Fri, 22 Apr 2011 - IP Mumbai vs IP Chennai, IPL 2011, 25th Match - Bulletin

Harbhajan’s fifer upstages Chennai

Thanks to the brilliant bowling performance by Harbhajan Singh and undisputedly the most sensational fielding display Mumbai successfully defended relatively an easy target to defeat defending champions Chennai by eight runs.

Billed as the battle of the heavyweights, the game lived up to its reputation with full of twists but off spinner Harbhajan’s five wicket haul and some terrific catching and fielding from Mumbai turned out to be the difference between the two sides in the end.

While chasing a 165, Chennai were on a course needing 64 runs in eight overs having seven wickets in hand with MS Dhoni and Badrinath batting at the crease. Perhaps the catch of the IPL from Rohit Sharma at the third to dismiss Dhoni brought Mumbai back into the game.

Badrinath kept the hopes alive after Dhoni dismissal as he collected runs with ease under pressure but Harbhajan’s second spell literally shut the Chennai with off-spinner claiming four wickets in last seven balls of his quota. After snaring Anirudha Srikkanth off last ball of his third over, Bhajji had the wickets of dangerous Albie Morkel, R Ashwin and Joginder Sharma to complete his first fifer in t-20 cricket and the IPL after having removed Suresh Raina in his first spell.

More than bowling it was the fielding that stood out in the game with Mumbai fielders diving around to save many runs in the field and two of the best IPL catches including one from Kieran Pollard when West Indian dived forward at mid-wicket to catch the ball inches above the ground.The catch was one of the turning points of the game as it gave Mumbai a vital breakthrough with Malinga removing Hussey thanks to Pollard brilliance in the field.

Badrinath who played a terrific innings of undefeated 71 off 48 balls kept hopes of Chennai win alive turned out to be lone star with the bat for Chennai but he failed to farm strike in the end to have impact as Mumbai deprived him of that by taking wickets in cluster at the back end of the innings.

Earlier Rohit Sharma masterclass with bat helped Mumbai to charge his side to 164 which in the end turned out to be competitive total. After losing openers including Sachin Tendulkar early, Rohit combined with inform Ambati Rayudu to get Mumbai back on track with a vital 61 run partnership with latter hitting 29-ball 27.

Rohit who didn’t get many chances to bat till now this season was timing the ball superbly from the word as he played some crisp square drives and pull shots to show what he has to offer with the bat.

Once Rayudu was gone, Rohit partnered with Andrew Symonds to keep the scoreboard moving as duo played some big shots to much needed impetus to the Mumbai innings. The pair put on 88 runs for the fourth wicket as Rohit hit a classy 48-ball 87 including eight fours and five sixes.

Symonds showed signs of getting into his grove on his way to 31 that came off 26 balls punctuated with a boundary and two sixes.Chennai had a good evening with the ball with Morkel being the best giving away only 19 runs in his four and a wicket to his name.