Anderson believes Mumbai can go the distance and upset Chennai

Sudhir Gupta 09:54 28/05/2014
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  • Learning curve: Corey Anderson admits that Twenty20 is not his strongest format.

    Corey Anderson believes Mumbai Indians can achieve anything after their near-miraculous entry into the play-offs. 

    Mumbai had made the cut after a dramatic victory in their last league match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.

    Powered by Anderson’s unbeaten 95 off 44 balls, Mumbai scored 195 runs in 14.4 overs on their way to overhauling Rajasthan’s net run rate and knocking them out to replace them in the final play-off spot.

    It has been a roller-coaster ride for the defending champions, who lost all their first five matches of the UAE leg but staged a spectacular turnaround by winning seven of their remaining games in India. 

    They are now up against a formidable foe, Chennai Super Kings, in the Eliminator tonight and Anderson is banking on the confidence gained from their superb run to surge ahead.

    “We pulled off what people thought was impossible and it was a pretty good feeling. It’s almost a sense of relief that we’re in the play-offs and we’ll start with an even playing field," said Anderson. "So, yes, we are fearless after the last game and we can continue the momentum; we have a real shot at winning this.”

    Anderson, who scored the fastest one-day international hundred (off 36 balls) against West Indies on New Year’s Day this year was expected to set the stage alight in the IPL after he was bought for $750,000 by Mumbai.

    But the Kiwi all-rounder scored just 66 runs in his first 10 games and was dropped for the next three. 

    The IPL debutant justified his worth in the match that truly mattered against Rajasthan, however, and Anderson admits that Twenty20 is not his strongest suit.

    "T20 is the one format I have struggled in,” he said. “The more I play it, the more I’ll learn. With the group of men in our camp, who have played a lot of international cricket, it is very easy to learn.”

    Mumbai will have to produce another strong display against Chennai tonight as MS Dhoni’s team may hold the edge having upstaged them twice in the league this season. 

    One of those defeats was at the Wankhede Stadium that ended Mumbai’s victorious run of 10 games at the venue.

    The Brabourne Stadium, a new venue in the IPL this season, is not far from Wankhede and Mumbai are banking on the crowd support to spur them on.

    Anderson said: “The crowd has been behind us 100 per cent even when we have been at the bottom of the table. To have that confidence that they are going to back us no matter what, is a good feeling.”

    While Mumbai enter the Eliminator in a buoyant mood, Chennai are guarded in their approach with coach Stephen Fleming conceding that choosing the playing XI for an unknown surface is a challenge.

    “To play at a ground that hasn’t hosted a lot of cricket and doesn’t have any recent history is a big challenge," said Fleming.

    “Our biggest test is that we are not a 100 per cent sure exactly what kind of side we should select. We’ll just look to pick players who are ready for the opportunity and are experienced in general.

    “MI defeated us the last year, but this year, we’ve had some revenge with two wins against them. In effect, it is a home game for Mumbai Indians and we will have to play extremely well. We’re in good form and we’re happy with the way we’ve come into the play-offs.”

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