Sachin Tendulkar led from the front and ensured his Mumbai Indians side a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League match at the Brabourne Stadium on Monday.
Tendulkar's unbeaten 48-ball 71 was his fifth IPL fifty overall and second in this edition, after his impressive 63 against the Delhi Daredevils.
The knock was inclusive of 10 hits to the fence and not surprisingly, won him yet another man-of-the-match award.
The Master Blaster started his onslaught with three boundaries in the second over, bowled by Ishant Sharma.
He was involved in a 61-run (off 41 balls) opening-wicket partnership with Shikar Dhawan (23), laying a solid foundation for the batsmen to follow.
And he ensured his side build on the foundation with a 56-run (off 43 balls) second wicket partnership with Saurabh Tiwary (30).
However, he had a reprieve, Kartik dropping him (when on 41) off his bowling.
Tendulkar soon reached his fifth IPL fifty, smashing Ishant to the midwicket fence for his ninth boundary.
The Master Blaster celebrated the same with yet another boundary.
The latter shot gave Ishant a dubious distinction - of having conceded most boundaries in this IPL.
