MASTERCLASS FROM THE MASTER HIMSELF

He is probably in the best form of his life. Yes, in the 21st year of his international career ! The way Sachin Tendulkar is batting right now, one wonders whether the Indian selectors would be thinking they should persuade the master blaster to play T20 internationals as well for his country...

Firing on all cylinders, a brilliant Sachin Tendulkar (71; 48 balls, 10x4) steered the Mumbai Indians to a facile seven-wicket victory over the hapless Kolkata Knight Riders in Match - 17 of IPL 2010 at Brabourne Stadium here tonight. The win also put the Mumbai Indians back at the top of the league standings.


Mumbai Indians, who lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday, bounced back up in style to record their third victory while it was the third straight loss for the Kolkata Knight Riders.


The Mumbai Indian’s chase of 156 runs began in right earnest. Left-hander Shikar Dhawan, who came out with Sachin Tendulkar in place of Sanath Jayasuriya who was rested for the game, set the tone by slamming three fours off New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond. Tendulkar followed it up with same number of fours against Ishant Sharma. Tendulkar continued his onslaught and Sharma faced the Little Master’s fury in his second over too, as the master blaster pulled Ishant Sharma with disdain and struck three fours as Mumbai Indians raced off to 50 in 4.2 overs.


Left-arm spinner Murali Karthik provided the first breakthrough dismissing Dhawan for 23 (21 balls, 4x4) against the run of play, as he played a loose shot to be caught at short mid-wicket. Saurabh Tiwary made a quick-fire 24-ball 30, while Kieron Pollard the next batsmen in, was dismissed cheaply with the Mumbai Indians cruising home quite comfortably in the end


There was a new combination at the top for the Kolkata Knight Riders too when they batted. Skipper Sourav Ganguly and West Indies skipper Chris Gayle opened the innings in place of Manoj Tiwary and Brad Hodge, who were both dropped for this match. Ganguly and Gayle made a sedate start, putting on 70 runs in 11 overs. Ganguly, struck three consecutive fours off South African pace bowler Ryan McLaren’s first over, but was circumspect. The left-hander was deceived by Harbhajan Singh’s slower delivery and was bowled for 31 (34 b, 5x4). The off-spinner went on to finish a fine spell of 4-0-17-1.


Mumbai Indian bowlers bowled a good line and length and delivered on their game plan, by virtually throttling the Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen of runs. Gayle was not given the width or the length to play his pull shots or the drive. Testimony to the Mumbai Indians fine bowling display was the fact that the Kolkata Knight Riders 100 runs came as late as the 15th over.


Playing in his first match, Gayle was off to an uncharacteristically streaky and slow to start. The flamboyant opener perhaps struggled to get adjusted to the Indian wickets. But he opened out after reaching his 50, which came off 47 balls. He struck two fours and one six off left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, who had conceded only five runs in his first two overs.


Kolkata Knight Riders lost their second wicket in the 20th over when Zaheer Khan disturbed Owais Shah’s woodwork. Shah (31, 23 balls, 3x4), promoted in the batting order, added 82 runs in 8.2 overs with Gayle, who was declared lbw off the last ball off Zaheer by Sanjay Hazare. Gayle justified his selection with a 60 ball-75 (7x4, 2x6) as Kolkata Knight Riders put up 155/3.


Kolkata Knight Riders had omitted Australian all rounder Brad Hodge, who made way for Chris Gayle. The Kolkata Knight Riders also made two more changes with Harpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh coming in place of Ashok Dinda and Manoj Tiwary. For the Mumbai Indians, former Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya made way for South African pace bowler Ryan McLaren. Left-handed batsman Shikar Dhawan took the place of the injured Ambati Rayudu.