Chennai Super Kings were crowned Indian Premier League-3 champions after thumping Mumbai Indians by 22 runs in a thrilling summit clash here tonight.
Electing to bat, Chennai posted 168 for five, thanks to Suresh Raina's unbeaten 57 and then restricted Mumbai to 146 for nine to win their maiden IPL title in the grand finale at the packed D.Y. Patil Stadium.
Chennai though had to spend some anxious moments towards the close of Mumbai run chase with big-hitting Kieron Pollard threatening to almost singlehandedly win the match before he was out in the penultimate over for a 10-ball 27 which was studded with three fours and two sixes.
For Chennai, who have been playing in their second final after finishing runners-up to Rajasthan Royals in 2008, it has been a roller coaster ride having made it to the semifinal in their last league match.
Mumbai, who were playing in an IPL final for the first time, were the most consistent side in the tournament having won 10 of their 14 league matches, but they faltered at the final hurdle.
For Mumbai, captain Sachin Tendulkar, who declared himself fit for the grand finale after sustaining a right hand webbing split in first semifinal, top-scored with a 45-ball 48 which was studded with seven fours but he did not get enough support from his batting colleagues.
Tendulkar's 66-run stand from 58 balls for the second wicket with Abhishek Nayar was the only substantial partnership for Mumbai.
Left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati emerged the most successful Chennai bowler with two for 26 while Doug Bollinger, Albie Morkel, Muttiah Muralitharan and Suresh Raina took a wicket apiece.
Mumbai began their run chase of 169 on a shaky note with opener Shikhar Dhawan failing to score the opening over from Ravichandran Ashwin and was out in the second over bowled by Bollinger for an eight-ball duck.
Mumbai struggled for runs before Tendulkar and Nayar took 10 runs from the fifth over by hitting a four each off Ashwin.
Tendulkar, who celebrated his 37th birthday yesterday, then smote Albie Morkel for two fours to take Mumbai to 33 for one after the first power-play.
With off-spinner Muralitharan introduced in the seventh over, runs came in trickles and he was unlucky not to have got Nayar with Matthew Hayden dropping the batsman when on eight.
Nayar struck two sixes in as many balls off Jakati in the 10th over to take Mumbai score to 58 for one at the halfway mark.
With the asking rate over 11 by the 10th over, Mumbai looked like pressing the accelerator but they lost two wickets in the 12th over with Nayar and Harbhajan Singh returning to the hut in the space of five balls.
Nayar was run out for a 26-ball 27 after being sent back by Tendulkar and Harbhajan, who was surprisingly sent up the order, was LBW to Raina for just one.
Mumbai's hopes almost ended with the departure of Tendulkar in the 15th over and the veteran batsman, who wore the orange cap for being the tournament top scorer, was out while trying to pushed the run rate, holing out to Murali Vijay off Jakati.
Saurabh Tiwary, who have been in fine form in the tournament, followed Tendulkar three balls later as he holed out to Raina off Jakati for a duck.
Mumbai needed 68 from the last five overs and JP Duminy's (6) departure in the 17th over did not help the Mumbai cause.
But big-hitting Kieron Pollard, who was surprisingly sent in number eight, raised hopes of a stunning victory for Mumbai by singlehandedly taking 22 runs from the 18th over bowled by Bollinger.
Mumbai needed 33 runs from the last two overs but a mix up led to Ambati Rayudu's run out in the fifth ball of the penultimate over and next ball Pollard was out to end Mumbai's dreams of winning the title.
Earlier, Suresh Raina took advantage of some sloppy catching by Mumbai Indians as he struck an unbeaten 57 to pilot CSK to 168 for five.
The left-handed Raina, who came one down on team score of 44, was dropped twice - on 14 and 28 - before making a crucial 57 not out in 35 balls embellished with three sixes and as many fours.
But for Raina's knock and his 72-run partnership with his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (22 in 15 balls) for the fourth wicket, CSK would have ended with a much lesser score.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Chennai made a decent start with openers Matthew Hayden (17) and Murali Vijay (26) putting on 44 runs.
