Date:25/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/25/stories/2008052554971900.htm

Sport

Mumbai Indians posts a fighting total

Vijay Lokapally

Uthappa plays a cameo after Jayasuriya’s fiery knock

— Photo: S. Subramanium

IN FULL FLOW: Sanath Jayasuria of Mumbai Indians played yet another hurricane knock and got his team off to a flying start.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Daredevils overcame a Sanath Jayasuriya on fire and restricted Mumbai Indians to 176 for eight.

After Jayasuriya’s charge, it was Robin Uthappa’s 23-ball 46 (5x4, 2x6) that carried Mumbai Indians to a respectable total in the DLF-Indian Premier League cricket match here on Saturday.

Batting can be such a joy when Jayasuriya wields the willow. A near-capacity audience at the Ferozeshah Kotla went into raptures as Jayasuriya sent the ball scorching with ridiculous ease. It was entertainment though it came at a price for the home crowd.

Delhi Daredevils, looking to win this contest, was at the receiving end. With the Sri Lankan strokeplayer in a mood to destroy the opposition, the audience had little choice than applaud on a night when he played some vintage shots.

Second fiddle

Sachin Tendulkar, also looking to match his partner, did not mind playing the second fiddle after the initial assessment of the pitch and the attack. Jayasuriya was unstoppable as he picked even good deliveries and deposited them into the crowd. A slashed six over point and another clouted over square-leg showed the left-hander in total control of the crease.

The feature of Jayasuriya’s dominance was the timing that he brought to his shots and of course the placement.

He was quick to pick the line and hit through it and also not averse to take the aerial route. The crowd loved it even if it hurt the chances of Delhi. As long as Jayasuriya was in the middle, Mumbai Indians did not falter.

Put in to bat, Mumbai Indians lost little time in getting down to business. The pitch invited the batsmen to take a positive course and Jayasuriya knew his job well. He had lit up this venue in a World Cup match 12 seasons ago with a thrilling century.

The intensity was in place even on Saturday as Jayasuriya hit six fours and five sixes before losing his rhythm.

Denied strike by Uthappa, the Sri Lankan, having lofted leg-spinner Amit Mishra for a six, tried repeating the shot, but was deceived by the change of pace and the well-crafted flight.

It was a big wicket and Mishra deserves a pat for trapping a Jayasuriya on song. Earlier, V. Yomahesh had scalped a memorable victim when he castled Tendulkar, who tried an ambitious on-drive. The fall of Jayasuriya gave Delhi the chance to keep the chase within limits despite McGrath going for 17 runs in his last over, hit for three successive fours by Uthappa.

The scores: Mumbai Indians: S. Jayasuriya c Dilshan b Mishra 66, S. Tendulkar b Yomahesh 18, D. Smith c Geeves b Yomahesh 17, R. Uthappa (not out) 46, A. Nayar c Dilshan b Geeves 1, S. Pollock b Maharoof 16, S. Chitnis c Dhawan b Yomahesh 3, P. Shah c Geeves b Yomahesh 0, A. Nel (not out) 0, Extras (lb-1, nb-1, w-7): 9, Total (for eight wkts. in 20 overs): 176.

Fall of wickets: 1-70, 2-107, 3-112, 4-114, 5-143, 6-162, 7-163, 8-176.

Delhi Daredevils bowling: McGrath 4-0-39-0, Geeves 4-0-50-1, Maharoof 4-0-27-1, Yomahesh 4-0-36-4, Mishra 4-0-23-1.