JAIPUR, Sept 28: Dwayne Smith kept the Mumbai Indians in the Champions League Twenty20 with a superb unbeaten 63 as they beat the Highveld Lions on Friday.
The West Indies batsman hit four fours and three sixes in his 47-ball stay at the crease, guiding his side to a tricky victory target of 141 with nine balls to spare at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
The win kept Mumbai’s campaign alive after they lost their opening match to Rajasthan Royals. Their second game against Otago Volts was washed out meaning that Mumbai have to win their final two games to have a chance at qualifying for the semi-finals.
Despite the early departures of Sachin Tendulkar (five) and Dinesh Karthik (13), Smith steered his side to the triumph, receiving good support from Kieron Pollard who played an unbeaten 31-run cameo which was studded with two fours and three huge sixes.
Mumbai had won the toss and asked the Lions to bat on a well-grassed pitch which offered up decent bounce and carry for the fast men.
But the Lions’ batsmen were unable to build on reasonable starts with Rassie van der Dussen (13), Quinton de Kock (19), Neil McKenzie (15) and Jean Symes (14) all reaching double figures without going on to put together a match-winning innings.
Alviro Petersen (35 not out) and Dwaine Pretorius (31 not out) finally provided the innings with some late impetus with a sixth-wicket partnership which realised 59 runs off 6.4 overs.
Australian pair Mitchell Johnson (1-33 off four overs) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (0-25 off four) impressed with the new ball while left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha ended with figures of 2-26.
Mumbai will close off their Group ‘A’ campaign on Wednesday against the Perth Scorchers in Delhi.
Summarised scores:
Mumbai Indians beat Highveld Lions by seven wickets.
HIGHVELD LIONS 140-5 in 20 overs (Alviro Petersen 35 not out, Dwaine Pretorius 31 not out; Pragyan Ojha 2-26); MUMBAI INDIANS 141-3 in 18.3 overs (Dwayne Smith 63, Kieron Pollard 31 not out, Rohit Sharma 20; Sohail Tanvir 1-15).—Agencies
