IPL 8: MI possible after Turbanator two

And while he might average the same number of sixes per innings as his fellow Trini Kieron Pollard, it’s unlikely that you’ll realize it or see him make a big deal about it. That’s Simmons for you. Introverted, laidback, a man of few words and fewer displays of emotion, even on the IPL stage.

If anything, on a platform that almost demands those from the Caribbean Isles to be mavericks and unabashed entertainers, Simmons is the ultimate rebel. But there’s no way Mumbai Indians are complaining. They will have him whichever way he is. For, in a team that boasts of opulent talent in the middle-order, it’s Simmons who holds the ship together. Or so he has been, after he was roped in by Mumbai as an afterthought towards the latter half of last season.

It was Simmons who got the show going yet again for the hosts on Tuesday. And like always, he did it with a mix of smart strike rotation, controlled belligerence and the characteristic air of nonchalant flair. He scored 65 off 51; clearing the ropes on five occasions, and was the architect of Mumbai’s innings.

Simmons set the tone for the innings in the first 10 overs – where he added 90 with Parthiv Patel – taking on R Ashwin, who opened the bowling and delivered three overs with the new-ball. With Simmons, unlike Pollard, the sixes generally come in front of the wicket rather than square of it. And they’re always struck cleanly.

Simmons’ knock was also loaded with divine drives as he eased deliveries into gaps on the off-side field. If Simmons is what you call a pretty player, then Pollard is all about power. And once the opener departed the scene, it was time for the other Trini to take on the mantle.

Pollard shows off his power

Now, Pollard is every bit the kind of West Indian cricketer that crowds around India relate to. For, he believes in being the maverick on the field. He thrives on it. And when he has a bat in hand and sees a ball being pitched in his half, he smashes them into orbit. It doesn’t come off always of course. But at the Wankhede, it came off. And CSK had to run for cover. He didn’t waste too much time to get stuck in either, smashing Pawan Negi over the on-side field twice off the first four deliveries he faced in his knock. Then on came Dwayne Bravo, and it was time for his battle again with his old friend and nemesis-when it comes to the IPL anyway. The honours overall were even as Pollard smashed him for two sixes before perishing while attempting a third. But by then, he had smashed 41 off 17 and given Mumbai the thrust that they so wanted after Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Ambati Rayudu had failed to get going.

Bhajji’s double-breakthrough

Harbhajan had gone for 20 runs in his first two overs. In his previous over, both Suresh Raina and Faf du Plessis-who had exchanged their positions in the batting-order-had hit him for a six and a four respectively. The duo had also forged a partnership that looked set to take CSK home despite their target of 188 seemingly not the easiest to chase down. Harbhajan had been Mumbai’s key weapon in the first half of the tournament before losing his way slightly in the last few games. Here and now, his team needed some magic. And like he has done on numerous occasions in his career, Bhajji did just that. He first sent Raina packing by sticking to his strength of giving the ball air and getting him caught and bowled. Then off the next ball, he had knocked MS Dhoni out of the way too. Dhoni’s attempted sweep finishing with him in a tangle and the umpire ruling him out leg before. CSK never recovered despite Bravo’s efforts to keep the chase on, eventually losing by 25 runs with the prospect of playing the Eliminator at Ranchi in three days’ time.