Sun, 10 Apr 2011 - IP Delhi vs IP Mumbai, IPL 2011, 4th Match - Bulletin

Five-star Malinga scripts lop-sided Mumbai win

Lasith Malinga’s lethal spell of fast bowling set up a comprehensive eight wicket victory for runner up of last season Mumbai as his five wicket haul folded Delhi for just 95 runs which were rounded off by his team without much stutter.

Malinga enhanced his reputation of being the best fast bowler in this format as he delivered yorker after yorker in his 22-ball spell with some perfection and searing pace to give no chance to Delhi batsmen to get going.

After losing opener Davy Jacobs and Ambati Rayudu early in chase, skipper Sachin Tendulkar combined with another Mumbaikar Rohit Sharma who played first three seasons for Hyderabad to make sure target was achieved with no more hiccups.

Sachin wasn’t at his fluent best but scratched his way to be there till the winning runs were scored reaming undefeated on a 50-ball 46 including three fours and a six. Rohit was just showing why he is considered one of the best batting talents going around as he played some gorgeous square drives in his 27 off 30 balls to help his side to achieve the target in 17th over.

Game was won in the first half though after Delhi couldn’t stand before the Malinga led spirited bowling performance. Malinga first over saw him taking two wickets castling dangerous David Warner with a trademark yorker of his and followed up with another on the fourth ball in a similar fashion. His second over was one of rare occasions in the cricket as Malinga was able to bowl maiden to Delhi skipper Virendar Sehwag.

After Malinga’s early strikes, spinners Harbhajan and Murtaza Ali also chipped in with wickets to derail Delhi batting effort completely.

Delhi weren’t helped by the fact that there were two run-outs including that of Sehwag as he couldn’t beat his opposite number Sachin’s throw and was found short of the ground.

There was some repair work through fifth wicket partnership of 42 runs between Naman Ojha and Venugopal Rao but it was short-lived as Malinga came back to get three more wickets in his another ten balls. He yorked Rao and Morkel in his third over having stumps of both batsmen rattled in his third and cleaned up the innings in fourth having last man Ashok Dinda caught at mid-on off a slower one to make his figures reading five for 13, third best in the IPL history.

Harbhajan was very frugal taking two wickets conceding only 14 runs in his three overs and took two wickets while Murtaza gave away 21 runs in his four overs and had a wicket to his name as well.

For Delhi, Ojha and Rao with 29 and 26 runs respectively were the notable contributors with the bat.