The Mumbai Indians bowling attack then put an effective shackle on the batsmen on a wicket that offered good bounce but on which the ball stopped a bit on the batsmen.
For Mumbai, tall Sri Lanka pace bowler Dilhara Fernando emerged the most successful with 2 for 23 while Zaheer Khan and Kieron Pollard picked one wicket apiece.
Openers Hayden and Vijay started cautiously and saw off one over each from Harbhajan Singh and Lasith Malinga before stepping on the accelerator.
It was the left-handed Hayden, who has been struggling in the tournament, who started the attack by hoisting Harbhajan over long on for the first six of the match in the third over.
Vijay then pulled Zaheer Khan into the stands beyond the mid-wicket area and then punched Malinga exquisitely to the extra cover fence for a four.
Malinga was then square cut by Hayden and the duo looked all-set for a big stand.
But Vijay fell caught just inside the boundary line off a skier by Saurabh Tiwary off Fernando. His 26 came off 19 balls and included two sixes and a four.
From 44 for one, it became 47 for two when Hayden, who survived a close leg before wicket appeal off Zaheer earlier, tried to charge out to Kieron Pollard and mistimed a pull to be caught behind by wicketkeeper Ambati Rayudu.
CSK progressed to 58 for two after 10 overs, sign that Mumbai have bounced back into the game.
Raina and S Badrinath (14) got together briefly before the latter got out, caught at fine leg for 14 off Fernando.
Then came the most fruitful stand of the innings between Raina and Dhoni. They put on 72 runs in 35 balls.
But after Dhoni fell in the 18th over, it was Raina -- who struck Pollard for two sixes in the 16th over in which the bowler conceded 29 runs -- who made sure that his team ended with a decent total.
Scorecard
Chennai Super Kings:
M Vijay c Tiwary b Fernando 26
M Hayden c Rayudu b Pollard 17
S Raina not out 57
S Badrinath c Malinga b Fernando 14
MS Dhoni c Fernando b Khan 22
A Morkel run out 15
S Anirudha not out 6
Extras: (LB-3, W-8) 11
Total: (for 5 wkts in 20 overs) 168
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-47, 3-67, 4-139, 5-157.
Bowling: Harbhajan Singh 4-0-30-0, L Malinga 4-0-33-0, Z Khan 4-0-34-1, D Fernando 4-0-
23-2, K Pollard 4-0-45-1.
Mumbai Indians
S. Dhawan c Dhoni b Bollinger 0
S. Tendulkar c Vijay b Jakati 48
Abhishek Nayar runout (Dhoni) 27
Harbhajan Singh lbw Raina 1
A. Rayudu (wk) runout (Vijay) 21
S. Tiwary c Raina b Jakati 0
J.P. Duminy c Jakati b Muralitharan 6
K. Pollard c Hayden b Morkel 27
Zaheer Khan runout (Ashwin) 1
L. Malinga Not out 1
D. Fernando Not out 2
Extras(b:1 Lb:6 Nb:0 W:5) 12
Total (9 wickets, 20.0 Overs) 146
FoW: 1-1 (Dhawan, 1.4 ov), 2-67 (Abhishek Nayar, 11.2 ov), 3-73 (Harbhajan Singh, 11.6 ov), 4-99 (Tendulkar, 14.2 ov), 5-100 (Tiwary, 14.5 ov), 6-114 (Duminy, 16.6 ov), 7-142 (Rayudu, 18.5 ov), 8-142 (Pollard, 18.6 ov), 9-143 (Khan, 19.3 ov),
Bowling:
R Ashwin 4 1 24 0
D Bollinger 4 0 31 1
A Morkel 3 0 20 1
M Muralitharan 4 0 17 1
S Jakati 3 0 26 2
S Raina 2 0 21 1
Showing posts with label Sachin Tendulkar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sachin Tendulkar. Show all posts
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
‘Sachin’s absence from T20 WC good for other teams’
Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi has joined the list of advocates supporting Sachin Tendulkar’s inclusion in India’s Twenty20 World Cup squad, saying the champion batsman’s absence from the next month’s event is a blessing in disguise for other teams.
