Periodically it happens to us all. Whatever we do, however well-intentioned, disaster lurks at every turn. We write it off as a bad day at the office, wishing we had never got out of bed in the first place.
At least nobody paid to watch our humiliation.
Not so for professional cricketers. A packed stadium and millions of viewers gathered to watch the marquee matchup of the weekend in the Indian Premier League. TV executives, corporate sponsors and fans around the world licked their lips in anticipation.
When the Mumbai Indians face the Chennai Super Kings there is an all-star feel about it. The presence of players such as Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni, Lasith Malinga and Mike Hussey lends true authenticity to a rivalry which grows more intense with every passing year.
Mumbai has never won the IPL. The Indians have come close on several occasions but never managed to cross the finish line in first place. This year’s brainwave, to import Australian legend Ricky Ponting, backfired spectacularly, but Mumbai has enough in reserve to at least qualify for the fast approaching playoffs.
The Indians have another trick up their sleeve. Despite Chennai’s superiority in the IPL, the Lions have never won a game in Mumbai. For some inexplicable reason, the fog descends and the Super Kings cannot see their way to victory at the Wankhede Stadium.
Surely this was the moment. After seven straight wins and a healthy lead at the top of the standings, here was Chennai’s chance to finally redress the balance and put Mumbai in its place.
It began promisingly. Chennai restricted Mumbai to less than seven an over and a target of 140 was well within reach. None of their previous five totals had dipped below 160 so the Super Kings were perfectly positioned for another comfortable victory.
What followed was barely believable. The writing was on the wall earlier than we expected. Mike Hussey – Mr. Cricket himself – was dropped three times in the very first over. The unlucky bowler, Mitchell Johnson would have his revenge – removing three of the top four Chennai batters for a combined total of just two.
While Hussey and Dhoni were in the middle, the Lions had time and talent to recover. But the epidemic of poor stroke choices affected everyone and once they were gone with barely 50 on the board it was merely a matter of time.
The wreckage of a reply, and it could have been worse save a last wicket partnership of 25, finally came to a pathetic halt at 79 all out – the worst team total in this season’s tournament and Chennai’s lowest ever score in IPL history.
There are no extra points for humiliating the opposition of course. From a psychological standpoint it could have a bearing should Mumbai and Chennai come face to face in the playoffs. The Lions have proved they are the strongest team in the competition but the Indians know they are beatable on any given Sunday.
Elsewhere, the Rajasthan Royals continue to impress. A veteran and a kid combined to see off the Pune Warriors. The 40-year-old Rahul Dravid hammered another half century in the winning cause, while 18-year-old rookie Sanju Samson kept his nerve at the death stroking his first ball to the boundary with an elegant cover drive. Dravid, himself, would have been impressed by the youngster’s raw talent.
Chris Gayle remains every bowler’s worst nightmare. Another quick fire 50 from the Jamaican superstar laid the foundation for a big total against the King’s Xl Punjab. For once it was not enough. South African David Miller smashed an unbeaten century off just 38 balls to see the home team triumph in Mohali.