Mumabi Indians v Kings XI Punjab (second encounter, IPL 2009)
Mumbai have second time dissected Punjab for under 120 in this IPL. Having lost the first time, and also observing they have often only lost a few wickets and yet lost games- Sachin Tendulkar made an unexpected change, by pushing Bravo up the order (Jayasuria has been good in patches, but even on his good day his strike rate has been more constructive than destructive).
Bravo had his share of luck, being dropped by Irfan Pathan on a caught and bowled offer when he had not opened his account. Although, two wickets were lost early, Sachin had to just push around for singles, since Bravo had taken Shreeshant apart by then.
Tennis-wise, this was a classic break of serves (score when bowlers look for wickets with the new ball), then hold on to your serve (singles in your comfort zone after 5 over restrictions).
Sachin also had his luck, with an edge that almost carried to slips off Chawla and then inside edged Brett lee for four. He then made the bowlers pay with some clean hits over mid wicket...
Looks like Mumbai are begining to allocate their batting resources better, in this star studded lineup (20 overs do not look enough). In fact, the number of lucky shots they had in this one innings was perhaps more than what they managed in the entire tournament (10 games) so far.
Delhi Daredevils v Deccan Chargers
In another encounter, Deccan Chargers looked like chasing 175 against Delhi, with Gilchrist and Symonds going great guns. However, the other fringe players who got out ate more balls than runs, and Ravi Teja who played himself in, managed 27 of 34, with two fours coming in the 16th over. In fact, a leg bye and singles kept Symonds off strike as the match came close and the Chargers needed only 24 of 18. Bhatia with his uncanny combinations of yorkers and slower leg-cutters, knocked Symonds and Dwyane Smith.
This was another case where a side had failed to play itself in, and paid a heavy price for those who hurt the strike rate and did not get out!
Looking ahead for Mumbai v Rajasthan...
Perhaps Jayasuria might be floated around and down the order, since most teams are willing to slow down things from the very first ball (not Jayasuria's forte)? Tendulkar and Bravo, might just do the trick, with Jayasuria after 10 overs (sort of like opening after the so called strategic break). Anyway, Mumbai have been playing an extra bowler, so they can just account for Jayasuria as a bowler-batsman, and get in one more pincher (Pinal/Dhawan) upfront... whatever it is, they will need to rollout their batting resources to take advantage of weaker bowlers in other teams.
Saumil
Mumbai
13 May 2009
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