Mumbai stuns Delhi to get second straight win

In Match 23 of the ongoing DLF Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians shocked Delhi Daredevils by 29 runs at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai today and secured its second successive win in the tournament.

The visitors could not contain the bowling attack of the hosts and subsequently failed to chase down the target of 163 runs. The Delhi team was all out for 133 with seven balls to spare. The triumph must have been precious for the struggling hosts who had lost their first four games in the League.

The bowling trio of Mumbai Indians proved disastrous for the batting line-up of Delhi Daredevils. Stand-in captain Shaun Pollock took the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Shoaib Malik whereas pacer Ashish Nehra clinched three wickets, two of which he got off consecutive deliveries. Young Dhawal Kulkarni contributed as well with figures of 2/18.

Dominic Thornely took the most crucial wicket as he halted Delhi’s skipper Virender Sehwag’s innings in the eleventh over. Sehwag scored 40 off 20 balls which included three boundaries and three sixes. It was important to contain him since his stay on the crease could have further accelerated the run rate of the Daredevils. As he returned to the pavilion after putting up a 45-run partnership with Malik for the fourth wicket, Mumbai Indians took control of the game.

AB de Villiers, Malik and Dinesh Karthik tried to contribute through their twenty plus scores but were unable to do so. This was Delhi’s second defeat of the six games it has played.

Earlier, Virender Sehwag won the toss and elected to field.

The score of 162 runs put up by Mumbai Indians did not look formidable in the first half of the game. The top run-getter for the hosts was Sanath Jayasuriya who scored 34 off 16 balls which included six boundaries and one six. Others in the top order – Yogesh Takawale (14), Thornely (30) and Robin Uthappa (22) chipped in but were unable to give a consistent back-up to the score.

Pollock contributed from the lower order with his knock of 33 off 15 balls. His all-round performance gained him the Player of the Match award.