18 April,2009 09:56 PM IST | | PTI
Cape Town, Apr 18 (PTI) Sachin Tendulkar led from the front as Mumbai Indians launched their campaign in the second edition of the Indian Premier League with a stunning 19-run victory over last year's runners-up Chennai Super Kings here today.
The Mumbai Indians first rattled up a competitive 166 for seven riding on Tendulkar's masterly unbeaten 59 and quickfire 35 by Abhishek Nayar and then stopped Chennai Super Kings at 146 for seven in a tight game at the Newlands stadium.
It was a commendable display by the Mumbai outfit who outplayed their fancied opponents in all departments of the game to gain two points and start their campaign in a resounding fashion.
Tendulkar played a pivotal role by anchoring the innings with a crafty unbeaten 59 but it was young Abhishek Nayar who provided the impetus late in the innings with a 14-ball 35 which took Mumbai to a decent total on what appeared to be a rather spongy track.
The experienced Sanath Jayasuriya was the other notable performer for Mumbai Indians with a 20-ball 26 while Shikar Dhawan chipped in with 22.
Chennai never really recovered from a disastrous start and although Matthew Hayden (44), captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (36) and Andrew Flintoff (24) got decent scores it was not enough to overhaul the Mumbai target. PTI
