IPL-3: Mumbai Indians Vs. Delhi Daredevils - - Scahin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indian Tasted Clinical Victory; Scintillating Knock by Saurabh Tiwary

A packed theatre greeted the players and the celebrated actors did not fail to perform. But only in the first half!

It was a night of unbridled entertainment as long as Sachin Tendulkar was at the centre of the show. His innings, not to forget the smart work by Saurabh Tiwary, set the trend and Mumbai Indians ended a clear winner by 98 runs against Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.

Hopelessly placed

The margin of victory was big mainly because Delhi Daredevils lacked the initial punch. Virender Sehwag and Tillakaratne Dilshan did not quite measure up to the task and the injury to Gautam Gambhir meant the home team was hopelessly placed even before the second half of the contest was ten overs old. The Delhi skipper had limped off with a suspected hamstring injury early in the game.

The pitch at the Ferozeshah Kotla was ideal and the fare exciting. It had to be with Tendulkar excelling as is his wont. He walked in and walked out to a thunderous ovation, matching his young partners when snatching the ones and twos. It was some sight to see the maestro scamper a third run at the danger end; he indeed was enjoying his stint.

The quality that Tendulkar brought to his batting marked the character of the Mumbai Indians innings after being put in. It was a challenge that was accepted in a belligerent manner and Delhi struggled to stay in the game despite the cheap dismissal of Sanath Jayasuriya.

Tiwary scintillates

Tiwary, his rock star appearance a huge hit with the spectators, won their hearts too with his flowing strokeplay. The Jharkhand left-hander backed himself to often hit through the line. His unflinching desire to live up to the nice words that Tendulkar had to say about him the other day enabled the lanky batsman to make the most of the situation and leave his mark.

Tiwary did not just swing his bat. He used it quite purposefully, learning his lessons very well from Tendulkar at the other end. There was a distinct method in Tendulkar's scoring. His shots were controlled, as seen in a steer that he produced with a deft trademark touch.

He chose not to slog and sent the right message to Tiwary, who was impressive all the way. A cameo by Ambati Rayudu was a pleasant reminder of the Hyderabad cricketer's ability to play shots even off good deliveries.

The match was a huge disappointment for the house as Delhi capitulated to suffer its first defeat in three matches. Mumbai Indians reinforced the growing belief that it will be the team to watch in this edition of the IPL.

The scores:

Mumbai Indians: S. Jayasuriya c (sub) Nagar b Maharoof 7 (10b, 1x4), S. Tendulkar c (sub) Nagar b Mishra 63 (32b, 11x4), A. Tare b Sangwan 17 (10b, 2x6), S. Tiwary (run out) 61 (37b, 4x4, 3x6), A. Rayudu c Dilshan b Maharoof 34 (21b, 1x4, 3x6); K. Pollard st. Karthik b Ladda 10 (8b, 2x4), D. Bravo c Manhas b Ladda 9 (4b, 1x6), R. Sathish (not out) 0, Extras (b-2, lb-2, nb-2, w-11) 17, Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs) 218.

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-74, 3-122, 4-193, 5-205, 6-214, 7-218.

Delhi Daredevils bowling: Nannes 4-0-35-0, Maharoof 4-0-50-2, Sangwan 4-0-41-1, Ladda 4-0-44-2, Mishra 4-0-44-1.

Delhi Daredevils: T. Dilshan b Malinga 17 (12b, 3x4), V. Sehwag c Rayudu b Bravo 26 (16b, 4x4), A.B. de Villiers b Bravo 11 (11b, 2x4), F. Maharoof st. Tare b Jayasuriya 28 (18b, 2x4, 2x6), D. Karthik st. Tare b Harbhajan 16 (6b, 3x4), M. Manhas c Sathish b Jayasuriya 1 (3b), A. Mishra b Pollard 3 (5b), P. Sangwan (run out) 4 (9b), S. Ladda (not out) 0 (8b), D. Nannes b Harbhajan 3 (11b), G. Gambhir (absent hurt), Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-8) 11, Total (for nine wkts. in 16.3 overs) 120.

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-56, 3-58, 4-79, 5-80, 6-106, 7-115, 8-116, 9-120.

Mumbai Indians bowling: Zaheer 2-0-20-0, Malinga 2-0-22-1, Bravo 2-0-11-2, Pollard 4-0-24-1, Harbhajan 2.3-0-23-2, Jayasuriya 4-0-17-2.