The Hindu : Sport : Mumbai Indians has the edge

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Friday, May 01, 2009
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Mumbai Indians has the edge

Kolkata Knight Riders needs a miracle to bounce back

— Photo: PTI

PURE PERFORMERS: If Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga showcase their wares as they have done in the previous matches for Mumbai Indians, then the tough times could continue for the bottom-placed Kolkata Knight Riders.

East London: Mumbai Indians’ star openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya would return to haunt Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) when they pad up once again on Friday just days after a big 92-run win in the Indian Premier League.

The veteran duo pulverised the Knight Riders attack and whatever resistance Brendon McCullum’s side tried to put up was smothered by the pace of Lasith Malinga and the medium pace of youngster Abhishek Nayar.

Between the two, Mumbai Indians has the distinct edge despite a narrow three-run defeat to Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday. Indians is fourth in the table with five points from five matches.

Tough going

The Kolkata side is having a torrid time, having lost four of its matches to be lodged at the bottom of the table with three points from six games.

Opener Chris Gayle has been mildly successful but skipper McCullum seems to be saddled by the burden of captaincy and has been far from his destructive self.

Without a sound start, it has been left to Brad Hodge and Sourav Ganguly to give the batting some shape but unlike Mumbai Indians, the Knight Riders lack depth.

Better equipped

In the bowling department too, Mumbai is better equipped than its rival.

The fearsome Malinga, who knocked the wind out of the Knight Riders sails the last time around, and has emerged the highest wicket-taker in the IPL with 11 scalps so far, will get plenty of support from an in-form Zaheer Khan.

With the medium pace of Dwayne Bravo and Nayar and the experience of Harbhajan Singh, Mumbai Indians look a compact side.

Not so for Knight Riders for which Ishant Sharma has been the sole bowler of note. Ganguly has rolled his arms over but with moderate success and Hodge has impressed the most with his spin.

Knight Riders has struggled in the fast bowling department with Ashok Dinda and Ajit Agarkar having come a cropper so far. A fractious team hasn’t helped the cause either and Knight Riders would be praying for a miracle as it looks to register its second win in the tournament. — PTI

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