Pune Warriors suffered their seventh consecutive loss in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they went down to Mumbai Indians by 21 runs at the D.Y. Patil Sports Academy here Wednesday.
In reply to Mumbai Indians’ 160 for seven, Pune Warriors could only get to 139 for seven and remained at the bottom of the table with just four points from nine matches.
Mumbai Indians jumped to the top of the table with 14 points from nine matches and are on course to book a knock-out stage berth.
The struggling Pune Warriors, who had former India captain Sourav Ganguly in the dugout, lost the plot right from the start after skipper Yuvraj Singh opted to field.
Off-spinner Rahul Sharma (2-7), who was adjudged the Man of the Match, and left-arm-spinner Yuvraj (2-22) bowled well but the Pune medium pacers proved costly and allowed Mumbai Indians to get a challenging total of 160 for seven in 20 overs.
While chasing, Pune Warriors suffered a setback in the first ball as Jesse Ryder, in his attempt to drive Harbhajan Singh (1-17) gave a dolly to Dhawal Kulkarni at backward point.
Manish Pandey raised Pune’s hopes with a 47-ball 59 that was studded with four fours and three sixes, but he didn’t get any support from the other end.
Graeme Smith’s (6), poor run in the league continued, while Abhishek Jhunjhunwala (10) and Yuvraj (20) got starts but couldn’t convert them into match winning knocks.
Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga (3-25) wrecked the Pune Warriors’ middle-order. He produced an unplayable delivery to get rid of Yuvraj, who tried his best to get out of the line of the ball but it crashed into the bat and richocheted to Munaf Patel at third man.
The Warriors failed to get a good partnership and lost their last three wickets for just 20 runs.
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar scored a run-a-ball 24 while Ambati Rayudu made 27 and they set the foundation with their 40-run stand for the second wicket.
A late charge by Tirumalasetti Suman (36) and West Indian Kieron Pollard (28) helped Mumbai Indians get a good score.
Suman hit three fours and three sixes in his 16-ball stay while Pollard struck two fours and two sixes during his 21-ball knock.