IPL 6: KKR vs MI – Heroes of the Match

The Mumbai Indians pipped the reigning champions, condemning the home side to their fifth loss in seven games, while keeping themselves within touching distance of the top half of the table. Played in front of an all-appreciative Eden Gardens crowd, the result of the match was as big a mystery as Narine’s bowling till the very end, and kept everyone at the edge of their seats. Here are those who gave the fans the most to cheer about.

Lasith Malinga – Keep those slingas coming

Key stats: Bowling figures – 4 – 0 – 25 – 2

Love him or hate him, you just can’t ignore him. While he may not have racked up the wickets as quickly as one might expect this season, his economy rate is among the best in the tournament, just as it has been over the years. Tonight was no different, as Malinga held his own when Gambhir was going after the MI attack, and in spite of a couple of loose ones to Kallis, returned figures of just over a run a ball. What was really special was the last over of the first innings that was bowled by him, in which two batsmen were castled, and only 3 runs conceded. In a game of tight margins, made quite a big difference.

Pragyan Ojha – Smarter than your average bowler

Key stats: Bowling figures - 4.0 – 0 – 21 – 2

With Harbhajan Singh having been smashed out of the park on a pitch which supposedly helps the spinners, there were many who were doubting the ability of Ojha to deliver the goods. Deliver he did, of course, with much better decision making than his counterpart, and the right deliveries dragged down while others were flighted up. The two wickets he picked up were the crucial ones of Kallis and Gambhir as well, making his bowling figures even more impressive.

Sunil Narine – Somebody stop him!

Key stats: Bowling figures - 4.0 – 0 – 17 – 3

The unreadable bowler from Trinidad and Tobago reclaimed the Purple cap for himself with a three-wicket haul tonight, which included that of birthday boy, Sachin Tendulkar. His other two wickets were of no less importance either as he got rid of fellow West Indian, Dwayne Smith, who was looking dangerous, before taking a simple catch off his own bowling to see the back of in-form Rohit Sharma. Will they never figure him out?

Dwayne Smith - Take them as they come

Key stats: Batting figures - 62 off 45 (3 fours, 5 sixes)

For someone who looked entirely clueless for the first 19 deliveries he faced, Dwayne Smith did really well to repay his side for sending him out to open the innings. More sixes than fours hit by the man indicate his power for those who missed watching him muscle the not inconsiderable Kolkata attack over the boundary. Did justice to the role allotted to him by keeping MI within reach of the required rate, allowing them to clinch it in the last over.

Sachin Tendulkar – There will never be another

Simply for being born on the 24th of April, 40 years ago. The rest, as they say, is history.