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Redbacks too good for Mumbai
Openers Michael Klinger and Daniel Harris scripted a dramatic run-chase as South Australia beat fancied Mumbai Indians by five wickets in a thrilling Champions League Twenty20 match in Durban on Tuesday night.
Skipper Klinger (50) and Harris (56) shared an 81-ball 112-run opening partnership that set the foundation for the successful chase, the Aussies getting to the target with three balls to spare.
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The victory took them closer to a berth in the semi-finals.
Mumbai got off to a disastrous start
Mumbai Indians recovered from a shaky start to post a challenging 180 for 7, courtesy a solid batting display by Saurabh Tiwary (44), Ambati Rayudu (38) and Kieron Pollard (36).
Electing to bat, they had a disastrous start, losing opener Shikar Dhawan (2) in the second over, with the scoreboard reading just 3.
Sachin Tendulkar (20) tried to break free and clobbered a six and a couple of fours to accumulate 14 runs off Daniel Christian's first over to take Mumbai to 31 for one in 5 overs.
But left-arm spinner Aaron O'Brien dismissed Tendulkar with the last ball of the next over to leave Mumbai tottering at 35 for two.
Trying to accelerate, Tendulkar stepped out of his crease and swung hard, only to see his stumps all over the surface.
Pollard, Tiwary to Mumbai's rescue
Ambati Rayudu (38) then started Mumbai's revival. He and Saurabh Tiwary kept took singles initially before opening up.
After three silent overs, Rayudu smashed a four bisecting the deep square leg and deep midwicket and followed it up with a six over deep extra cover to pick up 12 runs off O'Brien's over.
But the wicketkeeper-batsman couldn't stay long, as Cullen Bailey sent him packing, Daniel Harris pulling off a brilliant catch to reduce Mumbai to 73 for four in 12.1 overs.
Tiwary and Kieron Pollard were then involved in a handy partnership, before Shaun Tait provided the breakthrough, sending the Jharkhand youngster back to the pavilion after a well-made 44.
Pollard and Dwayne Bravo then carried the innings forward, adding 33 runs off 18 balls, as Mumbai crossed the 150-mark, before being dismissed in the 20th over.
Redbacks were off to flying start
Chasing 181 to win, South Australian Redbacks began cautiously before unleashing against the quickies.
Opener Harris was dropped twice -- at seven by Sachin Tendulkar and 18 by Tiwary. He and Klinger put on a century stand for the opening wicket.
But Murtaza brought Mumbai Indians back into the game, getting rid off Harris, who finally holed out to Duminy at extra cover.
An over later, Lasith Malinga dismissed the other opener, Klinger, who had just reached his fifty.
Murtaza struck again in the next over, dismissing Graham Manou (12), who found Tiwary at deep backward square leg.
Borgas, Cooper held nerve to finish the game
Needing 41 runs from 18 balls, Christian picked a boundary between long-on and deep midwicket, while new-man Cameron Borgas clubbed two more fours, as Bravo went for 16 runs.
Zaheer Khan then dismissed Christian in the next over but Borgas blasted a four and a six to amass 14 runs to keep the Aussies in the hunt.
Needing 11 off the last over, Tom Cooper smashed a huge six and a four off Harbhajan Singh as South Australia scored 182 in 19.3 overs to complete a deserving win at Kingsmead.