Hyderabad look to secure semis spot

Match facts

Nov 6, 2008
Start time 7.30pm (1400 GMT)

The Big Picture

Defending champions Hyderabad will look to seal a semis spot as they take on bottom-placed Mumbai in their penultimate game of the league phase. The narrow one-run defeat against Delhi in the last game however will make them wary of not taking teams in the bottom half too lightly. They could have booked their passage to the last four with a win then, but will now have to take full advantage of the extra game they have in hand.

Having registered their first win against Delhi, Mumbai were quickly brought down to earth by Chennai in the previous encounter. They were mauled by 75 runs as Chennai went on to post the highest total of 206 in the tournament. However, Nathan Astle would want to cap off a rather disappointing campaign with a win here against Hyderabad in their last game.

Where they rank

Hyderabad are in fourth spot with eight points but with Lahore currently on six points and looking to make a late charge they would want the safety of the top three. A win with a good net run-rate may even propel them to No. 2 in the points just behind Chennai.

Mumbai are placed right at the bottom of the table and chances of improving their standing look very grim. A win would take them level on points with Ahmedabad - if Ahmedabad fail to beat Lahore in their final game - who are just above them in eighth place with four points. However, a poor net run-rate of - 0.949 might still confine them to the last place.

Form guide (last five matches, most recent first)

Hyderabad: LWWLW
Mumbai: LWLLL

Stats

Players to watch

Hyderabad's leading run-getter Abdul Razzaq will look to give his team the perfect start at the top of the innings with Jimmy Maher. He will look to make amends with the bat after failing in the last game. Hyderabad will also rely heavily on his bowling and hope he adds to the seven wickets he has picked up.

Mumbai captain Nathan Astle led from the front in the last game against Chennai. His 61-ball 68 which comprised three boundaries and four sixes showed what a destructive force he could be in this format. He has also come handy with the ball picking up six wickets in as many matches at 18.00, with a best of 4 for 19 against Chandigarh.

Quotes

"We know which areas need to be worked on and it is only a matter of putting plans in place and then executing them well"