Debutants Rising Pune Supergiants restricted Mumbai Indians to 121/8 in the opening game of the IPL-9 at Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday. Harbhajan Singh’s late flourish ensured the hosts crossed the three-figure mark and gave their bowlers something to fight for on a helpful wicket unlike in the ICC World Twenty20 games here.
Harbhajan who didn’t get a game for India in the World T20 scored 30-ball 45 with seven boundaries and a six. Ambati Rayudu 22 (27b, 2x4) showed some resistance in the middle and Vinay Kumar (12) was the only other batsman to cross double figures as the Mumbai Indians top order failed completely against some spirited bowling.
The Indians made a disastrous start, losing skipper Rohit Sharma in the second over. Ishant Sharma (2/36) struck wih his first ball to trap the opener (6) in front.
Lendl Simmons, who won the game for the West Indies against India in the World Twenty20 semi-final here, received great applause from crowd after he hit a straight six off R.P. Singh but he lasted just eight balls with the fiery Ishant nipping one back in to disturb his furniture in the next over.
Mitchell Marsh (2/21) dismissed Hardik Pandya (9) and Jos Butler (0) in his first over to reduce the hosts to 30/4 in five overs. Pandya completely miscued Marsh’s first ball while Butler survived a run out chance but still couldn’t open his account on his IPL debut, edging to R. Ashwin, the lone slip, while attempting a flick.
Kieron Pollard (1) survived a loud lbw appeal from Marsh but the West Indian batsman wasn’t lucky a second time as Rajat Bhatia (1/10) nailed the big man with his first ball. Bhatia also bowled maiden wicket over and was miserly in the middle along with leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin (1/16).
Lead spinner R. Ashwin bowled only over and he also struck first ball by dismissing Rayudu, who was trying to stitch a partnership with Harbhajan after completing 2000 runs in his 97th IPL match. Harbhajan unleashed the big shots in the last two overs to ensure Mumbai Indians collect 31 crucial runs. Ishant’s last over yielded the most, 17 runs.
Scoreboard Mumbai Indians: L. Simmons b Ishant 8, Rohit Sharma lbw b Ishant 7, H. Pandya c Dhoni b Marsh 9, J. Buttler c R Ashwin b Marsh 0, A. Rayudu c du Plessis b R. Ashwin 22, K. Pollard lbw b Bhatia 1, S. Gopal c Rahane b M. Ashwin 2, Harbhajan Singh (not out) 45, R. Vinay Kumar c Smith b Singh 12, M. McClenaghan (not out) 2. Extras: (lb1, w12) 13. Total: (for 8 wkts, in 20 overs) 121. FoW: 1-8, 2-29, 3-29, 4-30, 5-40, 6-51, 7-68, 8-96. Bowling: R.P. Singh 3-0-30-1 (1w), Ishant 4-0-36-2 (4w), Marsh 4-0-21-2 (1w), Bhatia 4-1-10-1, M Ashwin 4-0-16-1, R Ashwin 1-0-7-1.
