Mumbai Indians crush hapless Delhi Daredevils in a lop-sided match

Mumbai Indians went back to winning ways with a massive 44 run victory over hapless Delhi Daredevils here at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It was a clinical performance by the home side with Dinesh Karthik and Rohit Sharma playing out of their skins to guide Mumbai to a huge total of 209. Delhi never looked in the hunt despite a valiant knock from David Warner. (BCCI Image)

Delhi Daredevils struck gold early removing both Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar, both of whom are struggling as of now, to rattle the hosts' top-order.

Before their dismissal though, both made synchronising moves at the crease. (BCCI Image)

Ponting was removed as he advanced down the track trying to hit one hard off Irfan Pathan. The former Australian skipper did not trouble the scorers.
Sachin was then joined at the crease by the in-form Dinesh Karthik but their partnership did not last too long either. Karthik's drive to mid-off off Ashish Nehra, was intercepted by Delhi skipper Mahela Jayawardena. Tendulkar could not turn back in time as Mahela was spot on with his accuracy. (BCCI Image)

It was then Karthik's turn yet again to impress. He had already expressed desire (in interviews) to not give his wicket away and carry his bat through. Nehra bore the brunt of his attack as a solid hook for six was followed by a couple of hits to the fence to fetch 16 runs of one over.
Umesh Yadav too got smacked for 15 in his second over as Karthik looked to take the game away from Delhi. (BCCI Image)

Rohit Sharma, who has struggled with the bat in recent times, meanwhile, tried to find his feet alongside the confident Karthik who raced to his fifty off 29 deliveries. Sharma scored a blistering 74* with 5 hits over the fence while Karthik hit 14 boundaries and 2 sixes. (BCCI Image)

Morne Morkel finally got rid of the hard-hitting Tamil Nadu lad for a blistering 86 off 48 balls. Morkel's delivery just straightened a tad bit and Karthik lobbed a simple catch to Jeevan Mendis at short cover. The damage had been done though. (BCCI Image)

Delhi might have thought that they could restrict Mumbai after Pollard's dismissal but Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu had other ideas. Rayudu hit a quick 24 off 8 balls while Sharma found his complete repertoire to take the score past 200. (BCCI Image)

Delhi started on the worst possible note as Unmukt Chand got his second golden duck in three matches. Harbhajan Singh, sent in to open the bowling, got one to skid and Unmukt got a leading edge. What followed was simply outstanding as 38-year old Mumbai skipper Ricky Ponting literally flew at extra cover to complete a brilliant catch. (BCCI Image)

Mitchell Johnson then accounted for Delhi's captain and possibly their best bet, Mahela Jayawardena. His thin edge was snapped up by wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik as Delhi slumped to 13/2. (BCCI Image)

Delhi too decided to do a Mumbai in their innings. Warner and young Manprit Juneja not only steadied the ship just as Karthik and Rohit had done, they also played freely to keep the visitors in hunt, but not for long. (BCCI Image)

Delhi though, never recovered from that jolt as Jeevan Mendis was dismissed caught and bowled Pollard without opening his account. (BCCI Image)

Irfan Pathan then joined Juneja but could only manage 10 runs before holding out to Johnson off the bowling of Pragyan Ojha. With Mumbai bowlers on top and sniffing victory, their spirits too rose to a new level.

Unfortunate Juneja just fell short of his half-century run-out by Rishi Dhawan. Mumbai though, had already sealed the match. (BCCI Image)

Lasith Malinga, returning from injury, too impressed with a flurry of yorkers and slower balls. He took the wicket of Kedar Jadhav. (BCCI Image)