What a match? What thought to be another defeat for Mumbai and fifth straight win for Delhi changed completely and Delhi surrendered to Pollock's men cheaply.
Put into bat, Mumbai Indians without Sachin for one more time and lead by Pollock, scored 162, an easy target for Delhi Daredevil lead by Shewag. They chased 170 in their last match against Chennai Super Kings, couldn't do it this time.
Mumbai Indians started their innings well with Jayasuria scoring well. The first wicket fell at 46 in the 6th over. Takawale was caught by Sangwan off Mahesh for 14.
McGrath bowled fell with his line and length. He ended his first spell wtih 0/16 in 3 overs. Jayasuriya used Mahesh's first over well, but also lost his wicket. He hit for a six in the first ball, then a four and then a single.
Having score 11 runs in 3 balls, Takawale should have played sensibly by scoring 1 or 2, but he also tried to hit for a six, which took the outside edge and was caught at third man. The players crossed, Jayasuriya hit a four. He too could have played a big innings that is due from him. His another slog was a mistake and he lost his off stump uprooted. He was out for 34 off 16 balls with 6 fours and a six.
Uthappa and Thornely played well to take the score beyond 100 in the 13th over. They were 74 for 2 at the end of 10 overs. They added 4 runs in the 11th over. Uthappa hit two sixes of 12th over bowled by Bhatia.
Thornely hit a six of Sangwan and scored 10 runs in that over. Uthappa's shot of scooping over short fine leg did not yield expected result and went straight to the fielders hand. He was out for 22 off 21 balls with 2 sixes. This was the turning point because wickets started falling frequently after that.
Thornely hit a six in the next over and got out of the next ball for 30 off 24 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes.
Nayar and Bravo were dimissed in the successive overs leaving Mumbai Indians struggle at 112 for 6 in 15.1 overs. Skipper Pollock has to ensure that they bat through the full quota of 20 overs and score runs at the same time.
At the end of 18 overs, the score was 134 for 6, not even sure whether they would reach 150 because the bowling was tight. It was Pollock, who took the initiative of bringing runs to the score board. Tiwari lost his wicket in the 3rd ball of the 19th over bowled by Mohammad Asif caught by Shoaib Malik at long on. Pollock hit 3 sixe in that over--one straight over bowler's head on a full toss, and then a six over cover, giving himself room and swung the bat at the ball pitched away from off stump. The third six was a super shot. The short ball was pulled over square leg for a huge six off the three. The score went past 150 in that over, which was not expected with 6 more balls to spare.
At the end of 19, Mumbai Indians were 157 for 6. Pollock was out in 2nd ball of 20th over caught at long off. Raje hit a four and finally added 6 runs in the last over to end the innings at 162 for 8 giving them a chance to fight.
With the experience of chasing 170 in the previous game and the confidence of continuous winning, the successful pair of Delhi--Shewag and Gambhir opened the innings.
Ashish Nehra provided the first break through by sending the inform batsman Gambhir caught at covers by Uthappa for 1 in the 9 balls he faced. That was strange, of course.
Pollock dismissed Dhawan for 1, again caught by Uthappa. That was fantastic bowling and field setting. Mumbai were back in the game. At the end of 3rd over, Delhi were unusually struggling at 6 for 2.
But, de Villiers hit a six and a four in the 4th over and Shewag hit a four for his part. That over added 16 to the total. Shewag hit a six in the 5th over to take the score to 29 for 2.
The first ball of the 7th over was a turning point and luck favored Mumbai. Shewag's powerful straight drive touched the fingers of the bowler Kulkarni and hit the stumps at runner end where de Villiers was well short of his crease. He was out for 21 off 17 balls.
Bravo gave away 11 runs in his 2nd over including a four by Shewag of the last ball.
Malik and Shewag hit a four each in the 9th over bowled by Kulkarni. Jayasuriya was brought in for getting the breakthrough that he normally provides.
