In a frantic match of sixes and missed chances, Mumbai hammered 180 for seven in their 20 overs despite a slow start on a lively Kingsmead pitch. But Michael Klinger (50) and Daniel Harris (56) took advantage of some sloppy fielding as they put on 112 for South Australia’s first wicket. Mumbai appeared to have regained the initiative when three wickets fell in 12 balls but the unheralded Redbacks never stopped going for their shots and sixth wicket pair Cameron Borgas and Tom Cooper put on 24 off seven balls to get the Australian side home with three balls to spare.
The win put South Australia in pole position to reach the semi-finals with two wins from two matches in Group B, while Mumbai faced probable elimination after losing both their matches.
Mumbai captain Sachin Tendulkar admitted his team’s effort in the field was “very disappointing” after they dropped three catches in addition to leaking quite a few runs in the field.
“We have to pick up our performance. It’s important that we produce something special in our next two games.”
South Australia captain Klinger, the leading run-scorer in the tournament, said, “We backed ourselves to chase those runs and it was a super effort by everyone. Our running between the wickets and our intensity was really good.”
Whirlwind Finch destroys Stags
Aaron Finch scored a whirlwind unbeaten 93 off 60 deliveries as Victorian Bushrangers defeated Central Stags by seven wickets in the Champions League Twenty20 at Centurion.
Finch, yet to make his international debut, hit 11 fours and three sixes as he made a mockery of the New Zealand domestic side to overhaul the 166-run target in the final over. All the other batsmen paled in comparison to the 23-year-old, who led the charge after Stags’ captain Jamie How scored an unbeaten 77 off 55 to set up a competitive total.
How led from the front after Stags were reduced to 30 for three in the sixth over. The 29-year-old, who has played 31 One-Day Internationals and 19 Tests for New Zealand, hit 10 fours and three sixes.
Facing an attack that included Australian internationals Peter Siddle and Dirk Nannes, How added 53 with George Worker and 66 with Brendon Diamanti as Stags reached the target with relative ease. But it was Finch, who stole the show and took full advantage of an inexperienced attack to seal his side’s win.
The Bushrangers now have one win while the Stags, facing elimination, have lost both matches. (Additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2010.
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