Pune, May 11: Mumbai Indians inched closer to earning a play-off berth as they rode on a disciplined bowling performance to eke out a five-wicket win over Pune Warriors in a Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) match here today.
Mitchell Johnson led the way with an economical figures of 2/8 off his four overs before skipper Rohit Sharma's patient knock of 37 off 41 balls guided Mumbai to a win with seven balls to spare at the Sahara Subrata Roy International Stadium.
Speedsters Lasith Malinga and Abu Nechim Ahmed, too, came up with impressive performances, picking up two wickets each.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also impressed with a spell of one for 14, which included the wicket of Yuvraj Singh, who was the lone bright spot for the Warriors with a 29-ball 33.
Chasing a modest total, Mumbai were off to a disastrous start, losing opener Dwayne Smith in the innings' first delivery, the batsman's off-stump knocked over by Ashok Dinda.
Sachin Tendulkar helped himself to a few boundaries before Ajantha Mendis had the veteran batsman caught at long-on by Manish Pandey. It was the carrom ball and Tendulkar tried play it over the bowler's head.
And when Dinesh Karthik slog-swept a Yuvraj delivery straight to the waiting hands of long-off fielder Pandey, it seemed Mumbai were intent on making a heavy weather of the chase.
Ambati Rayudu smashed a few quick runs with the help of two fours and a six, but he failed to see the visitors through as Dinda had him caught at deep square-leg.
Sharma, however, was composed at the other end.
With Mumbai needing 13 off the last three overs, their latest million-dollar signing, Glenn Maxwell, playing in his first match, hit Dinda for a four and six to make the scores level.
Sharma, after doing all the hard work, got out to Kane Richardson before Harbhajan lofted the bower over extra cover to complete the chase.
