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Mumbai: Mumbai Indian’s captain Harbhajan Singh feels that getting Owais Shah’s wicket was the key in his side’s 27-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League match on Wednesday.
“Full credit to Owais Shah. If he had batted for another two or three overs, Rajasthan would have won the match within 19 overs. I think getting Owais’s wicket was the key.
“Malinga has won several matches for us in the past… Today, he was at it again and changed the course of the game,” he said.
The following are excerpts
Harbhajan Singh: At that point in time when Mumbai Indians were 134 for four in 14 overs, the match could have gone the either way. Full credit to Owais Shah.
If he had batted for another two or three overs, Rajasthan would have won the match within 19 overs. I think getting Owais’s wicket was the key. Malinga is one of those bowlers who can turn a match on its head.
He has won several matches for us in the past and you always expect him to take wickets whenever he is bowling. Today, he was at it again and changed the course of the game.
Rahul Dravid: I thought we were in with a chance with the way Owais Shah was batting… He was terrific today and batting really well. We knew that we have to go on till the end. But then Malinga came in and bowled a brilliant over. He took two wickets… I think that over was the key and made all the difference in the end.
Though we lost today, we took home plenty of positives. We have a young bowling attack… a little bit of inexperience there. Today, we were under the pump a little bit. When a player of Pollard’s class gets going, there is little a bowler can do. Our bowlers panicked a little bit. But that’s how you learn. I think the boys will take the positives from this encounter and hopefully they will improve in the coming matches.
Kieron Pollard: The team needed that impetus. At that juncture, the team needed someone in the middle, who can play a good innings. Rajasthan Royals played really well… They played excellent cricket. They never seemed to be under the pressure. Owais was going really well and hitting boundaries every now and then.
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