Mumbai Indian win by 9 Wicket

India, IPL, April, 13-2011: Sachin Tendulkar and Ambati Rayudu led Mumbai Indians to a resounding nine-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Batting first, Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 59 off 52 balls had helped Bangalore recover from two early setbacks, and his 91-run stand with AB de Villiers (37 off 36 balls) got the hosts to 140 for four.

Mumbai lost a wicket early as well but answered the challenge via unbeaten half centuries from Tendulkar (55 off 46) and Rayudu (63 off 50), who together put on 110 and orchestrated a comfortable second tournament win for last year’s runners-up side.

Mumbai won the toss and paceman Lasith Malinga started the game by bowling Mayank Agarwal with a first-ball yorker while Bangalore’s fightback was short-lived as Virat Kohli departed for 12 off Kieron Pollard.

Dilshan and De Villiers edged the total to 50 in 10 overs and then cut loose for their well-built partnership that lasted more than 12 overs.

The hosts threatened to cross 150 at one stage but two quick blows halted the momentum, as Pollard caught De Villiers off his own bowling and another Malinga yorker bowled Asad Pathan for a duck.

Dilshan reached his half-century at nearly a run-a-ball in the penultimate over while Saurabh Tiwary (16 off 10 balls) struck three boundaries to end the innings on a high.

In reply, Mumbai opener Davy Jacobs smashed 20 of his 22 runs in boundaries off Zaheer Khan’s first two overs before being bowled by Dirk Nannes.

Tendulkar and Rayudu thereafter kept the visitors in complete control and on top of the run-rate, as they notched up 16 boundaries between them, in a partnership that lasted more than 14 overs.

Both batsmen reached their respective half-centuries in the 17th over, with Tendulkar hitting the boundary soon after, securing the victory – and top spot in the table – with nine deliveries left.

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