Mumbai Indians hanging by thread

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians humbled Delhi Daredevils by 15 runs to register their third successive and sixth overall in this edition of the IPL at Wankhede stadium here on Friday. In a bid to improve their net run-rate and keep their play-off hopes alive, Mumbai openers started aggressively but the middle-order failed to build on it as they set a target of 174. Michael Husssey (56, 33b, 7x4, 2x6) and Lendl Simmons (35, 25b, 5x4) put on yet another half-century stand (87 runs) — third on the trot — in eight overs. Rohit Sharma (30, 21b, 4x4) also came up with a handy knock.

Chasing 174 for their first victory this season on Indian soil, skipper Kevin Pietersen (44, 31b, 6x4, 1x6) provided Delhi Daredevils a fluent start, but Mumbai’s brilliant bowling meant they ended up 15 runs short despite having six wickets in hand. Pietersen took special liking for Mumbai debutant Marchant de Lange (2/32) and Jasprit Bumrah (0/36). Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (0/33) who was drafted into the playing XI — as a replacement for injured Praveen Kumar, after Delhi won the toss, wasn’t effective either. The visitors were 47/1 after six overs but Pietersen found it tough against spinners.