Mumbai defend 120

PUNE: Tenacious Mumbai defend 120. In a very close game on a slow track Mumbai Indians bowled tightly to defend a small target of 120 runs.

The pick of the bowlers were Harbhajan and Malinga each picking up two wickets. The main culprit in Pune innings is their captain Ganguly.

He played in such a way as if he was promoting and test cricket and made only 16 runs in 24 balls. Manhas played a valuable knock of 42 runs but in the end it proved to be insufficient. The game was very close and and went up to haywire.

Pune needed 12 runs in last over but Munaf patel allowed them only nine. Mimbai Indians won the game by one run.

Earlier Mumbai Indians chose to bat after winning the toss and got good start. Sachin and Franklin add 50 runs for the first wicket.

Sachin played a slow innings of 34 runs. Franklin made 25 runs in 23 balls. But after that they lost their way and just manage to set a small target of 120 runs.

Nehra and Kumar bowled beautifully and picked two wickets each.

Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indians 120 for 9 (Tendulkar 34, Bhuvneshwar 2-9, Nehra 2-19)
Pune Warriors 119 for 6 (Manhas 42*, Harbhajan 2-18, Malinga 2-25)

Sourav Ganguly: Yes, we should have got to 120, was not an easy wicket, the ball did not come on to the bat. We lost a few wickets early, when I got out was the turning point of the game.

Harbhajan Singh: As he mentioned, the pitch was slow, low and it was difficult to play your strokes. We did not expect the pitch to play this way, bowlers would love to bowl here. Our bowlers did a great job. You got to be active and move fielders around in such situations, I can get a job as a traffic policeman with my kind of
hand movement.

Lasith Malinga wins the man of the match: I am used to pressure, whatever I do during the training session, I try to apply it on the field. I know my field and I bowl accordingly.