Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bat at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday. Mumbai opened with Sachin Tendulkar and C.Madan who put up a 41 run opening partnership when Madan was out for 15 runs and Tewary joined Sachin at the crease.
Tewary was playing well and gave adequate support to Sachin Tendulkar. Later Tendulkar was caught by de Villiers and bowled Sangwan for 30 runs which included three hits to the fence. Mumbai were then 65 for 2 and Rayudu walked in to support Tewary.
Tewary misread a slower one from Sangawan and was bowled for 38 runs which were puctuated with a four and two sixes. Rayudu slowly prodded along to build up Mumbai score and was later caught by AB de Villiers and bowled Ashish Nehra for 24 runs.
JP Duminy was not out till the end at 21 runs and Kieron Pollard, who was on fire played a superb knock for 45 runs off 13 balls only. His shots were a treat to watch and last 75 runs came off the last 5 overs. He hit two fours and five sixes.
One of the six landed on top of the building off long-on boundry and the ball could not be retrieved and hence changed. The best shot of the match was when he picked a yorker length ball and hit it over his head and it went for a six right behind the wicket keeper.
In reply thereto Delhi were needing 184 and were 69 for 1 at one stage where recovery was visible but they lost quick wickets regularly against the accurate bowling of the Mumbai bowlers. In the end they could muster only 144 for 7 and lost the match. It was a remarkeable bowling and fielding performance by the Mumbai Indians.
Their chief architect in most of the matches, David Warner was out after scoring 31 runs in 15 balls. Warner had struck 5 fours and a six in his 31 runs. Warner then attacked Dilhara Fernando for two fours before he had him caught at mid off by Murtaza Ali who took a good running catch.
Delhi lost both Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the space of six balls and for the addition of three runs. Gambhir was out caught and bowled by Harbhajan Singh while Sehwag was run out going for a non-existent second run. Then Delhi were struggling at 75 for 3. Later AB de Villiers was out for 4 runs bowled by Murtaza and was trapped leg before.
After 10 overs Dellhi were 88 for 4. Then Paul Collingwood was trying to take a non-existant run and sent back to the stadium for 2 runs only as he was run out by Pollard who kept his cool and nerves intact. It was a remarkable demonstration of fielding by Pollard.
Then Karthik was bowled by Murtaza for 11. For this wicket Murtaza got a hug from his business partner Harbhajan Singh. Murtaza justified his inclusion and bagged 2 for 18 runs. After 13.4 overs Dellhi managed to reach the mark of 100 for 6.
In the last six overs Delhi required 81 runs and boundaries had dried up and runs were being accumulated in one’s and two’s.
Dilhara Fernando, who played his first match of the season bagged 2 for 32.
Mumbai are assured of a place in the semi-finals and had rested Lasith Malinga and brought in Dilhara Fernando. Dwayne Bravo was included in place of Jayasurya.
The award for the Maximum sixes went to Kieron Pollard.
The award for the Karbonn Kamaal Catch went to Ali Murtaza.
The Man of the match award was awarded to Kierin Pollard.
Ravi Matah.