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Mumbai win by four wickets
Mumbai Indians registered a tense four-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders to advance to the second qualifier of the Indian Premier League in Mumbai on Wednesday, where they will play Royal Challengers Bangalore for a place in the final.
Mumbai overcame a few hiccups to chase down the 148-run target with four deliveries to spare.
Electing to bowl first, Mumbai's bowlers gave their team the early advantage by claiming a few early wickets.
Kolkata went into the match with a new opening pair -- that of Jacques Kallis (7) and Gautam Gambhir, but the duo failed to give the start that the visitors were looking for.
Kallis made his intentions clear when he hit a boundary off Munaf Patel in the second over. However, the bowler had his revenge, the South African failing to clear Sachin Tendulkar at long-off.
Gambhir too came a cropped at the other as he was castled by Harbhajan Singh for just four.
Seevats Goswami too was back in the hut after scoring just three, while the in-form Manoj Tiwary (4) was trapped leg before wicket by Dhawal Kulkarni to leave the visitors reeling at 20 for four in the sixth over.
Pathan, ten Doeschate rally KKR
Yusuf Pathan along with Ryan Ten Doeschate helped Kolkata recover after those early wickets with a 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Pathan made a brisk 26 from 24 balls, before he became Munaf's third victim when he was caught at long-on by Kieron Pollard.
Ten Doeschate rescues Kolkata
Had it not been the heroics of Dutch batsman Ryan ten Doeschate, who scored an unbeaten 70 under pressure, Kolkata would not have got even near the 150-run mark.
The all-rounder resurrected their innings with his fighting knock which came off 49 balls and had nine boundaries, including three sixes.
Kolkata recover to post 147
Shakib al Hasan then joined forces with ten Doeschate and the southpaw tore in to Dhawal Kulkarni, smashing him for three consecutive boundaries.
It was Shakib's innings that provided the momentum to the KKR innings. He then took on Munaf, smashing him for couple of boundaries in the 16th over.
Tendulakar then turned to Malinga to provide the breakthrough and the Sri Lankan didn't disappoint as he knocked Shakib's leg stump out.
Shakib gave himself a bit of charge but was done in by a slower one as the ball hit his left thigh and fell back on the stumps.
The late charge from their lower order saw Kolkata Knight Riders post a competitive 147 for seven in their 20 overs.
Blizzard blast gives Mumbai flying start
Australian Aiden Blizzard smashed 51 from just 30 balls, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes to give Mumbai a flying start.
He dominated the 81-run opening stand with Sachin Tendulkar before he was dismissed by Brett Lee in the eighth over.
Mumbai falter after good start
Kolkata Knight Riders fought back with a few quick wickets after Mumbai's fiery opening stand.
Rohit Sharma was run out in the very next over for a duck after a misunderstanding with Tendulkar.
The Mumbai captain also perished soon after for a brisk 36 (28 balls) when he top edged a pull shot against Kallis.
Franklin guides Mumbai home
James Franklin once again kept his composure in a pressure situation to guide Mumbai home.
The hosts looked in a spot of bother after Ambati Rayudu (12), Kieron Pollard (3) and T Suman (2) perished cheaply.
But Franklin completed the task with a steady innings of 29 from 25 balls.
"We did a fantastic job in both the innings. First with the ball we did a great job to keep them under 150. Then Harbhajan saw us cross the line," said Franklin.
Harbhajan wins it in style
Harbhajan Singh hit the winning runs when he carted Shakib Al Hasan for a six over midwicket in the final over.
Harbhajan finished unbeaten on 11 from five balls, inclusive of a four and a six to help Mumbai win by four wickets.
Mumbai Indians will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second qualifier on Friday and the winners of the match will play holders Chennai Super Kings in the final on Saturday.