The first ball and last ball of his over went for a six by Shewag adding 16 in that over. At the end of 10 overs, Delhi Daredevils were looking good with 81 for 3. That last 10 overs required another 82.
The break through came when Thornely dismissed Shewag of a full toss. Shewag hit that inthe air straight to mid wicket caught by Pollock. He was out for 40 off 20 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes. That really turned gave a chance to Mumbai Indians to come back.
Karthik joined Shoaib Malik to boost the score up. Karthi hit two fours of Thornely and reduced the target to 62 off 2 balls. Raje gave 8 runs in the next over.
Pollock brought himself in the 15th over with Mumbai needing 54 of 36 balls. He got the required break through and the turning point of the match. Shoaib Malik tried to hit him over long off but ended up in Nayar's hand. He was out for 24 off 22 balls with a four. The remaining over went for 5 runs.
The pressure was adding up in Delhi camp with 49 off 30 balls. Raje gave 5 runs through his skill full bowling varying pace and line.
44 from 24 balls at 11 runs per over. Bravo trapped Karthik leg before when he shuffled across to play the ball to squre leg. He missed the line and got struck in the pad. Straight forward decision. Karthik out for 28 off 23 balls. Bhatia hit a six in the same over clearing long on boundary.
Delhi needed 34 off 18 balls with 4 wickets in hand. Nehra struck twice in continuous deliveries to send Sangwan caught by Tiwari at long off and in the next ball Bhatia was caught by Uthappa at long on. Both of them had no other option except to hit for a six or a four, but ended up losing their wicket.
31 required of last 12 balls with 2 wickets. Kulkarni dismissed Mohammad Asif for a duck, caught by Nehra at third man off a thick outside edge.
In the same over, 5th ball, McGrath was caught by Thornely at covers to end the Delhi Daredevils innings at 133. Mumbai Indians won by unbelievable 29 runs.
No one believed that Delhi would surrender that cheaply, but it was a good team effort and performance by the skipper who lead it from the front. Pollock hit crucial runs in the last few overs--3 sixes of 19th over from Asif and picked two wickets. He was the right man for the man of the match award.
Good morale boosting victory for Mumbai Indians, especially with the two top cricketers not available--Sachin Tendulkar due to injury and Harbhajan who was banned from IPL.
Match 23
Venue: Mumbai
Date: May 4, 2008
Teams: Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils
Captains: Shaun Pollock and Virendra Shewag
Toss: Delhi Daredevils and decided to field
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 29 runs
Man of the Match: Shaun Pollock off Mumbai Indians (South Africa)
Points: Mumbai Indians-2; Delhi Daredevils-0
Score:
Mumbai Indians 162 for 8 in 20 overs (YV Takawale 14, ST Jayasuriya 34, DJ Thornely 30, RV Uthappa 22, DJ Bravo 2, AM Nayar 2, SM Pollock 33, SS Tiwary 9, RR Raje 6 not out, A Nehra 0 not out, Extras—10 (b 4, lb 2, wide 3, nb 1), GD McGrath 4-0-26-0, Mohammad Asif 4-0-46-1, VY Mahesh 4-0-33-3, P Sangwan 4-0-21-1, R Bhatia 2-0-22-1, V Sehwag 1-0-2-1, Shoaib Malik 1-0-6-1) beat Delhi Daredevils 133 all out in 18.5 overs (G Gambhir 1, V Sehwag 40, S Dhawan 1, AB de Villiers 21, Shoaib Malik 24, KD Karthik 28, R Bhatia 9, P Sangwan 2, VY Mahesh 3 not out, Mohammad Asif 0, GD McGrath 0, Extras—4 (lb 3, nb 1), SM Pollock 4-0-16-2, A Nehra 4-0-25-3, DJ Bravo 3-0-27-1, DS Kulkarni 2.5-0-18-2, ST Jayasuriya 1-0-16-0, DJ Thornely 2-0-15-1, RR Raje 2-0-13-0)
