Challengers get off the Mark

It seemed like an international conspiracy with an insider8217;s input as the Mumbai Indians huddled together...

It seemed like an international conspiracy with an insider8217;s input as the Mumbai Indians huddled together, with Bangalore Royal Challengers8217;s wicket-keeper Mark Boucher walking in to join his countrymate Jacques Kallis in the middle towards the fag end of the game. With the score reading 106/4, the other South African on field, Shaun Pollock, was all words and captain Harbhajan Singh was all ears. The other veteran on field, Sanath Jayasuriya, too chipped in but still things didn8217;t work out.

The pair put up 50 runs from 29 balls and that meant Bangalore Royal Challengers made amends for their miserable start to the Indian Premier League at home. With just two balls to spare, they chased Mumbai Indians8217;s score of 165 with Boucher unbeaten on 39 from 19 balls. And his two 6s and four 4s proved to be the most meaningful blows in yet another contest of big shots.

Unexpected sights

For Mumbai Indians, who took field minus the injured Sachin Tendulkar, it was a loss, but still a creditable show with many positives 8212; youngsters finding their feet and veterans just getting into rhythm.

Like Pollock conspiring against his old mates, there are similar never-seen-before sights and sounds that this contest between city-based franchises with mixed teams uniquely presents. Have you ever seen Sachin Tendulkar jump out of his chair and start clapping at Rahul Dravid getting out. Today he did. Ever heard that chant of Jo bole so ho nihal at Wankhede Stadium? Today they did that when stand-in Mumbai Indians captain Harbhajan Singh came in to bowl. Ever heard the roof of an Indian stadium being brought down at Sanath Jayasuriya hitting those massive sixes. It happened here at the Wankhede today.

Mumbai Indians pacer Ashish Nehra, who had a forgettable post-injury outing, finished with figures of 4-0-45-1, but his one wicket had its share of intrigue. He had his Ranji Trophy team mate and Delhi8217;s youngster Virat Kohli caught behind the stumps. His guarded celebration showed that he wasn8217;t sure how to react.

Walk in the park

Earlier, in the Mumbai Indians innings, Robin Uthappa was having a walk in the park. He strolled down the pitch to hit the bowlers over mid-wicket, or straight down the ground. And there was also his trademark behind-the-wicket scoop 8212; a shot seen more often in the adjoining Mumbai Hockey Association ground. It8217;s a shot that might soon get international recognition and Uthappa can claim credit of it gaining popularity and eventual respectability. This high-risk but hugely effective strike shot helped Uthappa score 48 runs and that helped Mumbai Indians reach 165/6.

Jayasuriya at the start, and Pollock towards the end, threatened with knocks that have made them the cricketers they are and take the score towards the 200 mark. But that was not to be. The Bangalore Royal Challengers, after failing to climb Mt 223 in the first game, faced a hillock in comparison.

Story continues below this ad

The improvement in bowling was possible mainly because of Zaheer Khan, who interestingly was bowling on a pitch prepared by his first coach Sudhir Nayak. Finding his rhythm in familiar conditions, Zaheer got bounce and movement. His figures of 4-0-17-2 are nothing short of a fiver in the conventional form of the game. Zaheer would have found the lack of reaction to his performance from the Wankhede crowd a touch unsettling, but if loyalty towards city teams grows as the organisers are hoping, scenes such as these might just become commonplace.