By Sheriff Michaels
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| Sachin Tendulkar fails to seal a victory for Mumbai Indians despite of huge support |
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (TheSportsNEXT) October 14, 2012: Indian Premier League franchises experienced a bad day in the Champions League Twenty20 2012 on Sunday as after Australia’s Sydney Sixers defeated Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs, South Africa’s Highveld Lions got the better of Mumbai Indians by eight wickets at New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The star-studded Mumbai Indians scored 157 for six from their 20 overs after Highveld Lions’ skipper Alvira Petersen won the toss and decided to field first.
West Indian hard-hitting batsman Dwayen Smith (26 from 19 – 6 fours) and veteran master blaster Sachin Tendulkar (16 from 24 – 2 fours) opened the innings for Mumbai Indians and used up 28 balls during their 45 runs partnership.
After such an electrifying start, the Mumbai Indians needed someone to anchor the innings to a formidable total but their batsmen failed to take the responsibility as Rohit Sharma (27 from 27 – 2 fours, 1 six) could never feel comfortable after skipper Harbhajan Singh promoted Mitchell Johnson (30 from 29 – 4 fours) up the order with a pinch-hitting role.
Mitchell Johnson could never flourish which put tremendous pressure on the other batsmen as Kieron Pollard (11 from 8 – 2 fours), Dinesh Karthik (19 mot out from 9 – 2 fours, 1 six) and Ambati Rayudu (4 from 4) were wasted down the order with fewer number of deliveries available.
In the end, Mumbai Indians could only managed 104 runs from last 14 overs after an electric start which produced 53 runs from first six overs.
Australian left-arm fast bowler Dirk Nannes was phenomenal with his line and length as he bowled a miser spell of fast bowling giving away only 15 runs from his four overs for a wicket.
Pakistan’s left-arm medium pacer Sohail Tanvir also bowled well in patches as he grabbed two wickets for 31 runs from his four overs. Aaron Phangiso bowled superbly for figures of one for 17 from his four overs.
Chasing 158 runs for victory, Highveld Lions looked confused and under pressure in the beginning overs where a combination of Mitchell Johnson and Lasith Malinga tied up the opening pair of the local team who could only score 26 runs from first five overs at the cost of their skipper Alviro Petersen (14 from 11 – 3 fours).
The other opening batsman Gulam Bodi (19 from 28 – 2 fours, 1 six) looked far from comfortable and while he managed to hit a classy six he played a huge proportion of dot balls which put his side under stern pressure.
The Highveld Lions had lost both of their openers inside seven overs for 37 runs on the board which joined South African youngster Quanton de Kock and experienced Neil McKenzie.
Quanton de Kock (51 not out from 33 – 5 fours, 2 sixes), who represented South Africa in this year’s ICC U19 World Cup played in Australia, and Neil McKenzie (68 not out from 41 – 12 fours) started their partnership on a sensible note taking singles and doubles before unleashing their big shots against the finger spinners.
Especially Mumbai Indians skipper Harbhajan Singh and left-arm off-spinner Pragyan Ojha were dealt brutally by the two batsmen as they piled on an unbeaten partnership of 121 runs from only 72 balls to seal the deal for the Highveld Lions in front of home crowd at The New Wanderers.
Harbhajan Singh gave away 36 runs from his four overs while Pragyan Ojha went for 19 from his two overs. West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard also leaked 21 runs from his two overs but Dhawal Kulkarni was the most expensive bowler for the Mumbai Indians as he was belted for 37 runs from his three overs.
Neil McKenzie, who has a reputation of a finisher, was declared Man of the Match for leading the run-chase with a cool head.
Captain of Mumbai Indians Harbhajan Singh told the presentation party, “I think we didn't look to attack their spinners, he got away with 15 runs for four overs. McKenzie played superbly, along with another youngster. Mitchell Johnson was the only left-hand batsman we had, overall Lions played much better than us. They know the conditions better than us. Credit to them! We need to play better cricket. There was a bit of dew, but we can't complain about that."Skipper of Highveld Lions Alviro Petersen said, "We are very happy. I thought the first 5-6 overs they dominated, but then Phangiso brought us back in it. We had our plans, and we just wanted to execute, we did it today. Quanton de Kock is obviously a good player, he hits the ball sweet. McKenzie played like a young man. He showed again what a player he is. We know what we are about, what sort of cricket we can play. We put the bowling together from over five or six."
Man of the Match Neil McKenzie stated, "I'm just enjoying my cricket. Quanton de Kock is really an exceptional talent, got a good head for him, can hit the ball a long way, a nice leader for the future. We knew we had to be on our game today, even though there were quite a few Sachin Tendulkar fans out there, nice to win on our patch."
