Bhajji magic stumps Chargers

Navi Mumbai: An all-round performance from Harbhajan Singh turned the match around and helped Mumbai Indians coast to an incredibly easy victory over hosts Deccan Chargers by 41 runs at DY Patil tonight.

Harbhajan was first an unlikely hero with the bat for Mumbai Indians and then used his off-spin to turn the game in the Mumbai Indians’ favour. He took three wickets, namely Adam Gilchrist, T Suman and Jaskaran Singh. He was ably supported by pacemen Zaheer Khan (3 for 21) and Lasith Malinga (3 for 12).

Sachin Tendulkar very intelligently opened his bowling with the slow spin of Harbhajan and was immediately rewarded with his Deccan Chargers’ counterpart wicket in the very first over. After that it was a procession of Deccan batsmen coming in and then departing in a hurry. Only Herschelle Gibbs (27) and Rohit Sharma (45) offered any kind of resistance.

The mighty Sardar came out to bat with the Mumbai Indians in trouble at 119 for 7 in the 17th over. And the spinner who has a reputation of being a big-hitter came to the IPL party with some lusty and unorthodox hitting.

Bhajji used the long handle to good use scoring a whirlwind 49 off just 18 balls. He started the carnage by hitting Andrew Symonds for a huge six. West Indian pace spearhead Kemar Roach had had a great start to his IPL journey, but Bhajji spoiled his figures hammering 19 runs from his over, the 19th of the innings. The spinner then hit four boundaries in the last over to take MI to a respectable total of 172.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar continued from where he had left off against Chennai Super Kings. After a solid partnership with Dwayne Bravo (23) ended and wickets started tumbling around him, the master was composure personified. He set about resurrecting the innings, but the fall of wickets at the other end eventually got to him and he mistimed a pull and set the stage for a Harbhajan special.

For the Deccan Chargers, RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha were the main strikers claiming three and two scalps respectively. DC pacer Jaskaran Singh, who had bowled well throughout the match, had to be taken off the attack in the last over after bowling two beamers.

Mumbai Indians continue their stay on top of the points table with this win. Deccan Chargers, though, need some inspiration to rise up from the middle of the table.