Rohit Sharma shines as Johnson finishes for Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma struck a gorgeous 62*, which, backed by splendid bowling, sealed the game for the Mumbai Indians against the Pune Warriors, as they won by 41 runs. Rohit Sharma, though taking a little bit of time to settle in, batted brilliantly in the last five overs to take the Mumbai Indians score past 180-odd runs.

Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik re-constructed the innings for the Mumbai Indians following their openers’ dismissal. Sachin Tendulkar played a fabulous innings off 44 (29), while Ricky Ponting once again failed to score, though he got the start, getting dismissed for 14. Dinesh Karthik and Rohit Sharma kept the momentum going as the duo put on an incredible partnership off 55 runs off just 42 balls. Dinesh Karthik looked in fine touch and carried on his form that he showed against Delhi Daredevils, while his partner Rohit Sharma was building the pressure on him to score the runs. Dinesh Karthik, however, was dismissed for an elegant 41, leaving the score at 115/3 after 15 overs.

Ponting, intelligently, promoted Pollard up the order in order to score some quick runs and take the score past 170-odd runs. However, Rohit Sharma seemed to have dominated the last five overs as the Mumbai Indians produced 68 runs, with Rohit Sharma scoring 40 runs of them. Mumbai Indians finally ended their innings at 183 for the loss of 3 wickets.

Pune Warriors did not have a good day in the field as their bowlers were smacked all round the park. Dinda was expensive among the other bowlers as his figures read 4-0-62-0. Even their most reliable spinner, Rahul Sharma, was taken for runs without difficulty by the Mumbai Indians.

The wicket remained dry and was good enough to bat on. But the target was too high for the Pune Warriors as they had no other option other than attacking.

Mitchell Johnson bowled superbly in the first spell as he grabbed couple of wickets in the first and second over, to leave the Warriors tottering at 13/3. The Mumbai Indians’ bowlers were disciplined enough as they bowled a tight length that made life difficult for the Warriors stroke makers. They kept chipping away with the wickets at regular intervals, before Mathews and Yuvraj gave some hope for the Warriors as the duo looked comfortable at the wicket.

Yuvraj’s (24) wicket in the 9th over reduced the hopes for the Warriors as Mathews and Suman followed Yuvraj in quick succession. Their shot selection wasn’t right, and the running between the wickets wasn’t good enough to secure a win for the Pune Warriors.

Australia’s Mitchell Marsh brought the crowd alive as he struck some magnificent boundaries off Johnson in the 15th over, but couldn’t capitalize as he was dismissed for 38. Soon after, Mumbai Indians ran through the Pune Warriors tailenders and Pune Warriors could only manage 142 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.

Mumbai Indians thoroughly dominated this game, while Pune Warriors need to strengthen their bowling attack in death overs especially against a side like Mumbai Indians.

Mumbai Indians play their next game against Pune Warriors at Pune on April 17, while Pune Warriors play their next game against Chennai Super Kings on April 15.