Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten run continued as he steered his team to yet another victory. RCB reached the target of 152 with 7 wickets to spare and took the No.1 spot away from the Mumbai Indians. Playing at home, Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians had got off to a good start with 57 for 2 by the seventh over. But just when they were looking to take control of the innings, they lost Saurabh Tiwary to a googly by the wily Anil Kumble.
With Sachin Tendulkar still at the crease, MI were looking to build the innings and have a go at the end with a good pack of hitters to come. That was not to be as Vinay Kumar, the most under-rated RCB bowler, struck a triple blow. Getting rid of Ambati Rayudu, Sachin Tendulkar and Dwayne Bravo in a matter of five balls, he put MI on the back-foot at 76 for 6. MI never really recovered from there as they lost wickets regularly. Thanks to a last over blitz by Zaheer Khan, they managed a competitive 151 for 9.
The Challengers, on the other hand, have got used to a good solid start by Jacques Kallis and Manish Pandey. The two have formed the ultimate opening pair in IPL 2010 with an average of over 59 batting together with three fifty-run partnerships. Pandey played a quick hand scoring 40 off 27 pulling Zaheer for a couple of boundaries. Although Kallis was earlier dropped by Rayudu, who missed a sitter and hurt himself falling on his elbow, he stayed unbeaten to see his team through.
After the opening partnership of 85 off 9 overs, RCB had all but won it. They were always in control with Kallis standing tall at the other end. The match was pitted as the clash of the two heavyweights of IPL 2010. On paper as well as on the points table, MI and RCB are by far the leaders of IPL 2010. It is a pity that Mumbai Indians eventually gave up their No.1 position to earlier second ranked Royal Challengers Bangalore rather easily.
Mumbai Indians will look at this game as a wake-up call in terms of their middle order’s resourcefulness. RCB too has been winning matches thanks to consistent performances at the top, by Kallis who has scored over 200 runs without getting out, Pandey and Uthappa.
This result sets up the next few games very well as the Mumbai Indians take on fifth placed Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore play against third ranked Chennai at home.
Courtesy-- www.iplt20.com
