Sanath & Uthappa power Mumbai Indians to 165 for six

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) Robin Uthappa made 48 runs of 38 balls to take Mumbai Indians to a challenging total of 165 for 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs in their DLF Indian Premier League match against the Bangalore Royal Challengers at the Wankhede stadium here today.

Mumbai Indians, who received a blow before the match when their captain, the batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar ruled himself out of the match, still not having recovered from his groin injury, saw stand in captain Harbhajan Singh win the toss and elect to bat first.

Mumbai Indians who opened with L Ronchi and Sanath Jayasuriya saw the former give them a flying start, smashing Praveen Kumar for two boundaries in the first over itself over the cover region.

However, Zaheer Khan gave the Bangalore Royal Challengers the breakthrough they wanted in his first over, when Ronchi tried to cut Zaheer, but Virat Kohli at point dived to his left to bring up a stupendous catch. Ronchi fell for 8 which came in a stay of 10 balls and was inclusive of two boundaries in it.

Mumbai Indians then suffered another blow when Dominic Thromble was hit on the face while trying to hook Zaheer Khan and had to retire hurt.

However, the marauder from Sri Lanka Sanath Jayasuriya then took over welcoming Jacques Kallis with a boundary over the head of mid-off and then on the next ball repeated the shot for the same result. Two balls later he flicked the South African legend for a four to fine leg and then on the last ball send the ball soaring out of the ground, for a huge six over, deep mid-on to take 19 runs of Kallis’ first over as Mumbai Indians stepped on the accelerator.

Jayasuriya was however soon run out going for a cheeky single by Zaheer Khan for 29 of 16 balls with five fours and a six.

Robin Uthappa was then joined by Pinal Shah and the two put on 51 runs in 7.5 overs before Pinal Shah was caught by Kohli off the bowling of B Akhil for 19.

Robin Uthappa however continued on his merry way hitting some totally unorthodox shots, before falling just two shot of his 50 being stumped by Mark Boucher of B Akhil. His 48 runs came in 38 balls and was inclusive of five fours and a six.

Abhishek Nayar and Shaun Pollock then indulged in some huge hitting helping the Mumbai Indians cross the 150 mark before finishing at 165 for 6, with Shaun Pollock smashing 28 of just 12 balls with three fours and two sixers.

For Bangalore Royal Challengers, Zaheer Khan with 17 for two wickets in four overs was the most economical bowler on display.

This is the first match for Mumbai Indians, while Bangalore Royal Challengers, it is their second match after being beaten by Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural match on April 18.