5 Apr 2012

Mumbai beat Chennai in opening IPL game

12:10 pm on 5 April 2012

The two-time defending champions Chennai have been beaten by Mumbai by eight wickets in the opening match of the new Indian Premier League cricket season.

Chennai, who are coached by Stephen Fleming, made just 112, which Mumbai reached in the 17th over.

James Franklin took a wicket and then hit an unbeaten 25 for Mumbai with Indian Ambati Rayudu's 18 not out to steer their team home, after Richard Levi hit a 35-ball 50 to put his team on course for victory with a 69-run stand for the first wicket with Sachin Tendulkar.

The Indian great made 16 then retired after being struck on the fingers by a delivery from Australian paceman Doug Bollinger.

The 76-match tournament, facing a test of its popularity, has nine teams playing each other on a home-and-away basis before the top four sides qualify for the play-offs. The final will be played on May 27th, Indian time.