Tendulkar, who quit the format along with Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid in 2007, has been in red hot form in the Indian Premier League III and it forced former as well as present cricketers, including Afridi to ask the right—hander to change his decision and play in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies.
“The way he has blossomed in the last few years, he is only getting better and better as a batsman. If he is not playing for India in the Twenty20 World Cup, it is certainly a big advantage for other teams,” Afridi said.
“If Tendulkar had played in this World Cup, I am sure he would made big impact for India,” he added.
Notwithstanding the hue and cry, Tendulkar has recently ruled out the possibility of returning to Twenty20 International cricket.
However, Afridi feels with age Tendulkar is getting better day by day and could be a destructive force in T20 matches.
“With every match he seems to be growing as a batsman and getting better. He is playing like a teenager. There is no sign of age affecting his game at all,” the Pakistani all—rounder said.
“The biggest thing that he still enjoys playing the sport and he is hunger for runs has not died at all,” he said.
“I think even in T20 cricket you need to bat properly and at times even playing out 20 overs is a big challenge for a team. You need to play orthodox cricket,” Afridi noted.
Tendulkar, who quit the format along with Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid in 2007, has been in red hot form in the Indian Premier League III and it forced former as well as present cricketers, including Afridi to ask the right—hander to change his decision and play in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies.
“The way he has blossomed in the last few years, he is only getting better and better as a batsman. If he is not playing for India in the Twenty20 World Cup, it is certainly a big advantage for other teams,” Afridi said.
“If Tendulkar had played in this World Cup, I am sure he would made big impact for India,” he added.
Notwithstanding the hue and cry, Tendulkar has recently ruled out the possibility of returning to Twenty20 International cricket.
However, Afridi feels with age Tendulkar is getting better day by day and could be a destructive force in T20 matches.
“With every match he seems to be growing as a batsman and getting better. He is playing like a teenager. There is no sign of age affecting his game at all,” the Pakistani all—rounder said.
“The biggest thing that he still enjoys playing the sport and he is hunger for runs has not died at all,” he said.
“I think even in T20 cricket you need to bat properly and at times even playing out 20 overs is a big challenge for a team. You need to play orthodox cricket,” Afridi noted.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sachin better than Don: Harbhajan
Eulogising milestone man Sachin Tendulkar for his historic ODI double hundred, India’s star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh reckons his illustrious teammate is better than Australian great Sir Don Bradman.
Harbhajan could not witness the record-breaking double century as he skipped the first two matches of the series due to his sister’s wedding. “I am short of words to praise Sachin. Some players compared him with Don Bradman. Although I have not seen Bradman playing but I am confident, he (Sachin) is better than him for which his records speak,” Harbhajan said.
He added that Tendulkar’s hunger for runs and amazing focus makes him an altogether different cricketer. “Even after scoring 150 in the ODI, Sachin never looked tired and kept his focus on the game. I have learnt a lot from him, be it on ground or in dressing room. I always observe how he prepares himself for every match,” he said.
Harbhajan was disappointed that he could not witness Tendulkar’s achievement in Gwalior due to prior family commitments. “I am unfortunate, as I was not there on the ground to witness one of the historic moments. But Sachin’s performance definitely added to my happiness during the family function. I was busy in the family function, when one of my relatives came with the news of Sachin’s double century and I could not stop myself from dancing,” ,” Harbhajan said.
He also said the Indian Premier League will help the team prepare well for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Caribbean.
Harbhajan could not witness the record-breaking double century as he skipped the first two matches of the series due to his sister’s wedding. “I am short of words to praise Sachin. Some players compared him with Don Bradman. Although I have not seen Bradman playing but I am confident, he (Sachin) is better than him for which his records speak,” Harbhajan said.
