Mumbai down Pune by seven wickets in close finish

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.

Score Board:

Pune Warriors: Jesse Ryder c Tendulkar b Ahmed 12, Tim Paine b Patel 2, Mithun Manhas c Rayudu b Ahmed 0, Robin Uthappa c Pollard b Murtaza 45, Yuvraj Singh c Rayudu b Patel 0, Mohnish Mishra c Rohit b Murtaza 12, Murali Kartik c Symonds b Malinga 11, Wayne Parnell b Franklin 9, Rahul Sharma c Murtaza b Patel 13, Shrikant Wagh c Symonds b Malinga 2, Alfonso Thomas (not out) 0. Extras (LB-6, W-2, NB-4) 12. Total (all out, 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: Ali Murtaza 4-0-18-2, Lasith Malinga 4-0-28-2, Abu Nechim Ahmed 3-1-13-2, Munaf Patel 2.2-0-8-3, Kieron Pollard 1-0-13-0, James Franklin 3-0-32-1.

Mumbai Indians: James Franklin c Manhas b Wagh 6, Sachin Tendulkar c Thomas b Rahul 35, Ambati Rayudu c Rahul b Thomas 37, Rohit Sharma (not out) 20, Andrew Symonds (not out) 16. Extras (B-2, LB-6, W-2) 10. Total (for 3 wkts, 20 overs) 124.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-83, 3-89.

Bowling: Alfonso Thomas 4-0-16-1, Shrikant Wagh 2-0-9-1, Murali Kartik 4-0-29-0, Wayne Parnell 4-0-28-0, Rahul Sharma 3-0-14-1, Jesse Ryder 2-0-15-0, Yuvraj Singh 1-0-5-0.