Quick wickets put Mumbai in control

Mumbai: Harbhajan Singh turned it on with the bat in the last three overs to swing the game in Mumbai Indians' favour against the Deccan Chargers on Saturday. The off-spinner smashed a 49 not out off just 18 balls to take Mumbai to 172-7.

When Sachin Tendulkar perished in the 17th over for 55, Mumbai were struggling at 119-7 but Harbhajan's eight fours and two sixes helped Mumbai smash 52 runs in the last three overs at the DY Patil stadium.

After Adam Gilchrist elected to field, Mumbai were unable to get any momentum going in their innings as regular wickets kept pegging them back. The in-form Tendulkar held one end up but had to play a sedate innings with the Mumbai middle order crumbling. Mumbai lost five wickets for just 29 runs.

However, the game changed when Tendulkar fell after hitting nine boundaries and Harbhajan came to bat.

RP Singh was the most successful bowler with the left-armer picking three wickets for 31 runs.

The Mumbai Indians have just lost one game in the tournament so far and are sitting pretty at the top of the points table. The Deccan Chargers, on the other hand, have been patchy and will be looking to bounce back after being thumped by Rajasthan Royals in their lost game.

The Chargers made three changes in their line-up with VVS Laxman, Rahul Sharma and Chaminda Vaas made way for Mohnish Mishra, Jaskaran Singh and Kemar Roach, who makes his IPL debut.

The confident Mumbai Indians left out wicketkeeper Aditya Tare to bring in Ambati Rayudu.