… Pune Warriors triumph on IPL debut
(REUTERS)-Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga aimed his yorkers perfectly to pick up five wickets for 13 runs to help Mumbai Indians to a thumping win against Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday. Malinga clean bowled four out of the five batsmen he dismissed in his two spells and the Delhi outfit, led by Virender Sehwag, were skittled for a paltry 95 in just 17.4 overs at their home ground.
Sehwag was run out for 19 to a direct hit from Sachin Tendulkar, the captain of the Mumbai side, after hitting two boundaries and a huge six.
Tendulkar returned to remain unbeaten on 46 after opening the innings and brought up the win with a boundary with 19 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.
In the day’s other match, IPL debutants Pune Warriors made a winning start in their campaign by beating Kings XI Punjab by seven wickets at their home ground.
The Pune pace duo of Alfonso Thomas (2-27) and Shrikant Wagh (3-16) reduced the Punjab side to nine for four wickets after captain Adam Gilchrist won the toss and opted to bat first.
South African all-rounder Ryan McLaren waged a lone battle (51 not out) to take the Kings XI to 112-8 but it proved a simple target for the debutants as they overhauled it in just 13.1 overs despite losing Graeme Smith off the first ball.
Jesse Ryder (31) and Mithun Manhas (35) added 60 for the second wicket to take the Pune Warriors close before Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa blazed 45 for the unfinished fifth wicket to see the side home.