Analysis of Mumbai Indians's opponents in the CLT20 2014 qualifiers

#2 Northern Knights (NK)

Squad: Ish Sodhi, Jono Boult, Brad Wilson, Kane Williamson, Daniel Flynn, BJ Watling, Graeme Aldridge, Anton Devcich, Tim Southee, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Daniel Harris, Scott Styris, Trent Boult, Daniel Vettori (Vettori has pulled out of the tournament, citing personal reasons)

Ticket to CL T20 2014: Winners of 2013-14 HRV Cup

Team Analysis

Strengths: NK has a well balanced team, with a good mix of grafters, power-hitters, death bowling specialists and spin talent. Kane Williamson is expected to be the mainstay in the batting department, and in all likelihood will be responsible for batting through the innings, while power hitters like Flynn, Watling, Mitchell and Harris generate the firepower around him. The Boult brothers in partnership with death bowling expert Southee form a strong fast bowling triumvirate. While Trent is the more celebrated of the two brothers, Jono Boult came into his own during the 2013-14 HRV Cup, where he was the joint highest wicket-taker. Ish Sodhi has been promising and could find the slow subcontinent pitches well suited to his leg-spinners.

Weaknesses: Being the only non-subcontinental team in the qualifiers will be a weakness, with all the others better acclimatized to the pitch and weather conditions. Withdrawal of Daniel Vettori puts a lot of responsibility on young Ish Sodhi’s shoulders, as far as spin bowling is concerned. Vettori may be well past his prime, but the psychological comfort of having a once world-class spin bowler, experienced in subcontinent conditions through his association with IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore, will be missing.

Surprise Package: The middle-order pair of Daniel Harris and Daryl Mitchell could give a nasty surprise to bowlers who think that Kane Williamson is the only thorn in the NK middle order. With 13 and 11 sixes respectively and possessing strike rates in excess of 140 in the HRV Cup, Harris and Mitchell could prove to be the X-factor in the batting line-up

Prediction: Like several New Zealand teams before them, NK will be considered the dark horses in the qualifiers. As with the subcontinental islanders, the opening match will be decisive. If they manage to beat SE, they have a very good opportunity of sneaking past one of the top two favourites into the main draw.

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