He added that Tendulkar’s hunger for runs and amazing focus makes him an altogether different cricketer. “Even after scoring 150 in the ODI, Sachin never looked tired and kept his focus on the game. I have learnt a lot from him, be it on ground or in dressing room. I always observe how he prepares himself for every match,” he said.
Harbhajan was disappointed that he could not witness Tendulkar’s achievement in Gwalior due to prior family commitments. “I am unfortunate, as I was not there on the ground to witness one of the historic moments. But Sachin’s performance definitely added to my happiness during the family function. I was busy in the family function, when one of my relatives came with the news of Sachin’s double century and I could not stop myself from dancing,” ,” Harbhajan said.
He also said the Indian Premier League will help the team prepare well for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Caribbean.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Lok Sabha congratulates Sachin
The Lok Sabha on Thursday congratulated Sachin Tendulkar on creating history by scoring a double century in a One-Day International in Gwalior on Wednesday.
Making a special reference in the House, Speaker Meira Kumar said the unique achievement was a matter of national pride and a source of inspiration for the younger generation.
“I am sure members will join me in conveying our heartiest felicitations and congratulations to Sachin Tendulkar for being the first cricketer in history of one-day cricket to score a double century.”
Amid thumping of desks, Ms. Kumar described this as a “unique achievement,” which was a matter of national pride. “This is a source of inspiration for budding cricketers of this country. We convey our best wishes to Sachin Tendulkar for his future endeavours.”
She also congratulated the Indian cricket team on its “tremendous performance.”
Making a special reference in the House, Speaker Meira Kumar said the unique achievement was a matter of national pride and a source of inspiration for the younger generation.
“I am sure members will join me in conveying our heartiest felicitations and congratulations to Sachin Tendulkar for being the first cricketer in history of one-day cricket to score a double century.”
Amid thumping of desks, Ms. Kumar described this as a “unique achievement,” which was a matter of national pride. “This is a source of inspiration for budding cricketers of this country. We convey our best wishes to Sachin Tendulkar for his future endeavours.”
She also congratulated the Indian cricket team on its “tremendous performance.”
Thursday, February 25, 2010
'Sachin has climbed the Mt Everest of the game'
President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday congratulated Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first cricketer to score a double ton in One-day internationals and said the “master batsman” has climbed the Mt Everest of the game.
“Sachin Tendulkar has yet again rewritten the record books of cricket, by climbing yet another Mt Everest of the game,” Patil said in a message.
She said in setting a new benchmark for the highest score by a batsman in One-day internationals as well as in notching up a double century, “the master batsman has set stiff targets” for future generation of cricketers to break.
Terming it a “magnificent achievement”, the Prime Minister said that Sachin has led by “example and that all Indians are proud of his achievement“.
Singh wished him many more glorious years in his cricketing career.
Tendulkar created history by becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in One-day internationals with a breath0taking unbeaten 200 to steer India to a massive 401 for three against South Africa in the second cricket ODI in Gwalior.
“Sachin Tendulkar has yet again rewritten the record books of cricket, by climbing yet another Mt Everest of the game,” Patil said in a message.
She said in setting a new benchmark for the highest score by a batsman in One-day internationals as well as in notching up a double century, “the master batsman has set stiff targets” for future generation of cricketers to break.
Terming it a “magnificent achievement”, the Prime Minister said that Sachin has led by “example and that all Indians are proud of his achievement“.
Singh wished him many more glorious years in his cricketing career.
Tendulkar created history by becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in One-day internationals with a breath0taking unbeaten 200 to steer India to a massive 401 for three against South Africa in the second cricket ODI in Gwalior.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sachin roped in for new Mile Sur Mera Tumhara
With the new avatar of the popular Mile Sur Mera Tumhara song — which won the hearts of millions of Indians in the ’90s — getting a lukewarm response, its makers are planning a revised version featuring Sachin Tendulkar and other cricket icons.
Phir Mile Sur, the new version which launched on January 26, has received mixed reactions from people and critics alike, with the main grouse being that it is too long and looks too “Bollywood-centric.” The makers are now planning a revised and shorter version of the song.
