Mumbai rides on luck !

Chahal hit the last ball for two runs and Mumbai had won a thriller. The bungling Trinidad and Tobago could not pull off a win, despite being in the driver's seat, when MI were 33/5......

Malinga and Bajji were responsible for skittling out T & T for a paltry 98. Bajji took three and Malinga two. Then when MI started, they had to face the fiery Rampaul, who succeeded in toppling their top order and MI were in the doldrums at 33/5. Then Ambati Rayudu took over, scoring a patient 36 and becoming the sheet anchor of the versatile Mumbai Indians !

In a low scoring match, in which neither team scored more than 100, in a match of fluctuating fortunes, MI emerged winner due to keeping their nerves. This is a second display of keeping nerves for MI. Rayudu and Malinga led the fightback. Malinga scored 15 and is now making his mark as a batsman in T20 !

Eleven runs were required in the final over, when Malinga swung Ganga for a six. Pressure got on to both Malinga and Rayudu and both were run out. Then Yuvzendra Chahal came to the rescue and hit two runs off the last ball and MI had done the impossible !

The last ball scenario was great. Darren Ganga pushed the field back and Sherwin Ganga sent down a full toss on Chahal's pads. Chahal nudged it to midwicket. He charged back for the second, the throw from the fielder was not accurate enough and Ramadin underarmed the ball, only to miss the stumps to the delight of the crowd, who obviously were pro MI !

T & T chose to give the single and tie the match, unaware of the fact that they have to face the formidable Slinga Malinga in the Super Over, if they had tied the match.

Warriors win easily

Jon Jon Smuts smashed a magnificent 88, Ingram 30 and Boucher 34 and Warriors posted 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs. South Australian Redbacks could only muster 121/6 and Warriors won with ease.

It was a great display of batting from Smuts, as he thrashed the Redback bowlers to all parts of the field. In restricting the Redbacks, the bowlers involved were Tsotsobe ( 2 wickets ) Theron ( 1 wicket ), Botha (1) and Parnell(1).

Smuts was involved in a 80 run partnership with Boucher ( 34 off 26).

Redbacks could not give a fitting reply, with only Klinger (34) offering some resistance. SA lost wickets quite regularly and this prevented their surge. They can hope for better luck next time.

Somerset register emphatic win

Despite the heroics of Pathan and the technical brilliance of Kallis, Kolkotta could not register a win. The slow and low track was mastered by an unknown batsman, Roelof van der Merwe, who smashed 73 off 40 balls to set a great Somerset victory.

78 runs were plundered in the last 6 overs by Pathan & Co and KKR finished at 161/3.

Chasing a competitive 162 runs to win, Somerset lost their first wicket for just 15 runs, but Roelof took the attack to the bowlers by a blistering 73, studded with two sixes and nine fours. Off just 25 balls he reached his fifty, which proved to be the third fastest fifty in the Championship League. He was supported by Trego ( 28 off 35 ) and the two were involved in a century partnership.

But their run chase hit a big block, as Somerset lost both van der Merwe and Trego. Hildreth and Suppiah followed in quick succession. Shakib al Hasan ran out Trego and then took a catch to send off van der Merwe. But Nick Compton and Steve Snell held their nerves to register a great victory.

Earlier Jacques Kallis was on the rampage, with a devastating 74 off 61 balls, pulverising the Somerset attack. Adding fuel to the fire was Yousuf Pathan, who scored a brilliant 39 not out. Kallis hit four sixes and four fours and Pathan followed suit with 4 sixes. 161/3 was not at all a bad score, but Somerset proved to be too smart for that.

Cobras prevail

New South Wales could only put up a modest performace. The 130 odd which they posted were overrun by a ravaging Gibbs and Levi. These openers put on 88 for the first wicket and Cape Cobras won easily.

