On a day when a persistent drizzle threatened to ensure that a match did not take place at all, a swift change in the weather allowed for a full game. And what a game it was. Rohit Sharma became the unlikeliest bowler to pick up a hat-trick in this tournament, snaring crucial wickets with his part-time offbreaks. Earlier in the day, Rohit had anchored the Chargers' innings with a knock of 38.
The Deccan Chargers seemed to be overly reliant on their openers Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs. Speedster Dhawal Kulkarni, who came into the playing eleven after Zaheer Khan was ruled out, bowled a magnificent first over, sharing the new ball with Lasith Malinga. After three dot balls, he clean bowled Gibbs for nought to set up the Deccan Chargers’ slide.
Rohit, who can be moody at the best of times, held the Deccan Chargers innings together just long enough for them to post a competitive score, but fell to an irresponsible shot, a tendency that has annoyed his coaches over the years.
The Deccan Chargers should have scored more than the 145 for 6 they managed after choosing to bat, and gave the Mumbai bowlers far more respect than they deserved in the circumstances.
Just like the Chargers, the Mumbai Indians too started badly. Much depended on heavyweight openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar but they fell off successive deliveries to R. P. Singh with only seven on the board. Pinal Shah unsettled the opposition with lusty blows and J. P. Duminy rediscovered form as Mumbai cantered towards the target. Then Rohit struck, getting rid of Abhishek Nayar, Harbhajan Singh and Duminy off three consecutive balls straddling two overs. The wheels came off the Mumbai innings handing the Chargers victory by 19 runs.
Just like the Chargers, the Mumbai Indians too started badly. Much depended on heavyweight openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar but they fell off successive deliveries to R. P. Singh with only seven on the board. Pinal Shah unsettled the opposition with lusty blows and J. P. Duminy rediscovered form as Mumbai cantered towards the target. Then Rohit struck, getting rid of Abhishek Nayar, Harbhajan Singh and Duminy off three consecutive balls straddling two overs. The wheels came off the Mumbai innings handing the Chargers victory by 19 runs.