Mumbai eliminated from Champions League T20

Cricket365
September 16, 2014

The Mumbai Indians crashed out of the Champions League Twenty20 on the back of a substantial six-wicket defeat to the Northern Districts – in Tuesday's key qualifying fixture at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.

The Indian outfit managed an insufficient final total of 132 for nine in the wake of three pivotal wickets apiece for seamers Tim Southee and Scott Styris, after which opener Kane Williamson's quickfire half-century capped triumph with all of 16 deliveries to spare.

The Mumbai innings was littered with shoddy shot selection and outstanding lines and lengths from Southee and company, while Williamson's opening stand alongside the hard-hitting Anton Devcich ensured a prompt pursuit.

The pair added 83 runs inside the opening 10 overs, with the right-handed Williamson racing to an entertaining 53 from just 36 balls, seven fours and a solitary six included. The vigil was not enough to warrant the Man of the Match award, though.

The accolade, instead, went to Styris. The veteran right-armer's telling figures of three for 21 in four overs included the instrumental removal of the in-for Lendl Simmons, whose initial threat was eventually rendered null and void by nominal lateral movement off the seam.

"We started off the competition a bit shaky with our fielding, but we know we are a good fielding outfit and it was great to put up a good display in the last two games. It's great to go into the main draw and hope to keep the confidence going." said Williamson.

"Most teams, when they come to India they want to beat Mumbai Indians, so they bring their A game. The Knights fielded well, we could have had 150 or 160. They could have relaxed but they didn't, that's their professionalism," concluded Mumbai captain Kieron Pollard.

The result afforded the Northern Districts graduation to the tournament proper. The Lahore Lions, too, have advanced. Sri Lanka's Southern Express have been removed from contention.