Fri, 30 Sep 2011 - IP Mumbai vs IP Cobras, Champions T20 League 2011, 11th Match - Bulletin

Rain separates Cobras and Mumbai

Rain played spoilsport at Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium forcing Mumbai and Cape Cobras to share points after latter’s reply to former’s big total couldn’t be possible due to wet out-field. The heavens opened up at the fag end of Mumbai’s innings that saw the IPL side pile up 176/5 in their allotted twenty overs and didn’t relent ensuring a washout.

The spilt of the points should suit Mumbai cause that is now comfortably placed in the group with five points. Mumbai though would be touch disappointed with abandonment after amassing a big total during their effort.

The history of Chinnaswamy wicket, though, suggests, a target was very much achievable for star-studded batting lineup. Now, Cobras will have to win against Trinidad and Tobago in their last game to harbour chances of making it to the semis.

Despite the rain intervention, crowd were treated to some powerful hitting in the first half the match with Mumbai batsmen punishing Cobras.Kieran Pollard, the batsmen, finally came into his own hitting a brisk half-century in the second half of the innings to propel his side to well past 170.If Mumbai’s last ten overs were laced with Pollard’s fireworks cracking 58 off 37, first ten saw the debutant making mockery of Cobras’ bowling attack to get the innings off to a racing start. Despite losing three wickets in the middle overs in a quick succession including that of Kanwar for a 21-ball 45, Pollard and Co. weren’t bogged as big shots came thick and fast to surge Mumbai’s total.

Having been asked to have first bat on a batting belter, Kanwar showed no nerves of playing at a big stage of the first time and didn’t have reputations of opposition bowlers in the mind. Kanwar’s second scoring shot was clean strike off his legs in Charl Langeveldt’s first over for a six. Aiden Blizzard creamed Dale Steyn for a six and four in the next over but stage clearly belonged to 21-year old Kanwar. The debutant pulled Langeveldt four and then repeated his pick up shot to dispatch the bowler for his second six. It was JP Duminy’s turn to get some treatment from the youngster , dumping him for two sixes and a four in the fifth over following it with his best stroke-presenting straight bat to hit Vernon Philander for a maximum over his head. Left arm spinner Robin Peterson was greeted to the crease with a six over covers but in his pursuit to repeat the shot next ball Kanwar succumbed. His entertaining cameo punctuated with five sixes and three fours ended to a well judged catch by Owais Shah at deep covers.

Shah was a busy man in the field taking another two running catches to dismiss Blizzard and Ambati Rayudu as Mumbai were reduced to 65 for none in 7th over to 3 for 75 in the tenth. Peterson accounted for Blizzard in middle of a nice spell while Rayudu fell to Duminy to give Mumbai some stutters.

Pollard, in at number five, took only three balls to get hang of the pitch before launching big strokes. First ball of 11th over, Duminy pitched one up and Pollard obliged with a massive six over long-on and two balls later followed the suit to deport the off-spinner for another one.

With Pollard going into an over-drive mode, bowlers wilted to dish up hittable lines and lengths. Philander was carved for two successive fours as Pollard’s attacking instincts rubbed on his partner as well. James Franklin had a quite beginning before he exploded to hit Peterson for two successive sixes. For the major part of the stand of 69 off 43 between the two, the left handed Kiwi receded the stage to Pollard’s entertaining knock.

Langeveldt, who was taken apart by Kanwar upfront, had to bore the brunt as Pollard looted his third-16th over of the innings- for 18 runs. There was some relief for Cobras with skipper Justin Kemp bowling removing Franklin for a well played run-a-ball 18. Pollard reached his fifty off 34th ball of his innings showing some craftsmanship to steer the ball through o third man.

Pollard departed to Steyn with Shah taking his fourth catch but Andrew Symonds found some of his hitting form on his way to a eight-ball 14 to take score to 176.