IPL5 - Mumbai yet to decide opening pair for playoffs – Cricket News Update
Despite finishing the league stage of the ongoing fifth instalment of the lucrative Indian Premier League at number three, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453 led Mumbai Indians are yet to find the right opening combination, going into the tournament
playoffs.
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aiden-Blizzard-c958 – to partner with master blaster Sachin Tendulkar but none of them worked
for the franchise.
The explosive South African opener, Richard Levi, who got himself into the limelight after notching up the fastest T20 century against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 earlier this year, proved to be a complete failure. He could score only 83 runs in
six games, including a half century in the IPL-V opener against Chennai last month. Franklin and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rajasthan-c837 Royals last
night, with the bulk coming from the Barbadian, (unbeaten 87 from 58 balls).
However, Harbhajan Singh, the Mumbai Indians' skipper, said that they are still contemplating over the right opening combination as the tournament enters its final stages.
"We are still trying to figure out who is the best partner for [Sachin] Tendulkar," Bhajji told the media persons after his team registered a convincing 10-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.
"Gibbs has done well in a few innings. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 did well today. It gives us options,” the off-spinner added further.
Harbhajan, who was given the reins of Mumbai Indians after Tendulkar stepped down ahead of the 2012 IPL, also praised his side’s agile fielding last night, as they restricted the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid-led Rajasthan Royals to 162 for 6 in their
quota of 20 overs.
Dwayne Smith, the 29-year-old Barbados all-rounder, who was adjudged as the Man of the Match for his blistering 58-ball 87 not out, said that batting alongside Indian batting prodigy, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556, was a privilege for him.
"It was a great privilege to bat with Tendulkar. I have been opening for some time now, and it was not new for me. It is good to get some runs. It is crunch time in the tournament now," Smith said.
Mumbai Indians will face off title holders Chennai Super Kings in the IPL-V eliminator at Bangalore on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.
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