Player of the Match
Player of the Match
2528dThe Report by George Binoy

Sydney Sixers win four out of four

Sydney were without Shane Watson, and though they weren't as powerful with the bat, their bowling skills were sharp enough to win their fourth consecutive game

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

SPD Smith
SPD Smith
41(41) 3x4 - 0x6
Control %85%
  • Productive Shot
  • leg glance
  • 16 runs
  • 0x4 - 0x6
6 3 7 6 5 2 2 10
MJ Lumb
MJ Lumb
28(22) 4x4 - 0x6
Control %43%
  • Productive Shot
  • off side drive on front foot
  • 10 runs
  • 2x4 - 0x6
0 2 2 7 7 0 6 4

Best performances - Bowlers

PJ Cummins
PJ Cummins
O4
M0
R16
W2
Eco4.00
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
MM Patel
MM Patel
O4
M1
R17
W2
Eco4.25
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF

Scorer: M Venkat Raghav | Commentator: Sidharth Monga

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

19.6
4
Starc to Harbhajan Singh, FOUR, gets inside the line of a low full toss and flicks it away for four more. However, all this is mere consolation
19.5
4
Starc to Harbhajan Singh, FOUR, full and straight, the inside edge goes for four. Starc is not impressed. Harbhajan puts his hand up, like you would after the net cord has helped you win a tennis point. That's well done, captain

Back round the stumps

19.4
2
Starc to Harbhajan Singh, 2 runs, slogged away past midwicket. Comes back for two

Over the stumps

19.3
6
Starc to Harbhajan Singh, SIX, whoa... the ship is sinking but its captain is still staying back on it and swinging while he goes down. Moves across, then opens up the front leg, and absolutely smokes this length ball over long-off. I suspect Starc is a bit greedy here. Bowling length to get a wicket as opposed to yorkers. And with so many to defend, why shouldn't he be?
19.2
4
Starc to Harbhajan Singh, FOUR, moves across, flicks this length ball past midwicket. Nice timing from Harbhajan

"Cummins to Malinga: You like breaking toes? I like breaking skull." Well put, Ajay

19.1
0
Starc to Harbhajan Singh, no run, length ball, outside off, Harbhajan swings in another post code

MI 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st52SR TendulkarDR Smith
2nd1SR TendulkarRG Sharma
3rd22KD KarthikRG Sharma
4th14KD KarthikKA Pollard
5th4KD KarthikAT Rayudu
6th8AT RayuduNLTC Perera
7th1Harbhajan SinghAT Rayudu
8th2Harbhajan SinghSL Malinga
9th20Harbhajan SinghPP Ojha

Champions League Twenty20

Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
DC420121.44
TITNS42110-0.017
KKR41260.488
PS4126-0.474
AUCK4126-0.963
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
SS440161.656
LIONS431120.14
CSK4228-0.049
MI4032-0.471
YORKS4032-1.791
Qualifying Pool 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUCK22081.904
Sia2114-0.511
HANTS2020-1.331
Qualifying Pool 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
YORKS22080.507
UvNxt2012-0.244
T&T2012-0.777