23 RUNS

Sachin Tendulkar got out on 23 while playing for Mumbai Indians in their first IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Mumbai Indians were chasing a target of 157 runs and Tendulkar came to open the innings as usual. However, his opening partner in this match was a new one. He came to open with Ricky Ponting.

Both these legends started steadily. As the target was not a huge one, they took a few deliveries to assess how the pitch was playing. After the third over mark, they started going for the big shots.

Ponting was the one who started taking risks first. He came down the track against Dan Christian and hit him for a flat six over midwicket.

Tendulkar was quiet until the spinners came into attack. As soon as Muttiah Muralitharan was given the ball, Tendulkar changed gears. He welcomed Murali with a couple of lofted shots, one over bowler’s head and one over midwicket.

In the next over, it was Vinay Kumar’s turn. He bowled a back of a length ball and Tendulkar made room and lofted it over mid off for a four.

The master blaster had got set and he was threatening to take the game away from the home side. But, he got out in an unfortunate way.

He played a delivery towards short fine leg. The ball went straight to the fielder and there was no run there. But, Tendulkar tried to take a quick single. Ponting said ‘no’ loudly and sent Tendulkar back. But, Tendulkar had come too far out of his crease. He tried to go back, but, the throw was very good. The wicket keeper gathered it and took off the bails in a hurry.

It was a close call and the TV umpire saw it from different frames. He took a long time and then, finally gave his decision in the favour of the bowling team.

Mumbai Indians eventually got defeated by 2 runs in the match.