Mumbai Indians’ title defence at the Champions League T20 started off at a bitter note as they were handed a comprehensive defeat by the local favorites Highveld Lions in their lung opener at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians, who started as a clear favorite in the match, were no match for the South African team and batting first could score only 157 for the loss of six wickets.

In reply, the Lions reached the target with seven balls to spare, losing only two wickets.

This is the second time that Mumbai lost to Lions, first time being in the second edition of the tournament back in 2008.

Let us now take a look at some of the performance that mattered in the match:

Highveld Lions:

Hits:

Quinton de Cock: The 19 year old Cock was brilliant in the match. Playing against the heavyweights of the game, he never looked intimidated and took the attack to the bowlers. He scored 51 off 33 deliveries including five fours and two sixes and showed signs that he is ready for the South Africa senior team.

Neil McKenzie: The seasoned South African veteran took the match by the scruff of its neck. He was cautious initially in his innings and allowed the young Cock to take the lead but once he set himself in, he just launched an onslaught. He got his runs at fluent pace and scored 68 off 41 deliveries laced with 12 boundaries.

Dirk Nannes: He was the most economical bowler of the match. He bowled with great discipline and was on the money throughout the innings. He hardly bowled any loose deliveries and even though he could manage to take only one wicket in the match, he gave away just 15 runs in four overs.

Flops:

Chris Morris: Morris was taken to the cleaners by the Mumbai batters. When all the other bowlers were successfully able to keep down the scoring rate, he was busy leaking runs. He gave away 44 runs in his quota of four overs.
 

Mumbai Indians:

Hits:

Dinesh Karthik:  The way Mumbai Indians were batting they never looked like that they would go past 140, but it was Karthik’s cameo down the order helped them past the 150 runs marks. He scored 19 off nine deliveries and hit two fours and a six.

Dwayne Smith: Dwayne Smith opened the innings for Mumbai Indians and got the team off to a good start. He scored 26 off 19 deliveries including six fours. He was looking in good touch but his innings was cut short after he was caught plumb in front of the wicket.

Flops:

Sachin Tendulkar: Sachin Tendulkar never looked comfortable against the Lions’ bowlers and his innings missed the elegance and authority. He struggled throughout the innings and could manage only 16 runs off 24 deliveries.

Dhawal Kulkarni: It was Dhawal Kulkarni’s over that shifted the momentum in Lion’s favor. Bowling the 16th over of the match, he bowled too many loose deliveries for the captain’s liking and gave 17 runs in the over. He conceded 37 runs in three that he bowled.

By Indian Sports News Network