Mumbai Indians run over Pune Warriors at Wankhede

PW 118 17.2 overs MI 124/3 20 overs

Despite a last ditch effort, a horror start spelt doom for Pune Warriors, as they went down against the much vaunted Mumbai Indians team at Wankhede stadium Mumbai, in a crucial match of the Indian Premier League season four.

The match went down to the last ball, as the hosts stuttered in their easy chase, one run was needed off the last ball, which was deposited over the extra cover boundary by Rohit Sharma.

Earlier in the day, the Warriors batted first on a strip that looked full of runs at the renovated venue, which was once again in pomp condition.

However, the pleasant conditions did little to inspire the Warriors, as the opening four batsmen were sent packing with only 17 runs on the board. The opening pair of Jesse Ryder and Tim Paine were sent back almost immediately, while the body blow was the loss of captain and ICC 2011 World Cup man of the tournament, Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj was dismissed by his Indian teammate Munaf Patel for a duck after he was snapped up behind the wickets.

All eyes were on Robin Uthappa, the former Indian middle order batsman, but he found little support from the other end, as one batsmen fell after another in an attempt of upping the tempo.

Uthappa scored 45 runs, which included a monstrous six off Kieron Pollard. Despite his efforts the Warriors managed a paltry total of 118. Patel was the destroyer-in-chief. The right-armer claimed 3 wickets for only 8 runs.

The Indians started their chase on a poor note. James Franklin, who was promoted in the batting order was dismissed for only 6 runs. The top scorer of the tournament, Sachin Tendulkar, went about his task with his usual calm, as he scored 35 off 39 balls before falling to Rahul Sharma.

Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds were unusually circumspect in the closing overs, at one stage the hosts needed a mere 20 runs off the last three overs, yet inexplicably the match was taken down to the last ball by the pair.

Sharma sealed a win for the Indians with a six. Munaf Patel was named man of the match.