Mumbai Indians’ were this evening humbled by the Delhi Daredevils in Sharjah, with Delhi chasing down the Mumbai target of 126 with 11.1 overs to spare.
The only moment the defending champions got right was when Rohit Sharma won the toss and things never looked up for Mumbai thereafter.
The battle of the bottom-dwellers in this year’s Indian Premier League was won by Delhi by six wickets, which leaves the Indians as the only team at this stage without a win.
They now play their last match in the UAE on Wednesday against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The defending champions made widespread changes to their team, as promised by coach John Wright after their last defeat, but it wasn't enough to change the side's fortunes.
Mike Hussey was pushed down the order and captain Sharma, who looked in great nick in the last match, took over the responsibility of opening with Aditya Tare.
Earlier in the day, Mumbai made the grand announcement of bringing back Ricky Ponting in an ‘advisory role’, but even the combined presence of the Aussie great and mentor Sachin Tendulkar – the two highest run-getters in the history of Test cricket with a combined total of 29,299 runs – could not provide them the inspiration.
Once Sharma was run out in the second over – thanks to some quick thinking and even quicker reflexes by bowler Mohammed Shami – it was a procession of wickets as none of their batsmen applied themselves on the turning, yet batsman-friendly, pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The change of batting order just did not work out. Sharma contributed four, while Hussey, at No5, made 10 in 18 balls before he was clean bowled by a superb slower yorker of Jaydev Unadkat, and the reliable Ambati Rayudu was caught in the deep for 14 off 21 balls.
When it came to their turn to bowl, their chances of victory grew even slimer with a mixture of misfortune and poor contributions ensuring their rapid demise.
In Malinga’s fourth over, Delhi were awarded five penalty runs when a wide ball down the leg hit the gloves of the wicketkeeper Gautam, and ricocheted into the helmet behind him. The batsmen ran a single as well, just to rub further salt into their many wounds.
Delhi bastmen batted with great common sense to see their side home in 38.5 overs.
Murali Vijay top-scored with 40 in 34 balls, while captain Kevin Pietersen (26 not out in 18 balls) ensured there were no scares in their side's chase alongside the company of Kedar Jadhav (14 not out in 10 balls).
