DINESH Karthik and Rohit Sharma’s blazing half centuries set the platform for Mumbai Indians to claim a 44-run win over Delhi Daredevils in their Pepsi Indian Premier League match, in Mumbai on Tuesday (April 9).
Deciding to bat, Karthik’s 48-ball 86 and Sharma’s unbeaten 50-ball 74 powered Mumbai Indians to an imposing 209 for five before the hosts produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Delhi Daredevils to 165 for nine in their allotted 20 overs at the Wankhede Stadium.
Australian opener David Warner waged a lonely battle for Delhi with a 37-ball 61 but none of the other batsmen showed intent to grind it out and bind time at the wicket.
The mounting run rate caused pressure on Delhi Daredevils and the team began to lose wickets at regular intervals.
Defending the target, Mumbai bowlers kept a tight leash over Delhi’s scoring rate to earn their second successive win in the tournament after losing their first match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Mitchell Johnson, Kieron Pollard and Pragyan Ojha picked up two wickets apiece while Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh too accounted for a wicket each for Mumbai.
Tuesday’s result meant that Delhi slumped to their third successive defeat with the absence of key overseas players and an injured Virender Sehwag hurting the team’s chances badly.
Delhi were off to a poor start as opener Unmukt Chand yet again failed to deliver the goods for the visitors and went for a first-ball duck for the second time in this IPL season.
Mumbai skipper Ricky Ponting took a stunning catch with one hand while diving full length to his right at extra cover to dismiss Unmukt off Harbhajan Singh.
Delhiskipper Mahela Jayawardena too fell cheaply as he was caught by wicketkeeper Karthik off Mitchell Johnson for three, leaving Delhi stuttering at 13 for two inside three overs.
Even though wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Warner was hardly bothered as he went about his business in style and kept the run rate well in check with his occasional strikes.
