Mumbai cruise past Deccan
Indian Premier League leaders the Mumbai Indians coasted to a 63-run win against defending champions the Deccan Chargers at the Brabourne Stadium tonight.
Ambati Rayudu hit an unbeaten 55 off 29 balls to inspire the hosts who have now won their past five matches.
Rayudu led the way for the Indians but it was his half-century stands with Saurabh Tiwary (44) and Kieron Pollard (21) in the late overs that were the difference as the hosts recovered from a mid-innings blip to post 178 for five.
In reply, Deccan simply could not build a meaningful partnership to challenge the total as they were bowled out for 115 and now look an outside bet to reach the semi-finals after losing their past four games.
To further sour their night, Deccan skipper Adam Gilchrist suffered a groin injury which could put his participation in the remainder of the tournament in doubt.
The former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman picked up the injury in the field and batted with a runner as he and Herschelle Gibbs initially made a good start at hauling in Mumbai's total.
The pair put on 30 in four overs before Gibbs, Deccan's topscorer in this year's tournament, skied a catch to Sachin Tendulkar off Zaheer Khan's very first delivery.
It was the best partnership Deccan managed as they lost wickets at a steady flow thereafter.
VVS Laxman (four) was run out following a mix-up with Gilchrist's runner before Khan skittled the Australian's stumps when he was on 19.
Pollard then took a sharp caught and bowled chance to remove Rohit Sharma (11) and when Andrew Symonds (21) was bowled by Ryan McLaren the visitors' challenge was over.
Earlier, Mumbai's openers Shikhar Dhawan and Tendulkar gave their side a flying start with a 53-run stand in six overs.
The momentum was slowed, however, by the introduction of Deccan spinners Pragyan Ojha and Rahul Sharma as three wickets fell for the addition of just nine runs.
Ojha struck first when he had Dhawan (14) stumped before Sharma claimed the prize scalp of Tendulkar (35), who was pinned on the crease by a quicker delivery.
Ojha then bowled all-rounder Dwayne Bravo (two) as the Indians slipped to 62 for three after nine overs.
Deccan may have sensed their chance but poor fielding prevented them from taking it.
They twice dropped Tiwary as he and Rayudu combined in a 65-run stand to seize back the initiative.
Tiwary rode his luck as he saw Gibbs drop a difficult chance over the mid-on ropes. The right-hander cleared mid-wicket the next ball before Monish Mishra dropped a straightforward chance at point to the dismay of the bowler Sharma.
Tiwary's luck finally ran out when Ryan Harris juggled a catch at deep mid-wicket off Ojha.
By then Tiwary had contributed 44 from 35 balls and when Rayudu and Keiron Pollard (21) crashed 51 from the final 20 balls the hosts had built a match-winning score.
