Mumbai Indians hope to bounce back against SA

After a stunning loss in the tournament-opener, Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians would be determined to post a win when they take on South Australia in the Champions League Twenty20 Group B match in Durban, on Tuesday.

The Indian Premier League runners-up started their campaign in the showpiece event on a disappointing note, going down to Highveld Lions by nine runs in Johannesburg in the first match of the tournament.

But Lions then fell prey to South Australia, who beat the local side by 11 runs in another keenly-contested encounter in Centurion.

Batting is not a worry for the Mumbai team with the in-form Tendulkar opening their innings with Shikhar Dhawan, followed by experienced players like South African J P Duminy and the hard hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard coming down the order.

Tendulkar cracked a 42-ball 69 in the previous match and took the team close to a win but his effort went in vain as the lower-middle order failed to contribute with the bat.

Ambati Rayudu, who is playing in the one-down position, and R Satish also have to find their touch as soon as possible to help the team post a fighting score or chase down a stiff target.

Left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan will spearhead the Mumbai bowling attack, while the team will also expect early breakthroughs from fast bowler Ryan McLaren.

Seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga can also make batsmen's life miserable at the floodlit Kingsmead ground.

But high on confidence after starting their campaign in style, the Michael Klinger-led South Australia would look to continue their impressive start and get the better off their Indian opponents.

Klinger himself is in good touch and scored a breezy 78 off 48 balls in their previous encounter, while his batting colleagues Callum Ferguson and Graham Manou are also capable of changing the calculations of a match.

But South Australia need a good opening partnership against the Mumbai Indians and Daniel Harris has to play his role along with skipper Klinger if they are to negotiate the stiff challenge the IPL team is gearing to throw at them.

Paceman Shaun Tait opened the bowling attack for South Australia in the last match and scalped three wickets for 36 runs but his new-ball partner Gary Putland went for runs.

Another fast bowler Daniel Christian, however, produced some timely breakthroughs later to help the team beat Lions and the Australians would once look to him to make breakthroughs at crucial junctures.