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Jayasuriya dazzles

Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar kept Sanath Jayasuriya away from bowling duties.

And the hungry Sri Lankan feasted on the Chennai Super Kings bowlers, lashing 11 sixes in an awesome display of crisp, clean hitting as Mumbai Indians cruised to a nine-wicket victory in the DLF-Indian Premier League at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.

Jayasuriya’s unbeaten 114 came off just 48 deliveries and he hit nine boundaries apart from the 11 sixes. Mumbai Indians, chasing 157 for victory, reached 158 for one in the 14th over in a one-sided encounter.

Alarming regularity

Walking out to bat with Tendulkar — a sight straight out of fantasy — the Lankan played out the fantasy part by picking the line early against Manpreet Goni and Albie Morkel, clearing the ropes with alarming regularity.

Jayasuriya began the assault with a flicked six to mid-wicket and then stepped out to scoop the ball in the same region.

Jayasuriya’s bat-speed and timing were so good that he had to just connect the ball to send it soaring into the stands.

Tendulkar rotated the strike, scampered across to admire the ‘sixes shower’ from the non-striker’s end. Joginder Sharma broke the reverie by castling Tendulkar but by then the damage had been done.

Mumbai Indians was so far ahead that even Muttiah Muralitharan was no cause for fear.

The scores: Chennai Super Kings: 156 for six in 20 overs.

Mumbai Indians: S. Jayasuriya (not out) 114, S. Tendulkar b Joginder 12, R. Uthappa (not out) 16; Extras (lb-4, w-12): 16; Total (for one wkt. in 13.5 overs): 158.

Fall of wicket: 1-82.

Chennai Super Kings bowling: Goni 3-0-31-0, Morkel 3-0-44-0, Balaji 2-0-9-0, Joginder 3-0-24-1, Muralitharan 2-0-20-0, Kapugedera 0.5-0-26-0.

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