Chasing 119 to win appeared a walk in the park for Mumbai Indians. Orange Cap holder Sachin Tendulkar (35 off 39) and Ambati Rayudu, an able aide at the crease, picked off the runs with ease.
But, with five runs required off the last over by Murali Kartik, the match took an unexpected twist as Andrew Symonds survived two run-outs before Rohit Sharma lashed a last-ball six to seal a heart-stopping seven-wicket victory over Pune Warriors in the DLF IPL match.
Sharma cleared the extra-cover fence on the final ball as MI sneaked home leaving Warriors shaking heads in disbelief at being denied a win courageously defending 118.
Rayudu had a busy day on the field, hyperactive behind the sticks and supremely confident at the crease. He mocked the bowling with improvised shots, his timing was awesome, but fell to an audacious slog, having bettered his captain's score with 37 off 40 by then.
Uthappa's poise and timing earlier created the impression that he was on a different wavelength, batting on a different wicket. The huge Wankhede stands buzzing with excitement brought out the marauder in him, judging length early and using those powerful shoulders and arms to clear the ropes with ridiculous ease.
He favoured the straight boundary and drove MI bowlers to despair until Pollard produced a moment of fielding magic at long-on. Murtaza dropped short on seeing the batsman stepping out, Uthappa connected and looked on as the ball looped downwards. Pollard took a moment to judge the flight of the ball and lunged like a goalkeeper to complete an astounding catch and knelt in celebration, hands stretched out as if awaiting his reward. Each one of his MI teammates rushed to partake of the joy, skipper Tendulkar walked across the field to link arms.
Warriors' quest for a partnership to build on the momentum generated by Uthappa's assault didn't happen, Kartik tried the hardest by rotating strike during a six-wicket stand worth 35 runs. Munaf was frugal as usual, allowing batsmen to score a mere eight runs in 2.2 overs and striking a double blow for MI via dismissals of opener Tim Paine and mainstay Yuvraj in one over. Malinga (two for 18) commanded respect without intimidating batsmen with his swinging yorkers.
MI opened with Ali Murtaza and the left-arm spinner hit the length straightaway. Ryder survived a stumping appeal, looked in the groove with two lofted hits into the fence before Tendulkar scrambled back at mid-wicket to make a tough catch look easy.
The troubles for Pune Warriors were just beginning. Manhas was beaten by swing and edged behind, Paine swung and missed against Munaf. Yuvraj blocked the first ball, attempted to drive the second without moving his feet in line against the India seamer and Rayudu did the rest.
Pune Warrriors had lost the plot when losing four wickets for 17 runs, half the team back in the dugout in the ninth over and 60 for five at the halfway mark. Malinga returned with his slingers for his second spell and Uthappa greeted him with a ferocious drive on the fifth ball over the Lankan's head. A sharp bouncer from Malinga next ball saw the batsman weaving out of range.
James Franklin's first over gave the harassed batsmen some respite with two free-hits off successive no-balls.
Malinga made things happen in an eventful 13th over, starting with a no-ball which Uthappa lofted towards mid-wicket. Tendulkar tumbled to collect and threw down the stumps at the non-striker's end. The second ball flew along the carpet to the cover fence as Uthappa leant into the stroke.
The Lankan slinger got his reward with a wicket off the sixth ball, Kartik holing out to Symonds.
Harbhajan Singh and Davy Jacobs sat out this home match, the former on the injury list and the latter dropped.
Scoreboard
Pune Warriors: J. Ryder c Tendulkar b Nachim 12 (15b, 2x4), T. Paine b Munaf 2 (9b), M. Manhas c Rayudu b Nachim 0 (1b), R. Uthappa c Pollard b Murtaza 45 (37b, 6x4, 1x6), Yuvraj Singh c Rayudu b Munaf 0 (2b), M. Mishra c Sharma b Murtaza 12 (10b, 2x4), M. Kartik c Symonds b Malinga 11 (13b, 1x4), W. Parnell b Franklin 9 (8b, 1x4), R. Sharma c Murtaza b Munaf 13 (9b, 1x4, 1x6), S. Wagh c Symonds b Malinga 2 (2b), A. Thomas (not out) 0 (2b); Extras (nb-4, lb-6, w-2): 12; Total (in 17.2 overs): 118.
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-17, 3-17, 4-17, 5-52, 6-87, 7-98, 8-111, 9-118.
Mumbai Indians bowling: Murtaza 4-0-18-2, Malinga 4-0-28-2, Nachim 3-1-13-2, Patel 2.2-0-8-3, Pollard 1-0-13-0, Franklin 3-0-32-1.
Mumbai Indians: J. Franklin c Manhas b Wagh 6 (8b, 1x4), S. Tendulkar c Alfonso b Rahul 35 (39b, 2x4), A. Rayudu c Rahul b Alfonso 37 (40b, 4x4), Rohit Sharma (not out) 20 (18b, 1x4, 1x6), A. Symonds (not out) 16 (15b, 2x4); Extras (b-2, lb-6,w-2): 10; Total (for three wkts. in 20 overs): 124.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-83, 3-89.
Pune Warriors bowling: Thomas 4-0-16-1, Wagh 2-0-9-1, Kartik 4-0-29-0, Parnell 4-0-28-0, Sharma 3-0-14-1, Ryder 2-0-15-0, Yuvraj 1-0-5-0.
Man of the match: Munaf Patel
