Mumbai falter without Tendulkar

19 Apr 2010

The Kolkata Knight Riders upstaged the Mumbai Indians for a consolation nine-wicket victory, marking the end of IPL league matches for 2010.

The match was a dead-rubber: the only way Kolkata could make the semi-finals was if they batted first and secured a 175-run victory over Mumbai (which would improve their net run-rate enough to take them into the last four). In the face of these favourable odds Mumbai rested five first-choice players, including Sachin Tendulkar.

The second stringers served only to justify their seats on the reserve bench, reaching just 133-8 in their 20 overs. Shane Bond sent the opening pair packing, whilst Ashok Dinda and Murali Karthik followed with astute changes of pace to reduce the table-toppers to a crawl. JP Duminy was more harm than help for the Mumbai cause, absorbing 27 balls before being castled by Jaidev Unadkat for 19: only 63 runs coming into the surrounding 10 overs.

Saurabh Tiwary’s 46 (from 36) and Ambati Rayudu’s 27 (from 15) were the only significant Mumbai contributions and the exception to the innings’ meandering pace. But with the Indians still floundering at six an over at the beginning of the fourteenth, Tiwary tried accelerate, but succeeded only in hitting Karthik straight to midwicket. There would be no wag in the tail to support the last charge of Rayudu and Mumbai had effectively put the match in Kolkata hand’s.

Kolkata’s response was unexciting, but never in doubt, with calculated innings’ from Brendon McCullum (57* from 56) and Sourav Ganguly (42 from 36) worked Mumbai out of the match to claim a consolation win. Kolkata consistently kept up with the pace but were, in truth, batting out a formality.

Ultimately this match served only to give the likes of the Little Master a brief reprieve before the semi-final stages and prepare the Mumbai Indians for a charge at their first IPL title.

Mumbai 133-8 (20 overs)
Saurabh Tiwary 46, Ambati Rayudu 27, Murali Karthik 2-20
Kolkata 135-1 (17.3 overs)
Brendon McCullum 57*, Sourav Ganguly 42, Rajagopal Sathish 1-11
Kolkata won by nine wickets

Click here for a full scorecard.


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