CLT20 2nd semifinal: Tendulkar stars as Mumbai Indians cruise into final

Mumbai Indians powered by a half century from Dwayne Smith (59) and a delightful knock of 35 from Sachin Tendulkar advanced to the Champions League T20 final with a convincing six-wicket win over Trinidad & Tobago at Feroze Shah Kotla ground in Delhi on Saturday.

The IPL champions won with five balls to spare and will meet another IPL side Rajasthan Royals in the title clash at the same venue on Sunday.

Chasing a competitive target of 154 in the second semifinal, Mumbai openers Smith and Tendulkar gave them a flying start posting 90 in 11 overs.

Tendulkar returned to form stroking two sixes and two boundaries in his 31-ball 35 reaching a landmark 50,000 runs in all recognised form of cricket in the process.

But his dismissal triggered a collapse as Mumbai lost three wickets within the space of six runs in two overs.

After Tendulkar departed caught behind off Simmons, Narine struck twicket in one over with Rayudu going for a duck while Smith was bowled by a beauty.

Smith struck seven boundaries and two sixes in his 38-ball 59.

Skipper Sharma hit a breezy 25 off 22 balls with two sixes and one boundary before being undone by another superb delivery from Narine who claimed three for 17.

But any hopes Trinidad had of pulling off a remarkable win were dashed by Karthik who saw Mumbai home smashing three boundaries and two sixes, including the winning hit, during his 22-ball 25.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians restricted Trinidad & Tobago to 153-3 after putting them into bat despite a blistering half century from Evin Lewis (62).

Despite losing Simmons for a duck, Lewis flayed the Mumbai attack smashing four sixes and six boundaries during his 46-ball 62.

Mumbai put a skid on the run-scoring in the middle overs but Ottley hit an unbeaten 30-ball 41 with two boundaries and two sixes to lift Trinidad.

Coulter-Nile was the pick of the bowlers returning figures of 4-0-20-1 while Pollard and Ojha also tightened the screws on Trinidad.

MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS

Karthik caresses the first ball of the last over from Simmons over long on for a six as Mumbai win the second semifinal over Trinidad & Tobago in style by six wickets.

Karthik smashes Rampaul over midwicket for a six followed by an edge past the keeper to the fence. MI 151-4 in 19 overs.

Narine finishes with figures of 4-0-17-3 as Mumbai need 14 from 12 balls. MI 140-4 in 18 overs.

Narine takes his third wicket bowling Sharma through the game to give another twist to the semifinal. MI 138-4.

Rohit Sharma b Narine 25 (22b 1x4 2x6)

Mumbai need just 17 from the last three overs.

Sharma attacks Stewart pulling him for a six over midwicket to put Mumbai on course. MI 137-3 in 17 overs.

Mumbai need 35 off 30 balls. MI 119-3 in 15 overs.

Mumbai are doing it easily with skipper Sharma dancing down the track and lofting Ottley for a straight six finishing the over with a boundary. MI 115-3 in 14 overs.

Karthik punches Badree through extra cover to bring up the 100 of the innings in the 13th over.

Narine has struck twice in one over bowling the dangerous Smith to bring Trinidad back into the game. MI 96-3 in 12 overs.

Dwayne Smith b Narine 59 (38b 7x4 2x6)

Double blow for Mumbai as Rayudu is out for first ball caught behind off Narine. MI 91-2.

Ambati Rayudu c Ramdin b Narine 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Trinidad get a breakthrough as Tendulkar edges Simmons behind. MI 90-1 in 11 overs.

Sachin Tendulkar c Ramdin b Simmons 35 (31b 2x4 2x6)

Smith completes his half century in style off just 33 balls by swatting Simmons for a straight six.

Smith cuts Stewart with superb timing to the point boundary as Mumbai reach 79 without loss at the half way stage.

Tendulkar celebrates his landmark with a delicate late cut to the fence off Simmons. MI 72-0 in 9 overs.

Smith dismisses the first ball from Simmons to the midwicket fence as Mumbai are cruising along merrily.

Tendulkar scores 50,000 runs in all forms of cricket with a single when he moves to 26.

Narine into the attack now.

Tendulkar has the crowd on its feet hoisting consecutive sixes off Ottley over mid wicket and extra cover. MI 49-0 in 6 overs.

Smith gets a boundary off an inside edge. MI 33-0 in 5 overs.

Tendulkar gets his first boundary driving Rampaul straight down the ground. MI 26-0 in 4 overs.

Smith is turning it on slamming Badree over long off for the first six of the innings. MI 21-0 in 3 overs.

