Sunrisers crush Mumbai

It was an out and out Shikar Dhawan show in the Sunrisers Hyderabad-Mumbai Indians' IPL VI contest at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday. This is the fourth successive win for the Hyderabad outfit on home ground. On a day when the home team could do no wrong, it rose as a collective unit to humiliate Mumbai Indians by seven wickets after having them restricted for 129 for four wickets. Hyderabad achieved the target losing three wickets. They are now on 12 points from ten outings and stand on par with Mumbai and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Shikhar Dhawan proved that with him in the ranks, Hyderabad was a potent threat for a top four finish. His lusty blows from 55 balls that was worth an undefeated 73 and an enterprising 74 runs partnership with local boy Hanuma Vihari took the match away from the visitors after Kumar Sangakkara was removed by Harbhajan Singh by a dream delivery. Earlier, Ambati Rayudu, who was lustily cheered by the local fans, and Kieron Pollard, playing an uncharacteristic slow innings, did a good rescue act by putting together runs 50 runs 44 balls for the fifth wicket. The large crowd was disappointed at the early exit of Sachin Tendulkar who was clean bowled by Ishanth Sharma after having scored 14 runs from 12 balls. Man of the match Sharma and Amit Mishra continued their impressive form by bowling to a plan leaving the batsmen no chance to settle down or score freely. Dale Steyn was rather expensive while giving away 27 runs in his four overs. Karan Sharma conceded 25 runs in his four overs. Earlier, Rohit Sharma called it right and opted to bat first. Brief scores: Mumbai India 129 for four wickets in 20 overs (Dwayne Smith 38, Ambati Rayudu 34 no, K Pollard 14 no, Ishanth Sharma 2/14, Amit Mishra 2/24) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad 130 for 3 (Shikhar Dhawan 73 no, GH Vihari 25, Kumar Sangakkara 23). Neelesh K Joshi