Cricket Spy

Shaun Pollock and Sanath Jayasuriya combined to give Mumbai Indians a formidable 8-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders. Put in to bat by Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar who won the toss, the Knight Riders were dismissed for a paltry 67 in 15.3 overs, the lowest score so far in the tournament.

Ever since the first wicket fell in the form of Salman Butt, consumed by a rising delivery from Pollock, the writing was there on the wall for the Knight Riders. Pollock stuck to an immaculate line and length and tested the batsmen with bounce and speed. Akash Chopra was dismissed in a mix up with Sourav Ganguly who came in at no. 3. With the 2nd wicket falling, Ganguly was joined at the crease by Kolkata’s savior in previous matches- David Hussey. But, he soon departed, falling to Pollock as Takawale took a neat catch behind the stumps.

Tendulkar, sensing that one more wicket would change the course of the match, decided to stick on with Pollock and allow him to bowl his fourth and final over, during the course of which Mohammed Hafeez perished to a delivery from Pollock, which bounced and kissed the edge of Hafeez’s bat, before ending up in Robin Uthappa’s hands at point.

Ganguly stuck on at one end while wickets fell in a heap at the other. Finally, his was the 7th wicket to fall, with a catch Takawale took after a fumble, off Thornley. The Knight Riders’ innings did not last much after that with the final wicket falling at 67. Bravo and Nehra also chipped in with some smart bowling. The Mumbai Indians were exceptionally brilliant on field. Jayasuriya was immaculate with some brilliant diving saves. Tendulkar finished with four catches, the highest by a fielder so far in the IPL.

With only 68 needed to win, it was always going to be a matter of a few moments before Mumbai Indians reached the target. Jayasuriya began the chase, with a top edge off Akhtar, which sailed above the wicket keeper’s and other fielders’ heads and raced to the boundary. Soon, Sachin Tendulkar who hadn’t exactly had a good first match was facing Akhtar. The crowd was roaring, but soon was silenced by a delivery from Akhtar which left Tendulkar’s bat and ended in Saha’s gloves. Tendulkar failed to open his account in this match.

However, that was the first and last opportunity for the Knight Riders and their supporters to cheer. Jayasuriya plundered 23 runs off Akhtar’s next over, including two cuts which sailed above the fence. At that moment, the game virtually got over. Uthappa was one more casualty of the Indians, falling as he tried to pull a delivery from Ishant Sharma which bounced more than he had presumed and ended up putting it down Ganguly’s throat. After that, the formalities were completed by Jayasuriya himself who raced to 48 off just 17 balls as Mumbai Indians crushed the Knight Riders in 5.3 overs.

The Mumbai Indians saw themselves rising from No.6 to No. 4 on the overall points table, with 5 wins from 9 matches. Kolkata were displaced to the 6th position and they will need to battle real hard now to get to the semis.

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