Auckland wins thriller due absent manager
Auckland pulled off an upset victory in the most unlikely of ways against Mumbai in their Round 2 clash. The two teams tied 329 in their 50 overs, but Auckland was decided the winner due to the Mumbai manager failing to submit his lineup card to WCC authorities before the game.
Mumbai won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat track, offering absolutely nothing to the bowlers. Paranjpe (50) started at a blazing pace and 61 runs were added when Tendulkar (16) got a thin edge through to 'keeper Kenway off Alex Tudor. Owen (114 not out) took to the crease, but lost the incumbent Paranjpe 16 runs later. He was the joined by Hills (131 not out) and neither batsmen looked back.
The two dealt with the Auckland bowling to the harshest extent, Rikki Plummer being the worst - 10-1-81-0. Both scored unbeaten hundreds and Mumbai cruised to 329/2 in 50, with 101 runs coming in the last 9 overs.
Faced with the gargantuan challenge of 330 to win, Auckland started positively and smacked 25 runs within 4 overs. Alas both openers departed 2 runs apart and suddenly it was 27/2. Star batsman Smith (2), rookie Oliver O'Neill (2), allrounder Irving Weekes (6) and Derek Kenway (8) were quick to follow and Mumbai closed in as Auckland fell away to 78/6.
Miracles are rare in life, let alone sporting events, but on this day the rarity would come to pass. Rikki Plummer sought to compensate for his expensive bowling and proceeded to play one of the most sparkling innings WCC cricket has seen. Alongside the graceful, yet strokefilled Raja Ali (122), Plummer hit 5 massive sixes and 8 fours to reach his maiden hundred in List-A cricket. Eventually he found Pushpakumara on the midwicket boundary, but the damage was largely done. Dwayne Bravo gather a boundary from the 49th and 50th over and Auckland, having received the news that they would need just a tie to take full points, scampered home with a quick single of the final delivery of the innings.
Match Summary:
Mumbai innings 329/2 (50 overs)
Y Hills 131 not out (116), L Owen 114 not out (125), J Paranjpe 50 (40)
A Tudor 1/57 (10), D Bravo 1/73 (10)
Auckland innings 329/8 (50 overs)
R Plummer 131 (121), Raja Ali 122 (120)
A Swinburn 3/62 (10), M Pushpakumara 2/49 (10), A Flintoff 2/71 (10)
Result: Auckland win by Forfeit
Man of the Match: R Plummer