Virtually all over for Pune after defeat to Mumbai

It's mission impossible for Pune, who despite roping in Ganguly, will find it hard to survive in the IPL. Last night's defeat to mumbai was their seventh on the trot

Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians were in a dominant mood yet again against Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League last night.

Chasing 161, none of the Pune Warriors batsmen except Manish Pandey got going as Mumbai Indians thrashed them by 21 runs at the DY Patil Stadium. Pune are virtually out of the tournament.

Pandey batted for 91 minutes to score 59 runs in 47 balls. Robin Uthappa (34 not out) played a few attacking shots in the end, but it was not enough as Pune finished at 139-7.

Harbhajan Singh gave Mumbai Indians a fiery start, dismissing Jesse Ryder off the first ball in Pune Warriors' innings. A few overs later, Munaf Patel removed Graeme Smith for six runs. It was enough to stifle Pune's run rate to below six per over.

Mumbai had a chance to get Pandey out immediately after the time-out was taken in the ninth over, but skipper Tendulkar tripped at extra cover. Dhawal Kulkarni, who got his first game of the season, came back well in his second spell conceding just 14 runs in three overs after going for six runs in the first.

Pune batters clearly found it tough to cope with the asking rate, which was mounting like India's inflation rate.
Yuvraj looked vulnerable from the moment he arrived at the crease. Though he managed to put a couple of deliveries over the ropes, he never looked fluent in his strokeplay.

He eventually fell for 20 to Lasith Malinga's short delivery directed at his body. He managed to get out of the way, but not the bat. The ball rocketed to Munaf Patel at third man.

Malinga starred with the ball, taking three wickets for 25 runs. Earlier, Pune's bowlers did exceedingly well to keep Mumbai under control. At the end of 17th over, Mumbai were languishing at 114 for five, but Kieron Pollard changed the tempo of the game soon after he took charge.

Pollard single-handedly took on the Pune attack and helped Mumbai Indians post 160 for seven in 20 overs.