Highveld Lions seamer Chris Morris (R) celebrates a wicket
Neil McKenzie and Quinton de Kock hit blistering unbeaten half-centuries to help Highveld Lions script a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians in their Champions League (CLT20) opener at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on Sunday.
McKenzie (68* off 41) and de Kock (51* off 33), recovering their side from early stagger, shared an unbeaten 121-run third-wicket stand as Highveld Lions overhauled the 158-run target with seven balls to spare.
“We are very happy. I thought the first 5-6 overs they dominated, but then (Aaron) Phangiso brought us back in it. We had our plans, and we just wanted to execute, we did it today, Lions skipper Highveld Lions said.
With 52 needed off 30 balls, the matters were in Mumbai’s control but the 16th and 17th, over proved the turning point of game in which Highveld Lions plundered 33 runs.
Dhawal Kulkarni leaked 17 runs in the 16th over while skipper Harbhajan Singh was smashed for 16 runs in the subsequent over.
Highveld Lions’ chase began on a miserable note as their openers Gulam Bodi (19) and Petersen (14) were departed with sluggish 37 runs on board but former South Africa international McKenzie and 19-year-old de Kock took the complete charge and dominated over Mumbai bowlers with blistering shots all over the ground.
McKenzie’s vigil was studded with 12 boundaries while de Kock hit eight boundaries and two sixes.
Earlier, put to bat, Mumbai rode on the cameos from Mitchell Johnson (30 off 29), Rohit Sharma (27 off 27) and Dwayne Smith (26 off 19) to post a convincing total of 157-6.
Sachin Tendulkar’s poor-run in game not came to an end could manage to score 16 off 24 balls before being bowled out off spinner Aaron Phangiso.
Paceman Sohail Tavir dealt Mumbai a double blow by removing Kieron Pollard (11) and Johnson in successive overs.
