Highveld Lions clinched a humdinger by nine runs in the opening match of the Champions League Twenty20 championship on Friday. Chasing 187, Mumbai Indians finished at 177 for six.
Nevertheless, it was a spirited pursuit.
Sachin Tendulkar (69 off 42 balls) was fortunate to receive the benefit of doubt on seven when paceman Ethan O' Reilly cut one into him — replays showed the ball would have taken out middle stump — but made the reprieve count. Tendulkar drove and punched through covers, lofted over the infield and seized the initiative from the bowlers.
Crucial stand
The left-handed Shikhar Dhawan (32) played his part in a crucial 83-run opening partnership in 9.5 overs; while he kept the scoreboard
Moving. Dhawan also swung paceman Shane Burger for a six.
However, Dhawan fell on the reverse sweep to left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso, Ambatti Rayudu was soon run-out and the Lions had inched their way back into the contest. Tendulkar and Jean-Paul Duminy put the innings back on course before the former, taking a swipe, was castled by Burger.
The big-hitting Kieron Pollard cut loose against Burger with two sixes and a boundary in the 17th over, before the paceman had the final say with a yorker. Not much later, Duminy was held in the deep.
Vandiar ruthless
Earlier, Jonathan Vandiar took his time to settle but was ruthless with his cuts and pulls in the latter stages of his innings. His tenure could be divided into two parts – he was subdued in the first and destructive in the second. In fact, his last 56 runs arrived in only 26 balls.
The left-hander's 48-ball 71 provided substance to the Lions after the side was inserted to bat. By the time the opener departed in the 17th over, his team was well poised for the final charge.
Neil McKenzie, better known for his dour methods in Test cricket, provided thrust to the innings in the end overs. His unbeaten 30-ball 56, which included seven boundaries and a six, was the knock of a clever batsman who comprehended the field settings. McKenzie repeatedly pierced the gaps.
Slinger Lasith Malinga bowled with speed if not with great control to scalp three. Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan was off target while left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza was steady. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh struggled to find the right line.
The employment of non-regular bowlers such as R. Sathish took the pressure off Highveld Lions at a crucial stage. The management of overs was baffling, particularly since the batting side had not settled into a rhythm. Then, Vandiar and McKenzie imposed themselves on the contest.
The scores: Highveld Lions: J. Vandiar c Tendulkar b Malinga 71 (4x4, 3x6), A. Petersen (run out) 12 (2x4), R. Cameron c Zaheer b Murtaza 9 (1x4), V. Jaarsveld c McLaren b Malinga 13 (1x4), N. McKenzie (not out) 56 (7x4, 1x6), R. Frylinck b Malinga 1, Z. de Bruyn (not out) 12 (2x4), Extras (lb-5, w-7): 12, Total (for five wkts. in 20 overs) 186.
Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-38, 3-81, 4-145, 5-147.
Mumbai Indians bowling : McLaren 1-0-4-0, Murtaza 4-0-28-1, Zaheer 4-0-45-0, Malinga 4-0-33-3, Harbhajan 3-0-22-0, Duminy 1-0-13-0, Pollard 2-0-21-0, Sathish 1-0-15-0.
Mumbai Indians: S. Tendulkar b Burger 69 (9x4), S. Dhawan c Cameron b Phangiso 32 (2x4, 2x6), A. Rayudu (run out) 3, J. Duminy c Petersen b de Bruyn 30 (2x4, 1x6), K. Pollard b Burger 19 (1x4, 2x6), R. Sathish (run out) 10 (1x6), Harbhajan (not out) 5, R. McLaren (not out) 1; Extras (lb-4, w-4): 8; Total (for six wkts., in 20 overs): 177.
Fall of wickets: 1-83, 2-89, 3-131, 4-156, 5-163, 6-173.
Highveld Lions bowling: Frylinck 4-0-32-0, O'reilly 4-0-25-0, Burger 4-0-33-2, Phangiso 2-0-26-1, Cameron 3-0-29-0, de Bruyn 3-0-28-1.