The issue was never in doubt, as NSW folded up for 130 odd. Watson( 34 off 29 ) and Warner ( 20 off 30 ) were crusing merrily when Langveld dimissed both of them. Daniel Smith ( 24 off 16 ) kept the scoreboard moving but Phlander removed him. Great expectations were on Simon Katich but he failed to deliver, falling a prey to Kemp. Steven Smith ( 16 ) and Henriques ( 18) then took NSW to a respectable score.

Gibbs started slowly, scoring just 1 run off 11 deliveries. Then he accelerated, blasting five fours and two sixes in a brilliant display of batting. His 55 off 47 balls was his 19th T20 fifty. He fell when just 24 runs were needed for victory. Levi scored 43 off 27 balls, before holing out to Warner. When Owais Shah ( 3) left, Cobras were 112/3, but then Duminy ( 14 not out ) and Ontong ( 11 not out ) knocked off the remaining runs with ease.

Earlier Warner and Watson got off to a blistering start, putting on 41 in just 30 balls. But then NSW lost their way, as they lost their top three batsmen quickly.

Malinga's new Avatar

Malinga played the best innings of his career, as he lambasted the Chennai bowlers to all parts of the field. With Bajji, he was involved in an unconquered 53 run partnership, which brought home the bacon for Mumbai Indians.

Eleven runs were needed in the ultimate over and Malinga hit the second delivery for four. Off the next ball he took a single and Bajji swung for another four. Bajji then hit the winning run by nudging a single on the leg side.

Off 18 balls, Malinga blasted 37 runs and Bajji 19 off 20 balls. For Chennai Bravo, Ashwin & Raina took two wickets each.

Chasing a modest 159 run target, Mumbai were in the doldrums at one stage at 106/7, before this partnership turned defeat into victory !

Bizzard (28) and Jacobs (18) gave MI a good start, but then MI had lost half the side in the first ten overs for 63!. Earlier Mike Hussey was at his best, as he cracked a belligerent 81 off 57 balls to help Chennai post a competitive 158/4. Three sixes and eight fours flowed off his bat but he could not get support from other players. Raina ( 18 off 17) and Badrinath ( 16 off 21) fell cheaply at the other end.

Lasith "formdiable" Malinga had done the impossible. He had proved Napolean's dictum " The word impossible occurs only in the dictionary of fools".

Malinga's new Avatar

Malinga played the best innings of his career, as he lambasted the Chennai bowlers to all parts of the field. With Bajji, he was involved in an unconquered 53 run partnership, which brought home the bacon for Mumbai Indians.

Eleven runs were needed in the ultimate over and Malinga hit the second delivery for four. Off the next ball he took a single and Bajji swung for another four. Bajji then hit the winning run by nudging a single on the leg side.

Off 18 balls, Malinga blasted 37 runs and Bajji 19 off 20 balls. For Chennai Bravo, Ashwin & Raina took two wickets each.

Chasing a modest 159 run target, Mumbai were in the doldrums at one stage at 106/7, before this partnership turned defeat into victory !

Bizzard (28) and Jacobs (18) gave MI a good start, but then MI had lost half the side in the first ten overs for 63!. Earlier Mike Hussey was at his best, as he cracked a belligerent 81 off 57 balls to help Chennai post a competitive 158/4. Three sixes and eight fours flowed off his bat but he could not get support from other players. Raina ( 18 off 17) and Badrinath ( 16 off 21) fell cheaply at the other end.

Lasith "formdiable" Malinga had done the impossible. He had proved Napolean's dictum " The word impossible occurs only in the dictionary of fools".

Ginger Curry, part of spicy Kerala cuisine

These are two dishes which I like. Inchi Thair, ginger in curd, is a great dish. So is Ginger curry.

Ginger has the ability to digest food fast and is used in all dishes. The Indian cuisine is modelled after Ayurveda, with herbs and spices in almost all dishes.

Ginger has the ability to reduce pain from arthritis, reduces cholesterol and is good in treating hypertension and heart disease. It is also useful in treating Anxiety Neurosis.