Raipur: Mumbai Indians fought valiantly but were unable to stop the Lahore Lions from chasing down the 136-run victory target in their first CLT20 qualifier in Raipur on Saturday, September 13th.

After being put in to bat first, Mumbai Indians could score 135 for 7 against some accurate pace bowling from the Lions. But despite a 50-run opening stand, Lions were made to struggle right till the end by the Mumbai Indians bowlers, and it was only Umar Akmal’s brilliance that stopped Mumbai Indians from pulling off a sensational win.

Ahmed Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed gave the Pakistan domestic champions a terrific start, adding 51 runs from 7.5 overs for the first wicket. Mumbai Indians’ skipper Kieron Pollard responded by employing spin from both ends. And the move did the job as Ojha forced Shehzad into playing a false shot. The right-handed opener was caught at long on, by Pollard. Harbhajan Singh then removed Jamshed, while Ojha soon got rid of Saad Nasim. Between them, Ojha and Harbhajan had bowled seven overs and got three wickets for 34 runs at this stage. The spin duo brought Mumbai Indians right back into the game. It was an outstanding effort in tough conditions, with ball getting wet in the outfield, making it difficult to grip. Ojha finished the four-over spell with the impressive figures of 2-18.

The pressure was on Lions now, as the required run-rate started going past 10 runs an over. Umar Akmal went after Pollard, taking 13 runs off his only over, which was the innings’ 16th.

With 26 needed from the last three overs, two of which would have been bowled by Malinga, Mumbai Indians were still very much in the game. But a flicked four by Asif Raza and a six from Akmal off Malinga brought the equation down to less than a run a ball. Akmal then struck Jasprit Bumrah for two fours and a six to seal the Lions’ victory with eight balls to spare. Akmal finished unbeaten on 38 from 18 balls.

The loss means Mumbai Indians need to win both their remaining games to qualify for the CLT20 2014.

Mumbai Indians could reach 135 due to some solid batting from Aditya Tare and some useful contributions towards the end from Harbhajan and Praveen Kumar. Pollard’s boys were not allowed to make good use of the Power-play overs by Asif Raza and Aizaz Chima. The duo made good use of the new ball and bowled accurately to build some pressure on Mumbai Indians’ openers Michael Hussey and Lendl Simmons.

The pressure got to Simmons eventually, as he gave Chima the charge but didn’t middle it, giving a low catch to mid-off. Chima removed Jalaj Saxena in the very next ball, while next man in, Ambati Rayudu did not last too long either. Mumbai Indians were reduced to 23 for 3 in 4.3 overs, and needed a partnership desperately.

Michael Hussey kept the scoreboard moving at one end, scoring 28 off 26 deliveries. The Australian found a good partner in Tare, as the duo added 44 runs for the fourth wicket in 53 balls. It was not brisk, but it was solid without a doubt. Tare’s 37 came from 36 balls and included two sixes and two fours.

Left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz removed both the set batsmen to peg Mumbai Indians back. Skipper Pollard was dismissed for six, and Mumbai Indians found themselves in a spot of bother. Harbhajan and Kumar struck four fours and two sixes between them to give Mumbai Indians a fighting score. Harbhajan’s 18 came from 10 balls, while Kumar needed 14 balls for his 20.