Mumbai Indians beat Deccan Chargers 25 runs

Mumbai Indians beat Deccan Chargers by 25 runs in their Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Mumbai Indians were now on course of a semi-final berth, after notching up an impressive six victories in-a-row on Sunday. Chasing a target of 179 runs, Deccan Chargers lost momentum from the beginning, losing wickets in regular interval. Only Venugopal Rao played a gallant innings of 57 runs for the home side. Earlier, a sensible batting by Abhishek Nayar (38) and Dwayne Bravo (30) helped Mumbai Indians reach a competitive 178 for seven against Deccan Chargers in their crucial IPL Twenty20 match on Sunday. Nayar-Bravo combination put up important 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket when their team was struggling at 97 for 4 at one stage, after sent in to bat. RP Singh (3/35), who was most successful bowler for the hosts, dismissed both of them in the 18th over, dashing the visitors hope of setting a big target. However, the duo ensured the Mumbai team get enough runs on the board to make a fight out of it. Nayar, the top-scorer for the Mumbai team, hit three fours and two sixes in his knock while Bravo hit two boundaries and as many sixes in his innings. Earlier, Jayasuriya (36) looked unstoppable from the word go as he began the proceedings with a fine-leg boundary off P Vijaykumar and then hit him for a six on the fifth ball. The Sri Lankan then hit compatriot Nuwan Zoysa for three boundaries and one six in his first over to give a rollicking start to the visitors. This forced Adam Gilchrist to introduce Y Venugopal Rao, who did not disappoint his skipper and sent packing Jayasuriya, bringing relief for the hosts. After hitting Rao (2/25) for a couple of boundaries, the Sri Lankan swept the spinner for a big shot but could manage to find RP Singh in the deep. The left-handed opener took just 15-balls to score 39 and hit six fours and two sixes in his cameo. Dominic Thronely then joined his captain Sachin Tendulkar and the duo put together 33-runs for the second wicket. However the run-rate suffered as hosts bowlers bowled well. Then Shahid Afridi (2/23) dealt twin blow to the Mumbai team dismissing Tendulkar and Thornely in his second over to put his team in the driver's seat. Tendulkar lofted a Afridi delivery, trying to accelerate the run-rate but could not execute the shot and gave away a simple catch to Chamara Silva, who ran from covers to mid-off. This brought huge relief for Gilchrist as he had missed a stumping chance off Pragyan Ojha when Tendulkar came out of the crease attempting inside out by making room for himself. Afridi then trapped Thornely two balls later sending shock waves in the opponent's dressing room. The Mumbai team never recovered from these shocks and struggled to maintain a high run-rate after that.