Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore – Indian Premier League 5 – Match Recap – 9-wicket victory over Mumbai powers Royal Challengers to 4th spot
Riding on the strength of a half-century from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Muralitharan-c1864, the Royal Challengers Bangalore secured a 9-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai
on May 9.
The victory enabled the Challengers to step over the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rajasthan-c837 Royals and claim the 4th spot on the Indian Premier League 5 points table – a vital upward move as the tournament reaches the playoffs stage.
The Royal Challengers won the toss and chose to field, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556 (24) opening for the Mumbai Indians. The innings got off to a rocky start as Vinay Kumar struck twice in the second over – in attempting to cut a delivery
over third man, Franklin found himself caught out by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RG-Sharma-c2309, who followed him, was dismissed lbw on duck.
The hosts were perched at 2 for 2 in the second over, and veteran batsman Tendulkar only managed to get them up to 41 before he top-edged a pull and was caught and bowled by Harshal Patel in the 9th over.
Wicketkeeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ambati-Rayudu-c1007 (22) for a 4th wicket 44-run stand, which got their side up to 85
by the 14th over.
Rayudu was sent back to the pavilion by Patel, and followed to the crease by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kommu-Karthik-c71642. The partnership was cut short by Muralitharan, who dealt the Mumbai Indians two fatal blows in the 16th
over.
Attempting a shot over long-on, Karthik was caught out by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737, and the Lankan spinner followed that up with another wicket off the very next delivery, dismissing Smith with a wily doosra.
The MI were at an inadequate 100 for 6 in the 16th over, but skipper Harbhajan Singh (20) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754 (21) took it upon themselves to get their team up to a respectable score, and their 41-run partnership, including two quick sixes by the
skipper in the very last over, enabled their side to post a total of 141 by the end of 20 overs.
Kumar, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Huzefa-Mohammed-Patel-c63657, and Muralitharan were the pillars of the Challengers’ bowling attack, managing to claim two scalps each. Zaheer Khan, while he did not manage to take any wickets, was effective in restricting the run flow, giving away just 16 in 4 overs, and
registering an economy rate of 4.00.
With a far from daunting 142-run chase ahead of them, the Challengers managed a comfortable win at the expense of just one wicket, with 2 overs to spare. Their innings were opened by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 (19) and Chris Gayle (who top-scored with an unbeaten
82 off 59), and their 48-run stand provided their team a solid start. Dilshan was dismissed, lbw, by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PP-Ojha-c2198 in the 9th over, but Gayle was more than sufficient for the Challengers.
His knock of 82, including 5 fours and 6 sixes made him the first batman to reach the 500-run mark in the current ongoing edition of the IPL, and his 94-run partnership with Kohli (36) was sufficient to propel the visitors to victory, with 12 balls remaining.
The Mumbai Indians’ sloppy fielding cost them as they missed two chances to dismiss Gayle – first, in the second over when he was in danger of being run out, and then in the sixth over, when he was dropped by Smith.
The bowling attack was similarly insipid, seemingly watching on as Gayle wreaked havoc with his bat. Ojha was the only one to have claimed a wicket (at the cost of 25 runs conceded in 2 overs), while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453’s overs were fairly economical as the
skipper gave away just 18 in 4. Sharma proved to be highly expensive, conceding 16 in just one over, while Pollard bled 33 in 3.
Despite their loss, the hosts remained 3rd on the points table, but Gayle’s impressive knock, which won him the Player of the Match award, lifted his side up to fourth.
The Challengers will be aiming to keep the momentum going as they prepare for their next match – a clash with the Pune http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians will be looking to cement their place in the top four
as they face off against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on May 12.
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