Mumbai Indians Look to Seal Semi-final Spot

Bangalore: Win this and we will be through to the semis, will be the Mumbai Indians mantra and despite their skipper ruing their batting efforts thus far in the tournament.

With the game to be played one day after Harbhajan was left out of the Indian ODI squad, the team will not lack for intensity from the top.

And in Indian cricket, it doesn't really matter which format you excel in, for the selectors' memory is far shorter than even public memory. As it is he has been left out for a poor showing in recent Tests, his last ODI outing being the one against the West Indies in Port-of-Spain where he returned figures of 10-0-32-3.

The Cobras do have a lot of reputed players though, none more so than Herschelle Gibbs and Jean-Paul Duminy. With some serious talent playing alongside them, they should start as the favourites on the night, more so because of the poor batting form of MI's own stars Andrew Symonds and Kieron Pollard.

In the absence of Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma, MI's dependence on them is obviously more but thus far at least they haven't lived up to their billing.

With the exception of Ambati Rayudu, the MI top-order contributed a handsome 21 in the game against T&T, including two ducks. They can only pray for a revival on Friday. T Suman might be shunted down the order, in which case Rayudu could open the innings. The team management hasn't yet named a replacement for Jacobs, which means Rayudu will continue to keep wicket.

The Cobras didn't do much wrong against the Super Kings, and will want to stick with their combination. Steyn may not be too keen to bowl in the slog overs, though.

Teams from

Mumbai Indians Harbhajan Singh (capt), AN Ahmed, AC Blizzard, YS Chahal, CRD Fernando, JEC Franklin, S Kanwar, SL Malinga, KA Pollard, AT Rayudu (wk), R Sathish, TL Suman, A Symonds

Cape Cobras JM Kemp (capt), JP Duminy, HH Gibbs, RK Kleinveldt, CK Langeveldt, RE Levi, J Louw, JL Ontong, RJ Peterson, VD Philander, AG Puttick, MJ Rippon, OA Shah, DW Steyn, DJ Vilas (wk)

Stats and trivia

• With four wickets apiece, JP Duminy and Vernon Philander are currently Cobras' highest wicket-takers in the tournament
• Lasith Malinga has been Mumbai Indians' best bowler with three wickets at 17.00. He has also been their highest run-getter with 52

Match facts
Friday September 30, 2011 (day/night)
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)