MUMBAI, April 20 (PTI): Mumbai Indians carved out a hard-fought seven-wicket victory over Pune Warriors in a low- scoring Indian Premier League clash that went down to the last ball, at the Wankhede Stadium here today.
Chasing a modest target after bowling out the opposition for 118 in 17.2 overs, Mumbai looked on course with Sachin Tendulkar (35 off 39 balls) and Ambati Rayudu (37 off 40) at the crease, but after their dismissals, the home team made heavy weather of the task before finally ending up with 124 for three in 20 overs.
Mumbai�s Munaf Patel was declared Man of the Match for returning impressive figures of three for right.
Requiring five off the last over, and then one off the last ball, Rohit Sharma (20 not out off 18 balls)) hoisted left-arm spinner Murali Kartik over long-off for a six to complete the victory.
Sharma and Andrew Symonds (16 off 15 balls) put on an unfinished partnership of 35 runs to see Mumbai home for their third win in four outings.
After the early loss James Franklin, Tendulkar and Rayudu added 74 runs in 12 overs for the second wicket to put the home team in sight of a comprehensive victory.
A flick boundary by Tendulkar off Shrikant Wagh early into his innings was an indication of the kind of form the batsman was in. Rayudu blossomed in the company of his captain and drove Wayne Parnell through cover and then lofted the left-arm pacer over mid-wicket.
After six overs the score was 32 for one and the 50 came up in only 45 balls.
The duo�s dismissals in quick succession affected the run rate for a while, but Sharma and Symonds stepped up the tempo in the nick of time.
Tendulkar was dismissed for the first time in four games, having come into this match following a brilliant 100 not out against Kochi on April 17, before Rayudu also departed six runs later.
Twenty runs were needed off the last 18 balls, before Symonds struck two fours in the first two balls off Wayne Parnell to bring down the required run-rate. Thereafter Symonds and Sharma hung on to complete the task.
Earlier, Robin Uthappa smashed a quick-fire 45 but the top-order put up a pathetic display as Pune were shot out in less than 20 overs.
Uthappa cracked a six and six fours in his 27-ball knock to help Pune rally from a sorry-looking 17 for four and get past the 100-run mark.
The initial damage was done by Assam seamer Abu Nechim, who replaced an injured Harbhajan Singh in the playing XI.
He took two wickets in three balls in the fourth over before Patel also grabbed a couple in three balls to leave Pune on the ropes.
Uthappa�s cameo ended, courtesy an outstanding catch in the deep by West Indian Kieron Pollard. Although there weren�t any big partnerships but Uthappa was involved two such efforts which yielded 35 each. First one was for the fifth wicket with Mohnish Mishra (12) and the next for the sixth wicket with Murali Kartik (11).
Patel was easily the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai. Abu Nechim grabbed two for 13 while Ali Murtaza made amends for his costly 19th over during the defeat to Kochi Tuskers Kerala by returning with figures of two for 18.
SCORECARD
Pune Warriors: Ryder c Tendulkar b Ahmed 12, Paine b Patel 2, Manhas c Rayudu b Ahmed 0, Uthappa c Pollard b Murtaza 45, Yuvraj c Rayudu b Patel 0, Mishra c Sharma b Murtaza 12, Kartik c Symonds b Malinga 11, Parnell b Franklin 9, Rahul Sharma c Murtaza b Patel 13, Wagh c Symonds b Malinga 2, Alfonso Thomas not out 0. Extras: (LB-6, W-2, NB-4) 12. Total: (All out in 17.2 overs) 118. Fall of wickets: 1/16 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/52 6/87 7/98 8/111 9/118. Bowling: Murtaza 4-0-18-2, Malinga 4-0-28-2, Ahmed 3-1-13-2, Patel 2.2-0-8-3, Pollard 1-0-13-0, Franklin 3-0-32-1.
Mumbai Indians: Franklin c Manhas b Wagh 6, Tendulkar c Thomas b Sharma 35, Rayudu c Sharma b Thomas 37, Rohit Sharma not out 20, Symonds not out 16, Extras: (B-2, LB-6, W-2) 10. Total: (for 3 wickets in 20 overs) 124. Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-83, 3-89. Bowling: Thomas 4-0-16-1, Wagh 2-0-9-1, Kartik 4-0-29-0, Parnell 4-0-28-0, Sharma 3-0-14-1, Ryder 2-0-15-0, Yuvraj 1-0-5-0.
