corey Anderson, who scored a commendable 35. Two new batsmen were on the crease with 40 still to get from 3 overs. It was the big man Pollard with usual opener Tare who came to the crease at number 6.
Until Pollard started his terror, Tare already had a boundary and two huge sixes to get to the target. Mumbai needed 25 of the last 2 overs with Pollard on strike. It was Punjab’s most experienced bowler, Mitchell Johnson, against Kieron Pollard. Pollard smashed Johnson 2 sixes and 2 boundary’s in that 18th over, to get Mumbai just within touching distance. Just 5 needed of the last over, and Pollard on strike. One ball was enough for him to get Mumbai over the line. The first ball of the last over disappeared into the sidescreen and gave Mumbai their first win in the Pepsi IPL 2014 and 2 points.
Man of the match went to Corey Anderson for his all round performance of batting bowling and fielding.
-Dhanish
Too many dots were putting MI under pressure, when Gautam and Rohit Sharma broke free. Mitchell Johnson was being hit for boundary’s all over. When Bailey decided to bring in his only spinner, Akshar Patel. But Gautam attacked him for two boundary’s in his first over. Finally to get rid of in form Gautam, Rishi Dhawan caught him Leg Before Wicket with top class accurate bowling. In came Corey Anderson.
By the 15th over, Corey Anderson and Rohit Sharma took on Punjab Bowlers to get a partnership of 53 of just 34 balls. Victory looked within reach, as Balaji, got a top edge of Rohit Sharma, and another catch for keeper Saha. It was a good knock by the captain of 39.
Punjab turned the tables around with another wicket of Corey Anderson, who scored a commendable 35. Two new batsmen were on the crease with 40 still to get from 3 overs. It was the big man Pollard with usual opener Tare who came to the crease at number 6.
Until Pollard started his terror, Tare already had a boundary and two huge sixes to get to the target. Mumbai needed 25 of the last 2 overs with Pollard on strike. It was Punjab’s most experienced bowler, Mitchell Johnson, against Kieron Pollard. Pollard smashed Johnson 2 sixes and 2 boundary’s in that 18th over, to get Mumbai just within touching distance. Just 5 needed of the last over, and Pollard on strike. One ball was enough for him to get Mumbai over the line. The first ball of the last over disappeared into the sidescreen and gave Mumbai their first win in the Pepsi IPL 2014 and 2 points.
Man of the match went to Corey Anderson for his all round performance of batting bowling and fielding.
-Dhanish