Interestingly, the video currently on air does not feature any member of the Indian cricket team.
Ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath, director of the unity-in-diversity song, said he would soon shoot the song with Mr. Tendulkar.
“Very soon we will see Sachin in the edited version of Phir Mile Sur. He is keen to do the song. We tried to get him as well as other cricketers earlier, but they were busy playing back-to-back matches and, moreover, we were under pressure to release the song on the Republic Day,” Mr. Surendranath told PTI.
Phir Mile Sur has been produced by private television channel Zoom TV, unlike the 1988 version of the song which was produced by Suresh Mullick of the now defunct autonomous body Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad.
On criticism that due credit was not given to Mr. Mullick, Mr. Surendranath said, “It is not necessary to give him credit. But there is no harm in giving credit to the great man and may be the edited version could have his name in the credits.”
The song — shot with more than 60 personalities including actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, sports stars Saina Nehwal and Vijender Singh and several musicians — was officially released by Mr. Bachchan on January 26.
Mr. Surendranath hinted at the possibility of updating the new version from time to time with the inclusion of more personalities. Many have found Phir Mile Sur lacking in spirit, as it has a good presence of actors.
“If you compare both the songs, you will find that the proportion of film personalities is almost the same. Last time there were 26 artistes, of which 12 were from films. This time out of 60 personalities, we have 22 actors, while there are 13 musicians,” Mr. Surendranath said.
He added: “The inclusion of film personalities instils a message of national unity, as the film fraternity of the country has a strong presence in the minds of youth. When we were researching, Bollywood was on the top of our minds.”
Phir Mile Sur was shot in 60 days across 13 cities and included 30 days of post-production work. However, the non-inclusion of the Taj Mahal has also been noticed.
“The Taj Mahal is beautiful, but our concept was more youth oriented. We wanted the new song reflect the youth of the country so we experimented with new locations,” Mr. Surendranath said.
Phir Mile Sur, the new version which launched on January 26, has received mixed reactions from people and critics alike, with the main grouse being that it is too long and looks too “Bollywood-centric.” The makers are now planning a revised and shorter version of the song.
Interestingly, the video currently on air does not feature any member of the Indian cricket team.
Ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath, director of the unity-in-diversity song, said he would soon shoot the song with Mr. Tendulkar.
“Very soon we will see Sachin in the edited version of Phir Mile Sur. He is keen to do the song. We tried to get him as well as other cricketers earlier, but they were busy playing back-to-back matches and, moreover, we were under pressure to release the song on the Republic Day,” Mr. Surendranath told PTI.
Phir Mile Sur has been produced by private television channel Zoom TV, unlike the 1988 version of the song which was produced by Suresh Mullick of the now defunct autonomous body Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad.
On criticism that due credit was not given to Mr. Mullick, Mr. Surendranath said, “It is not necessary to give him credit. But there is no harm in giving credit to the great man and may be the edited version could have his name in the credits.”
The song — shot with more than 60 personalities including actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, sports stars Saina Nehwal and Vijender Singh and several musicians — was officially released by Mr. Bachchan on January 26.
Mr. Surendranath hinted at the possibility of updating the new version from time to time with the inclusion of more personalities. Many have found Phir Mile Sur lacking in spirit, as it has a good presence of actors.
“If you compare both the songs, you will find that the proportion of film personalities is almost the same. Last time there were 26 artistes, of which 12 were from films. This time out of 60 personalities, we have 22 actors, while there are 13 musicians,” Mr. Surendranath said.
He added: “The inclusion of film personalities instils a message of national unity, as the film fraternity of the country has a strong presence in the minds of youth. When we were researching, Bollywood was on the top of our minds.”
Phir Mile Sur was shot in 60 days across 13 cities and included 30 days of post-production work. However, the non-inclusion of the Taj Mahal has also been noticed.
“The Taj Mahal is beautiful, but our concept was more youth oriented. We wanted the new song reflect the youth of the country so we experimented with new locations,” Mr. Surendranath said.
