Youngsters power Mumbai into IPL final

Biswajit Jha/Zeecric.com Navi Mumbai: Powerful batting by Saurabh Tiwary and Kieron Pollard followed by some outstanding bowling and backed by sensational fielding, Mumbai Indians continued their dream IPL run as they outsmarted Royal Challengers Bangalore by 35 runs in a one-sided semi-finals to march into the final of third edition of Indian Premier League here on Wednesday. After posting 184/5 on the board, Mumbai Indians restricted RCB for 149/9, completing a 35-run victory. The in-form Bangalore batting crumbled at this crunch match, losing wickets at regular intervals which cost them the all-important semi-finals. Mumbai bowlers, led by Pollard (3/17), Harbhajan Singh (2/44) and Lasith Malinga (2/24), bowled a disciplined line and length to thwart the progress of Bangalore innings. Chasing 185 for victory, RCB started on a disastrous note as they lost in-form opener Jacques Kallis for 11. Lasith Malinga induced a outside-edge from the batsman which was smartly taken behind the stumps by Ambati Rayudu. Just when it was looking that RCB had compensated the loss of Kallis, Kevin Pietersen got out for 19. Pietersen played well for his 14-ball 19 before Rayudu brilliantly stumped him. After the departure of Pietersen, Robin Uthappa again took the onus of hitting Bangalore out of trouble. He slammed two monster sixes and two fours, but trying to hit one too many, he was holed out at deep by Shikhar Dhawan. He made a hurricane 26 off just 13 balls. In the same over (over number 10), Rahul Dravid was also run out for 23 to futher worsen the cause of RCB. Youngsters Manish Pandey (5) and Virat Kohli (9) also failed to come good as they threw their wickets away at the crunch time. Then it was left to Ross Taylor (unbeaten 31) who, despite trying his level best, failed to get away the Mumbai bowlers.Earlier, Saurabh Tiwary and Kieron Pollard played two power-packed knocks to get Mumbai Indians out of the woods and helped them post a huge 184/5. Kieron Pollard justified the huge sum of money he got from his employer, playing a cameo knock of 33 off 13 just balls. His three sixes were nothing but the exhibition of power that he posses. But it was Jharkhand-lad Saurabh Tiwary who was again exceptional as he played every bowler with equal disdain and unleashed a flurry of boundaries and over boundaries. His 31-ball unbeaten 52 was a treat to watch and his every shot was cheered by the capacity Navi Mumbai crowd. He slammed 3 fours and 4 sixes during his blistering knock. He reached his fifty off just 31 balls. Ambati Rayudu also played well as he made a 38-ball 40. But his departure brought big-hitting Kieron Pollard who played some powerful shots to help Mumbai achieve the big total. After winning the toss, Mumbai failed to start auspiciously as the lost two quick wickets. RCB paceman Dale Steyn drew the first blood for his team as he picked up the best batsman of the world, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar for just 9. Immediately after Sachin’s dismissal, Mumbai Indians suffered another blow as opener Shikhar Dhawan ran himself out for 12. Abhishek Nayar also did not last long as he was picked up beautifully by Praveen Kumar off Kevin Pietersen. Nayar was looking in very good touch during his 20-run knock. Much was expected from JP Duminy. But he failed to fire as RCB captain Anil Kumble foxed him for only 3. The combination of Sourabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu then rescued the Mumbai innings as they helped their team cross 100 in the 14th over. Mumbai Indians decided to retain all-rounder Abhishek Nayar and paceman Dilhara Fernando while Praveen Kumar came in place of Pankaj Singh in the playing XI of Royal Challengers Bangalore.Teams Bangalore Royal Challengers (Playing XI): Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Robin Uthappa(w), Virat Kohli, Kevin Pietersen, Rahul Dravid, Ross Taylor, Praveen Kumar, Dale Steyn, Vinay Kumar, Anil Kumble(c) Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Sachin Tendulkar(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu(w), Saurabh Tiwary, Jean-Paul Duminy, Kieron Pollard, Abhishek Nayar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando