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IPL 2011: Mumbai Indians beat Pune Warriors


Pune Warriors extended hosts Mumbai Indians to the final ball of the game in what should have been a simple win for Sachin Tendulkar's team. After Munaf Patel led Mumbai's bowlers in bowling out Pune for 118, the target seemed easy. But Tendulkar (35) and Rayudu (37) fell in quick sequence leaving Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds to score six off the last over and a single off the final ball by Murali Kartik. Rohit slapped the ball over extra cover for six to complete the seven-wicket win.

With surgical cut with the ball, Mumbai bundled out Warriors in 17.2 overs - their lowest so far this season. After losing James Franklin (6) cheaply, Tendulkar and Rayudu added 74 runs for the second wicket to lead an easy chase. However, Rahul Sharma struck in the 14th over to get rid of Tendulkar trying to go over long-off for six. The master batsman was dismissed for the first time in the contest after having made unbeaten scores of 46, 55 and 100 in the three previous matches. The in-form Rayudu soon followed trying to finish the proceedings in a hurry.

This was Mumbai's third win in four games after losing their previous encounter against Kochi Tuskers Kerala by eight wickets. Abu Nechim, playing his first game of the season, and Munaf rocked the high-flying Pune Warriors early. Electing to bat first, Pune lost their four top-order batsmen, including skipper Yuvraj Singh, with only 17 runs. Robin Uthappa resisted Mumbai's march by making 45 runs off 37 balls with six fours and a six. Kieron Pollard took a stunning catch at long-on off Ali Murtaza to end his innings.

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