Mumbai secure first win in Champions League
A quick-fire 72 not out by Kieron Pollard set the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians up for their first win in this year’s Champions League, with the IPL side claiming a 31-run victory over Guyana.
After losing their opening two matches, Mumbai entered today’s match needing victory to keep alive their chances of progressing from the group stage to the semi-finals.
Given their star-studded roster – including skipper Sachin Tendulkar, Pollard, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JP-Duminy-c1742, Dwayne Bravo and Lasith Malinga – this was not the situation the IPL runners-up would have expected to be in entering their third match of the competition.
It was a hole Tendulkar set about digging his team out of with a 82-run opening partnership with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shikhar-Dhawan-c90019 (39 from 37) to set up a solid platform for the remainder of the Mumbai innings – though they did get a little help from Guyana along the way, as sloppy fielding saw two chances (from consecutive balls) to catch Tendulkar out go begging on the ninth over.
But the Little Master couldn’t ride his luck forever, and he ultimately became the first wicket to fall, stumped for 48 from 39 balls after charging down the pitch to greet spinner Devendra Bishoo but failing to connect with the ball.
That brought Pollard to the crease and the big-hitting West Indian didn’t disappoint as he smacked six sixes on his way to his half-century, finally finishing unbeaten on 72 from 30 balls as he ended Mumbai’s innings with his ninth six to take them to the impressive total of 184-4.
Guyana captain Ramnaresh Sarwan sought to keep his side in the match with his 46 runs from 38 balls, but even as the skipper departed in the 16th over, the chase was looking to be well beyond the Caribbean side’s capabilities.
Christopher Barnwell would go on to record the competition’s hundredth six, before his dismissal the next ball, but by the time the 20 overs were up Guyana had fallen short as they finished with a total of 153-6.
Tags: