Harbhajan Singh the all-rounder fashions stunning victory over Deccan Chargers
Match Report: Match-25: Deccan Chargers vs Mumbai Indians at the D. Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, March 28th 2010
Mumbai, March 28: Harbhajan Singh’s all-round show, which included an 49 run blitzkrieg with the bat and a three wicket haul to boot, and Sachin Tendulkar’s fourth half-century in the tournament helped the Mumbai Indians ambush the Deccan Chargers by 41 runs in Match 25 of IPL 2010 at the D. Y. Patil Stadium here on Sunday night. With its third successive win, the Mumbai Indians also stayed at the top with 10 points from six matches, while the Deccan Chargers crashed to their second loss on the trot. It was their second defeat at this venue.
The Mumbai Indians recovered from a shaky 119/7 to score172/7 and then bundled out the Deccan Chargers for 131 in 17.4 overs. The day though belonged to Man of the Match – Harbhajan Singh. Walking in when Mumbai Indians were reeling 119/7 in 16.4 overs, the feisty Singh took the battle into the enemy’s camp with aggressive batting to score an unbeaten 49 (8x4, 2x6) of a mere 18 balls. He thus, saved the Mumbai Indians from the blushes, as all the teams top batsmen, barring Tendulkar, fell in a heap. Opener Shikar Dhawan (8), unsettled by Kemar Roach’s pace, could not play freely. The left-handed batsman, who was hit on his left thumb by a short ball from Roach, was trapped in front by medium pacer Jaskaran Singh. West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who was promoted, hit a 16-ball 33 (3x4, 1x6) and added 40 runs with Sachin Tendulkar. But left-arm seamer RP Singh struck twice in his second over. Bravo failed to clear mid-off fielder and was caught by Symonds while left-hander Saurabh Tiwary was snapped behind.
Ambati Rayudu, who recovered from an injury, was stumped for 6. The left-arm spinner took his second wicket in the next over when Rajagopal Satish swept him straight into T Suman’s hands at short fine leg. The Mumbai Indians were in trouble at 92/5 in 12.1 overs. Kieron Pollard failed again. This time the big-hitting Pollard lasted just five balls before top edging Jaskaran and T Suman held the skier, diving in front at third man.
Tendulkar batted brilliantly for his 43-ball 55 (9x4). He was all class even though the wickets fell at the other end. Tendulkar’s fine vigil came to an when RP Singh completed his four-over spell by taking the big scalp of Tendulkar. Hewas tricked by a slower bouncer and was caught behind. RP Singh and Ojha were the pick of the Deccan Chargers bowlers but in the end Harbhajan turned the tables. He hammered his old foe Andrew Symonds for a four and six and in the next over he struck 19 runs in Roach’s over as Mumbai Indians made a fighting total.
Harbhajan was back in action straightaway when Deccan Chargers came into bat. The off-spinner bowled the first over and with his second ball dismissed Adam Gilchrist, caught in the slips by Tendulkar. Herschelle Gibbs, who made 16-ball 27, was caught at point. Lasith Malinga bagged three wickets by removing the Opener - Mohnish Mishra and then bagged the prize wicket of the dangerous Andrew Symonds in quick succession, before polishing off R P Singhs wicket with a perfect yorker to seal the win. Harbhajan Singh too went on to capture two more wickets of Jaskaran Singh and Suman to finish the day on a high note with three wickets. It truly was Harbhajan Singh’s day in Navi Mumbai today.
Deccan Chargers sprang a surprise when they dropped Chaminda Vaas, the tournament’s second highest wicket-taker, and brought in West Indian fast bowler Kemar Roach. The others to sit out in this match were VVS Laxman and Rahul Sharma and in their place Jaskaran Singh and Monish Mishra came into the side. For Mumbai Indians, Ambati Rayudu, who missed three matches, was back in the side in place of wicketkeeper Aditya Tare and kept the wickets. The Mumbai Indians now take on the Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday, March 30th 2010 at the Cricket Club of India.
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