END OF OVER:20 | 20 Runs | MI: 124/8 (13 runs required, RR: 6.20)
- Harbhajan Singh22 (9b)
- Pragyan Ojha0 (0b)
- Mitchell Starc4-0-32-2
- Pat Cummins4-0-16-2
Ravi Shastri reports that Harbhajan kept sitting in the dugout even after the rest of the team had left. This loss hasn't sat well with the Mumbai Indians captain. And that's how it should be. Sydney Sixers, though, remain unconquered, even without Watson. That's all we have for you tonight. Tomorrow, for a change, we won't have two dead rubbers. And if we are lucky, Auckland might win the first match and make both games alive. So, see you on the flip side
Quotes from presentation
"This was a kind of a game that hurt more than last few games," says Harbhajan Singh. "137 was very much gettable in, not 20 overs, but 18 overs. I think we batted too slow in the opening part. We didn't take our opportunity. We didn't play well enough, and we didn't take responsibility, and this is where we stand. In all these games, we didn't get a start in the first six overs. These kind of games, you have to take the game away from the opposition by scoring runs in the first six, and that didn't happen, and that's an area of concern. Even in the IPL, the same thing happened. That's where we have to improve."
Strong words from, Harbhajan. No hiding behind excuses. And not afraid to call a spade a spade. The first six overs have cost them almost every match, and that could have been tough to admit for an Indian captain considering who has been batting in the first six overs
"This was our best fielding display," says Brad Haddin. "and I am proud of that. I am always awake [about his catches and Test chances], but my chance here is to lead this bunch and they are really smart and they know their role. Just score one more than the other team [in the semi-final]."
"It was nice to score a few runs in the middle," says MoM Steve Smith. "Our first game under the lights. Took a while to get used to it. It's always a good challenge to come out and teams like Mumbai and perform. I work on trying to be there in the end. Didn't work today, played a lazy shot. I try to get in the action as much as I can, I like the ball coming to me [about his fielding]."
So the defending champions bow out with no wins from this tournament. And you can't expect to win when you have an underperforming top three. Here are a few key figures: 117, 105 and 71, the strike rates of Smith, Sharma and Tendulkar respectively. Mumbai's think tank shouldn't be surprised they won't have anything to declare at the customs
And how awesome is Sydney's bowling? They are representing a local club, actually they are one of the two teams that represent their city, but this attack could be operating in Tests, and will still be better than half the world. And, mind you, there was no Watson around
Back round the stumps
Over the stumps
"Cummins to Malinga: You like breaking toes? I like breaking skull." Well put, Ajay
END OF OVER:19 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | MI: 104/8 (33 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 5.47, RRR: 33.00)
- Harbhajan Singh2 (3b)
- Pat Cummins4-0-16-2
- Mitchell Starc3-0-12-2
SL Malinga c †Haddin b Cummins 1 (3m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 25.00
"So, Mumbai Indians... I wasn't good enough to be selected in the squad? That's funny. Have a safe trip back home.
Love, Moises Henriques" Oh, Rohit, I was not aware of that development. You can;t blame me, though, for not following the IPL transfer window (add the name of the sponsor you want) religiously
Here's Cummins
END OF OVER:18 | 7 Runs 2 Wkts | MI: 102/7 (35 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.66, RRR: 17.50)
- Harbhajan Singh1 (1b)
- Mitchell Starc3-0-12-2
- Moises Henriques4-0-29-2
AT Rayudu c Smith b Starc 6 (11m 6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00
This situation reminds me of Mumbai's best batsman last year: Lasith Malinga, who won then the Champions League with his hitting. Something tells me, though, that he is not likely to repeat all that
"Tell you what, if MSD was not the Indian captain, he would be very worried with KDK's batting form and Saha's keeping form as of now." Sundar, put those two forms in one man, and we are on to something
Here's Harbhajan Singh
NLTC Perera c Henriques b Starc 2 (6m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
Round the wicket
Starc is back. He has two up his sleeve
END OF OVER:17 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | MI: 95/5 (42 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.58, RRR: 14.00)
- Ambati Rayudu1 (3b)
- Thisara Perera1 (2b)
- Moises Henriques4-0-29-2
- Pat Cummins3-0-14-1
Perera is the new batsman
KD Karthik run out 18 (29m 18b 2x4 0x6) SR: 100.00