Pune Warriors lost seventh match in a row to sink at the bottom of the table, while Mumbai Indians touched the summit with another impressive performance. Although Rahul Sharma bowled one of the most economic spells in the IPL, Pune batsmen failed to overcome a chase-able target against Malinga and co.
Yuvraj Singh chose to bowl as Pune’s newest inductee Saurav Ganguly sat out. Robin Uthappa took a blinder behind stumps to remove Aiden Blizzard. At the score of 58, Ryder took another good catch to give Yuvraj prized scalp of Tendulkar who scored a run-a-ball 24. Rayudu (27) played a good hand but real acceleration came when Trimulasetti Suman played a blinder in the middle. He hit 3 sixes in his 16-ball 36. The penultimate over bowled by Alfonso Thomas hurt Pune badly as Pollard 28 (21b, 2x4, 2x6) and Harbhajan plundered 27 runs from that over. Mumbai finished at 160 for 7, with leg-spinner Rahul Sharma taking 2 for just 7 runs in his 4 overs.
Harbhajan started and struck a crucial blow when Jesse Ryder went for a golden duck. Graeme Smith continued to fail, while Yuvraj was the 4th wicket down at the score of 77 in the 13th over. Manish Pandey was holding the innings at his end, but got no support till Uthappa arrived at the crease following dismissal of Yuvraj who was bounced-out brilliantly by Malinga. He had hit two towering sixes in his 20 but left his team in gasping state.
Pandey and Uthappa swatted a few sixes but continued loss of wickets, especially of Pandey, meant they lost their pace and ended well short at 139 for 7 after 20 overs. Pandey top scored with 59 off 47 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. Malinga was once again awesome with his change of pace and clever use of short balls, taking 3 for 25 and reaching milestone of 50 IPL wickets. Mumbai won by 21 runs, Rahul Sharma of Pune being the man of the match for his miserly bowling.
Mumbai Indians 160/7 (T Suman 36, R Sharma 2/7) beat Pune warriors 139/7 (Pandey 59, Malinga 3/25) by 21 runs
Man of the Match: Rahul Sharma (Pune Warriors)
Published in SportPulse.net
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