Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
Pitch Report: In warm Durban conditions, the pacers will have trouble trying to generate movement on the ball, though they can get some good bounce. Spinners will come in handy as there won't be any moisture.
In a crucial game with respect to the semi-finals berth, the Mumbai Indians were beaten by the South Australian Red backs inspite of scoring a good 180. With the middle order coming to Mumbai's rescue, they managed to post a huge 180 but their bowlers, each of who would be regarded as quality bowlers on any other day, ran out of steam and could not defend the total.
Chasing 181, the Redbacks had a good start with openers slowly settling in on the wicket and not trying to play rash shots. Inspite of starting slow, captain Michael Klinger and his opening partner Daniel Harris played sensible cricket, waiting for the odd bad ball to get some extra runs. They put on a 100 for the first wicket in just 12.3 overs and made sure the game was still in the balance.
But, in the next over Harris gave an easy catch to JP Duminy at extra cover after a well made 56 off 37 balls, a knock that included four boundaries and three big sixes. In a span of six balls, Mumbai struck again as Klinger tried to clear the long-on off a Malinga delivery, only to find Pollard. At 116-2, Mumbai were enroute a come back.
Mumbai took two more quick wickets in the next two overs, sending Graham Manou and Callum Ferguson back to the pavillion with the score at 140-4 off 17 overs. Out came Cameron Borgas to join Daniel Christian, with the team needing 41 runs off the remaining 3 overs.
The 18th over,by Dwayne Bravo can very well be called the game turner, as Christian and Borgas belted Bravo for 16 runs in the over. Suddenly, the Redbacks were back in the game, needing 25 off the remaining 12.
The senior pro Zaheer bowled the next over, and got rid of Christian, who hit it straight to Tiwary at long-on. But, even Zaheer couldn't pull too much back as Borgas hit him for a boundary and the new batsman Tom Cooper played a cheeky scoop that went for a six.
14 runs came off the over and the Redbacks needed 11 of the last over.
Having exhausted the quota of his strike bowlers and Pollard being hit for 16 in the only over he bowled, Sachin had to throw the ball to Harbhajan. Harbhajan could not restrict the Redbacks as a flighted delivery from him, in the second ball of the over, was hit for a huge six by Cooper. The Redbacks had made the come back of the tournament, now needing 3 off the next 4. Changes in the field didn't help as Harbhajan bowled a horrendous full toss and Cooper dispatched it for a boundary to give Redbacks their second victory of the tournament.
Earlier electing to bat, Mumbai Indians seemed off colour, as Shikhar Dhawan was caught behind in the very first over .Captain Sachin Tendulkar also seemed unsettled in the begining, as he chased deliveries wide of the stumps. He soon came back and belted Daniel Christian for 14 runs, with two boundaries and a six. But in the very next over, Aaron O' Brien cleaned him up as he danced down the track, looking to clear the ground and missed it completely. A rare sight indeed.
Rayudu, who initially struggled to cope with the bounce but did manage to settle in and made a useful while JP Duminy failed as he fell after scoring a paltry 3. Rayudu fell in the 13th over and the Mumbai Indians were reduced to 79-4.
Pollard and Tiwary then did the resuce work as they put on 58 runs in the next 4 overs. Tiwary was dismissed in the 17th over with the score at 137-5. The next man in, Dwayne Bravo along with Pollard put on 33 off the next 3 overs and ensured a big total in the form of 180 which initially seemed good but turned out to be gettable and the Redbacks did just that.
Turning Point: The opening partnership between Michael Klinger and Daniel Harris put Mumbai on the backfoot from the start of the Redbacks' batting. They put on a vital 112 runs partnership in the first 13 overs to make sure they still are in the game.
The Hero : Daniel Harris, for his 56 off 37 deliveries that set the pace of the Redbacks innings.
The Redbacks can rejoice as their semi-finals berth is looking easier to achieve now but the Mumbai camp have a lot to worry about. After two straight defeats, as difficult as it may be, they have to pick themselves up and try to win their remaining games and hope for the best.
