 Mumbai Indians stun Delhi Daredevils
4th May 2008 23:01 IST
Agencies
Skipper Shaun Pollock led from the front as Mumbai Indians defended a small total with verge and vigour to stun table-toppers Delhi Daredevils by 29 runs for their second successive win in the Indian Premier League at the D Y Patil Stadium in Mumbai today.
After being restricted to a none-too-tall 162/8, the home team, at the bottom of the league chart going into the match, bowled with purpose and struck blows at timely intervals to skittle out the Delhi team for 133 in 18.5 overs.
The bowling heroes for the struggling home team, who brought up the rear going into their sixth match, was stand-in captain Pollock (2/16) and discarded India pacer Ashish Nehra, who took 3/25 which included two off successive balls.
The superb display by the senior bowlers inspired youngster Dhawal Kulkarni to grab the last two wickets and finish with 2/18.
But the most telling blow was struck by Dominic Thornely who, after being introduced as the sixth bowler when Delhi skipper Virender Sehwag was on a rampage, dismissed the flamboyant opener with a low full toss.
Sehwag gave the Delhi Daredevils' chase the early momentum with a quick-fire 40 off only 20 balls, inclusive of three sixes and as many fours, in his inimitable fashion after the visitors were put on the back foot at four for two.
He also added a crucial 45 runs with Shoaib Malik for the fourth wicket after AB de Villiers was run out backing too far to a firm drive from Sehwag which got deflected on to the non-striker's end stumps by the bowler.
Sehwag seemed to be on a roll and his dismissal at 82 in the 11th over simply unhinged the Delhi line-up and also brought the Mumbai Indians back into the game.
Malik (24) and Dinesh Karthik (28) kept them in the fight before departing in the space of two overs and the rest simply caved in as Delhi suffered their second defeat in six ties.
continued.. |