Smith hits the first boundary of the innings lofting Rampaul to the long off fence followed by another through the covers. MI 14-0 in 2 overs.

Blow for Trinidad as Emrit appears to have hurt his arm attempting to stop a boundary.

Badree opens the attack as Smith and Tendulkar take strike.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO INNINGS

Coulter-Nile bowls a good last over as Trinidad & Tobago finish with 153-5 in 20 overs.

Coulter-Nile picks up the wicket of Pooran who holes out to Rayudu. T&T 148-5.

Nicolas Pooran c Rayudu b Coulter-Nile 15 (14b 0x4 1x6)

Big over for Trinidad as Ottley smashes his second six hoisting Dhawan into the sightscreen followed by a streaky boundary. T&T 147-4 in 19 overs.

Pooran sends Coulter-Nile sailing over long on for a massive six. T&T 131-4 in 18 overs.

Ottley manages to get a boundary off Pollard as Trinidad look to end with a flourish. T&T 122-4 in 17 overs.

Johnson knocks back the off stump of Ramdin after having smashed through point for a boundary when he returned to the attack. T&T 111-4.

Denesh Ramdin b Johnson 9 (8b 1x4 0x6)

Pollard returns to take the big wicket of Lewis chipping a return catch. T&T 93-3.

Evin Lewis c & b Pollard 62 (46b 6x4 4x6)

Ottley gets into the act smashing Dhawan down the ground for a six. T&T 93-2 in 13 overs.

Lewis smashes his fourth six sweeping Ojha over square leg. T&T 82-2 in 11 overs.

Lewis brings up his half century with a boundary off Harbhajan. T&T 73-2 in 10 overs.

Ojha strikes with his first ball with Karthik effecting a brilliant leg side stumping to dismiss Bravo. T&T 61-2.

Darren Bravo st Karthik b Ojha 14 (16b 1x4 1x6)

Lewis smashes a couple of sixes off Harbhajan. T&T 61-1 in 8 overs.

Coulter-Nile and Pollard keep it tight. T&T 47-1 in 7 overs.

Positive start by Trinidad despite the early loss of Simmons. T&T 45-1 in 6 overs.

Lewis cannot be contained slamming the last ball from Dhawan's over back past the bowler. T&T 42-1 in 5 overs.

Bravo opens his account by driving Harbhajan through the covers for a boundary and then hoists him for a massive straight six. T&T 36-1 in 4 overs.

Lewis continues to attack slashing Johnson twice over the infield to the extra cover boundary. T&T 26-1 in 3 overs.

Harbhajan strikes with his third delivery as Simmons goes for a duck with Smith taking a superb catch on the midwicket fence. T&T 13-1.

Lendl Simmons c Smith b Harbhajan Singh 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Harbhajan has been the handed the new ball from the other end.

Lewis makes his intentions clear cracking Johnson over third man for the 200th six of the tournament. T&T 12-0 in 1 over.

Lewis hits the first boundary opening the face of the bat to edge Johnson past slip.

Johnson opens the attack with Simmons and Lewis out in the middle.

Mumbai Indians have won the toss and opted bowl first against Trinidad & Tobago.

T&T are unchanged while Mitchel Johnson replaces Glenn Maxwell for MI.

PLAYING XI

Trinidad & Tobago: Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, Yannick Ottley, Denesh Ramdin (captain), Nicolas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Rayad Emrit, Navin Stewart, Samuel Badree, Ravi Rampaul

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar, Dwayne Smith, Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Harbhajan Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Pragyan Ojha

A place in the Champions League T20 2013 final will be at stake when IPL champions Mumbai Indians face Trinidad & Tobago at Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium, Delhi in Saturday's second semifinal.

The winner of this match will square off against the Rajasthan Royals in the grand Final on October 6.

Mumbai Indians barely made it to the last four after losing to the Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural match of the competition and rain washed away their match against the Otago Volts.

A superlative performance from skipper Rohit Sharma in their final Group match against the Perth Scorchers secured them a place in the semifinals.

Trinidad & Tobago have looked good in spells have a mixed performance  being rescued by rain against the Titans before grabbing a berth in the semifinals topping Group B after defeating Chennai Super Kings.

Mumbai Indians will begin as favourites and have a formidable batting line-up on paper although Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik have yet to fire.

They also have West Indies Dwayne Smith and Kieron Pollard who can tear any bowling apart.

Nathan Coulter-Nile has made up for the absence of Lasith Malinga though Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha could hold the key on the slow Kotla surface.

For Trinidad & Tobago, Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis have given them quick starts.

Spinners Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine along with Ravi Rampaul and Rayad Emrit could cause the damage with the ball.