Sharma heroics ensure Deccan win

Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians, IPL, Centurion

Deccan Chargers 145 for 6 (Sharma 38) beat Mumbai Indians 126 for 8 (Duminy 52, Sharma 4-6) by 19 runs

Mumbai Indians squandered a crucial opportunity to grab a spot in the top four, losing to Deccan Chargers by 19 runs in a see-saw game where they had held the cards for the most part. An unlikely hat-trick by Rohit Sharma, which included the wicket of a threatening JP Duminy, followed up on a pivotal double-strike by RP Singh to remove the explosive pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya to shut Mumbai out of the game.

Deccan Chargers 145 for 6 (Sharma 38) v Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians' bowlers kept Deccan Chargers on a leash, limiting them to 145 for 6   

Failure up the order had proved pivotal in Deccan Charger's stark turnaround after emerging frontrunners in the tournament with four consecutive wins, and proved their undoing yet again as they struggled to a competitive score on a sluggish pitch at Supersport Park. In a competition where spinners have thrived, it was Mumbai Indians' pace attack that gave them the initiative, with their two new inclusions Dhawal Kulkarni and Rohan Raje impressing in their respective spells.

Glichrist's decision to bat was motivated by a hard, dry surface which he felt would last out the day, but Deccan did have to contend with an out-of-touch Gibbs struggling to find his groove at the other end. Mumbai bowled to a plan, and while Lasith Malinga seemed intent on targeting the batsman's toes, his new-ball partner Kulkarni concentrated on probing the right-hander with the away swinger. He didn't have to wait too long as Gibbs, desperate for some form, was sucked into a drive off just his fourth ball that he edged to Tendulkar to finish with two ducks in his last three innings.

Tirumalasetti Suman merited a promotion after chipping in with useful contributions in the middle order in each of Deccan's three successive defeats, and almost justified the move with two sweetly-struck sixes over the bowler's head in Harbhajan Singh's first over. But he failed to live up to the promise, giving into temptation trying to cut a short ball from Dwayne Bravo who induced an edge with some extra bounce.

It's not very often that Gilchrist cedes the floor to another batsman, but his guarded approach with Suman going strong at the other end, assumed a naturally aggressive tone once he fell, signaled by a monstrous six over deep midwicket - again off poor Harbhajan - that landed on the roof. But Mumbai's new selections continued to be vindicated as even the seasoned Gilchrist failed to curb his frustration with the modest run-rate, swinging across the line to be bowled by an unspectacular, yet accurate Rohan Raje.