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Rediff.com  » Sports » Desperate Mumbai eye victory against low-profile Guyana

Desperate Mumbai eye victory against low-profile Guyana

Source: PTI
Last updated on: September 15, 2010 17:17 IST
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Stunned by back-to-back defeats, Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians will be desperate to find winning ways when they take on a low-profile Guyana in the Champions League Group B match in Durban on Thursday.

The IPL runners-up had a forgettable start in the showpiece event, first going down to Lions by nine runs in the tournament-opener and then to South Australia, who comprehensively beat them by five wickets on Tuesday.

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The two consecutive defeats have put the Mumbai team on the brink of early elimination. They now need an inspired effort from Tendulkar and his men to bounce back.

Sachin TendulkarTheir performance has only showed a downward graph, and although Tendulkar tried his best to lead from the front, he is yet to instill confidence among his team-mates.

After a breezy 62-ball 69 in the first match, he was unable to deliver, while Mumbai's so-called strong batting order failed to provide much resistance against the South Australia attack.

Although Guyana's bowling department does not have any big names, Mumbai's batting order, including South African J P Duminy and hard-hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard, will have to show more consistency in the coming encounters.

Young batsman Sourav Tiwary cracked a brilliant 44 off 36 balls and the team will expect another good knock from the talented Jharkhand lad.

In the bowling department, Mumbai's new-ball pair of Zaheer Khan and Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga have failed to live upto expectations.

Zaheer scalped one wicket in the last match but was too expensive, while his India team-mate, seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also proved quite ineffective against South Australia.

Guyana also lost their campaign-opener to another IPL side, Royal Challengers Bangalore, by nine wickets, and will find Mumbai Indians a tough nut to crack.

Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan is the only big name in their batting line-up and they somehow managed to cross the 100-run mark against RCB's mighty bowling attack.

But Mumbai is unlikely to take the West Indian side lightly, because the players like Christopher Barnwell, who helped Guyana to cross the 100-run mark with a 54-ball 30, and Sewnarine Chattergoon are capable of changing the equation of any match just in a few overs.

Support from the lower-middle order, that includes Esuan Crandon, Jonathan Foo and Derwin Christian, will also play crucial role.

Except Crandon, no Guyana bowler could bag wicket in their last match. Mumbai's batsmen should not find it difficult to counter their bowling attack.

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