All bases covered

Form,home advantage favour Mumbai against Bangalore in the first semi-finals....

The Mumbai Indians the costliest team and the Royal Challengers Bangalore a side that splurged more than any other franchise during the player auctions ended up making more noise in the build-up to the inaugural IPL than during the tournament,finishing fifth and seventh,respectively. While Bangalore did improve drastically during the second edition,finishing up as runners-up to the Deccan Chargers,Mumbai8217;s fortunes dwindled further in South Africa,where they proved to be only slightly better than the bottom-placed Kolkata Knight Riders.

In the third season,however,Mumbai have been the team to beat so far,reserving their semi-final berth well before the rest of the field. With four teams locked on 14 points each,Bangalore only made it owing to a slightly better run-rate. And when the Anil Kumble-led Royal Challengers face Sachin Tendulkar8217;s in-form team in the first semi-final on Wednesday,the only apparent advantage that they can seemingly bank on is their prior experience at this stage of the competition.

Though they did suffer four losses,Mumbai still exude a hint of invincibility,with their record considerably better than other teams in the fray. Leading their charge is none other than Tendulkar. Amid an array of big-hitters,he is topping the charts with 561 runs. Interestingly,the man hot on his heels in the list of run-getters is Bangalore8217;s Jacques Kallis.

But if one looks beyond the statistics,there is a difference between the duo8217;s efforts. Following his career-best unbeaten 89 against the Rajasthan Royals,a beaming Tendulkar had revealed how his five half-centuries had been very pleasing as each of them had resulted in victories for his team. Though his tally of three sixes overall might not seem best-suited for the T20 format,Tendulkar has still scored at a strike-rate of 136.16 and has provided the early momentum for Mumbai.

Kallis on the other hand,despite having scored 542 runs in the tournament so far,has had a detrimental effect on his team8217;s run-rate at times. Only two of the South African8217;s six half-centuries have led to victories for Bangalore,and having scored at a strike-rate of 119.64,the onus has quite often fallen on Robin Uthappa to up the tempo.

With the likes of Uthappa,Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid in addition to Kevin Pietersen and Ross Taylor,the Bangalore middle-order,on paper,does have a more formidable look compared to Mumbai. But Dravid and Taylor have hardly made any impact,Tiwary and Rayudu have been responsible for many a late surge for Mumbai.

Momentum has been highlighted as the most important aspect for any team8217;s success in the T20 format. It has been evident in the manner Mumbai have used their foreign players,with Kieron Pollard,Lasith Malinga,Dwayne Bravo and Ryan McLaren having played more than 10 games each so far. Bangalore seem uncertain of their setup,with only Dale Steyn and Kallis among the foreign recruits having played more than six games. In the 13 games that he has played so far,Steyn has shown glimpses of the destructive pace that has made him the foremost fast bowler in the world,picking up 12 wickets.

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In the end though,it might very well be a contest between Mumbai8217;s bowling and Bangalore8217;s strong batting line-up. But there,too,Mumbai have the edge with Harbhajan Singh,Zaheer Khan and Malinga having provided absolutely no leeway to the opposition batsmen.

Mumbai won six of their seven home games and also one at the DY Patil stadium,which proved to be an extended home during their win against the Deccan Chargers. Crucially,the only time they lost,it was to Bangalore. But the hosts will aim for a favorable result this time.