Wankhede breathes a collective sigh of relief. Rohit has tonked a six over extra-cover to finish it off. The chase should have been a walk, a canter, a stroll. Mumbai walked it for some 17-18 overs and then took a catnap, but they woke up in time to lurch past the ribbon. Kartik lands one on a length outside off, brave ball given the circumstances, and a brave shot given the circumstances. Sharma gets half across and deposits it over extra cover with a fierce drive.
It's always endearing to listen to Munaf speak in these post-game ceremonies. Honest cricketer, who knows his limitations and sticks to the basics. Right then, the Maharashtra Derby was a damp squib despite the last ball finish. Here's hoping Kolkata and Kochi play a really good game. On behalf of the Cricinfo army, this is Nitin Sundar signing off. Ta!
Presentations at long last. Ravi Shastri does the ceremony, he's really the Man of the Match of Man-of-the-Match ceremonies.
Munaf Patel is the Man of the Match "I am working hard with Pollock, especially on line, length and legcutters. I have played continuously for India, now the IPL and five days of practice here at the Wankhede [hence my good rhythm]. I had to use my variations, else they bang you on these pitches!"
Tendulkar: "Batting could have been better, we should have finished it in 17-18 overs. There were some hiccups in the middle since we could not produce bit shots. Brilliant performance from our fast bowlers, though. Pollard's was mind-boggling. Wicket was slower than the previous ones, today was one of those days when the shots me and Rayudu were trying did not come off, and hopefully that won't happen again. Thanks to the crowd for the support, this noise is an addiction!"
Yuvraj: "Another 20 runs would have been good. Not our day, we were never in the match. We lost too many early wickets. This is the only game we haven't played well in, so far."
Rayudu: "The wicket wasn't as easy as we thought, it was holding up a bit, but we were always in control. May be we could have finished it an over or two before."
Sen Saban: "Yeah. They might also say most of Sachin's tweets are not replies. So he is not good in "second inning" tweets! And compare him with Styris who has a measly 17000 followers but comes up with tweets when his team needs them." Howlarious!
Naresh: "Sachin Tendulkar has become the first Indian with over a million followers on Twitter. I'm waiting for critics to slam him for being on Twitter for personal records." Ah! Meanwhile, I hear Naresh plagiarised that comment, that too from my good friend Rahul Roushan, creator of Faking News. Caught you Naresh.
Ashok: "Rohit Sharma almost did a South Africa." More like it.
Tapajyoti: "Rohit Sharma's done a Javed Miandad!" Ye, right. And I am a koala bear.
Yuvraj has a half-smile as he shakes hands with the Mumbai players. Should he have bowled that last over? Mumbai played things really safe in the last two overs, else it would not have come down to the last ball. The two fours in Parnell's 18th over allowed them to cruise, and they might have taken things a little too easy towards the end. No worries, though. Danny Morrison calls it "a comfortable seven-wicket win". He's got it kind of right, despite the contrives finish.
1 off 1. Bring on the Super Over! The field converges.
what a nervy single! This game has come to life in the last over. Symonds looks to mow a full ball outside off and drags it straight to Uthappa at mid-on. He throws in, Kartik can't collect as he breaks the stumps. Symonds could have been gone if he had ...
oh boy, Ryder rolls out of his lair at mid on and dives in the way of Symonds' dab. Would have been a single if that went past!
another single, worked off the pads to the leg side.
they want to do this in singles. Symonds leans out to a full ball and chips it straight to Ryder at midwicket. He tumbles and under-arms a weak throw to the bowler, who can't collect. Needed a really hard direct hit.
Yuvraj and Kartik have a chat. Pressure! If only Pune had fielded better. Or batted 20 overs...
tossed up on the pads, worked off the pads to midwicket
Who will bowl the last over? It's Yuvraj... Oh no, it's Kartik. Five to win.
the chase goes into the final over. Whodathunk. Short ball again, Rohit cross-bats to deep midwicket for one.
short and fast, Symonds quietly slaps it away to midwicket.
aha, Rohit drives a full ball uppishly and just past the left of the diving Rahul Sharma. Another single.
too short, and too wide, Rohit cuts it fiercely to Kartik sweeping. Rohit wants two, they agree on it late, but Kartik's throw to Paine is a tragedy. Easily done in the end.
fuller from Rahul, on off stump, and Rohit can't get him away. Played to the off side of the pitch.
short ball on leg, Symonds tries to muscle a pull down the ground and bunts a single to long on.
Pune, sadly, were all-out by this time.
finishes with a full ball on middle, Rohit doesn't have room to force the drive and plays it limply to point. Still, Mumbai in comfort, thanks to the boundaries earlier in this over.
Ankush: "Alfonso Thomas should have been a part of Kochi team. The mango name would have gelled with the team outfit. :)" Ha!
angles in from wide of the crease, Rohit tries to work it to the leg side but can't get it away for runs.
swish outside off. Rohit may be slimmer, but he continues to flash at balls outside off without moving the feet. This one whistles past the edge.
fuller and not so wide, Symonds steers to third man for one more single.
Mumbai are sealing it now. Parnell gives width again outside off, from round the wicket, and Symonds goes hard at it with an angled bat. Edged down to third man for four more.
Symmo obliges by smoking an over-pitched ball outside off through the covers. Fetch that.
Parnell comes on. Mumbai need a boundary somewhere to release this little pressure head that's come about.
back of a length on off stump, Symonds punches into the covers and gets a single this time.
Rohit gets across to a length ball outside off, and steers backward of point. The commentators point out that Rohit is looking a lot slimmer now. I'd have to agree.
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | |
Toss | Pune Warriors, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2011 |
Player Of The Match | |
Hours of play (local time) | 16.00 start, First Session 16.00-17.20, Interval 17.20-17.40, Second Session 17.40-19.00 |
Match days | 20 April 2011 - daynight (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Mumbai Indians 2, Pune Warriors 0 |
Over 20 • MI 124/3
Mumbai won by 7 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)