Mumbai Indians were better placed on the points table than Royal Challengers Bangalore before the start of this crucial clash at the Wankhede Stadium. And that might explain Bangalore's commitment and intent - in all three departments of the game - and Mumbai's lack of it. As a result of the difference in attitude as well as Bangalore exploiting the pitch better than the hosts, the tone was set early on. Despite a comprehensive Bangalore win by nine wickets, Mumbai stayed in third spot, while the visitors moved into fourth.
It was a strange pitch for Mumbai to have prepared for a home match, with appreciable bounce and carry from the start. And with Bangalore bowling first, Zaheer Khan, R Vinay Kumar and Harshal Patel were in business straightaway. James Franklin and Rohit Sharma fell early. Sachin Tendulkar played and missed a fair bit as Mumbai stuttered to just 12 after the first five overs, and then just 25 at the end of the six powerplay overs.
Tendulkar did find his bearings after that, but fell to a top-edged pull off Patel for a 27-ball 24. The task of consolidation was left to Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu. Scoring was tough, but the two fought hard, scoring at just over a run a ball to bring the innings back on track.
Despite that, it looked unlikely that Mumbai would cross 125 till Harbhajan Singh and Kieron Pollard got together. In the 19th over of the innings, Harbhajan struck two fours off Zaheer, and then in the last over, Pollard went over the square-leg boundary twice to take the hosts to 141 for six. Not big, but competitive. Or so it seemed.
As far as the Bangalore reply was concerned, it was always a matter of batting sensibly and staying abreast of the asking rate. Chris Gayle ensured that was the case, even though his opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan fell in the ninth over for a rather sedate 25-ball 19. Virat Kohli came in and, like he has throughout this year's Indian Premier League, grafted for his runs.
Things remained relatively quiet till it came to the 11th over of the innings, bowled by Pragyan Ojha. The first four balls went well and then he dished out a leg-stump full toss. Six. The next one was another full toss - a no-ball above the waist - and was dispatched for another six. The extra delivery was over-pitched and easily dispatched over long-off. Pollard bowled his three overs at an economy rate of 11.00, and the die was clearly cast.
Kohli wrapped things up off the last delivery of the 18th over, a big straight six off Rohit Sharma. A huge win, and one that worked wonders for Bangalore's net run rate, while sending Mumbai back to the drawing board with two qualification spots still left to play for.
