Mumbai Indians Rule IPL Roost

It was a good weekend all round for Mumbai Indians. A comfortable 37 run win over Deccan Chargers returned them to the top of the IPL points table after six games and the individual accolades keep coming for their star performers.

Sachin Tendulkar, left, and Lasith Malinga are the IPL’s top performers and are spearheading Mumbai Indians’ challenge for the title

The orange cap, worn by the tournament’s leading run scorer, found its way onto the top of Sachin Tendulkar’s head on Sunday during the win over Deccan. On his 38th birthday the Little Master scored 28 runs, taking him eight runs clear of Kings XI Punjab’s Paul Valthaty at the top of the run scoring charts.

Tendulkar now has 269 runs in IPL 4, leading the way from Valthaty, Jacques Kallis, David Warner and teammate Ambati Rayudu – the only other players to have passed the 200 mark so far.

In the wicket taking charts it is Sri Lankan seamer Lasith Malinga who continues to be almost unplayable. His hugely impressive four over spell against Deccan yielded three wickets for the concession of just nine runs and cemented his place at the top of the wicket taking charts.

Malinga now has 16 wickets and is the only man into double figures in that regard. His closest challenger is Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne on nine.

Whilst the orange cap will doubtless sit on a few different heads throughout the remainder of IPL 4, it is difficult to envisage anyone other than Malinga wearing the purple cap that is awarded to the top wicket taker.

With 29 matches now having been played, the table is starting to take its true form. Mumbai look well set at the top with 10 points, whilst Deccan Chargers have much work to do at the foot of the table on four points. They are joined by Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors, but both have a game in hand on Deccan. Royal Challengers Bangalore sit uncomfortably above this triumvirate on five points from their six games.

There is, however, still a long way to go. If Mumbai manage to keep Tendulkar and Malinga in full flow, though, they will be a very difficult to side to stop as they look to go one better on last year’s defeat to Chennai Super Kings in the final.

Another ominous fact for their rest of the sides is that IPL 4 hasn’t yet seen the best Kieron Pollard…

Sachin Tendulkar, left, and Lasith Malinga are the IPL's top performers and are spearheading Mumbai Indians' challenge for the title

Gilchrist Century Destroy’s Mumbai

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A breathtaking century from Adam Gilchrist gave the Deccan Chargers their maiden IPL victory as they crushed Mumbai Indians at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai.

Gilchrist’s unbeaten century came from just 48 balls and included 10 sixes as the Chargers won the game after reaching the target of 155 set by Mumbai in just 12.4 overs without losing a wicket.

Good bowling performances from the Chargers restricted Mumbai to 154-7 from their 20 overs. Notably R.P Singh, who finished with figures of 2-15 from his 4 overs. Despite lower order 30’s from Nayar, Pollock and Dwayne Bravo, Mumbai were well short of posting a good target on a pitch that suited the batsmen.

When it was Hyderabads turn to bat the Mumbai bowlers were tired from playing their third game in five days and never really threatened the Deccan batsmen as Gilchrist and VVS Laxman (36) stormed to victory by ten wickets. Pollock the captain made seven bowling changes in the first ten overs but Gilchrist was in the sort of mood that saw him score that super fast century against England in 2006. The mans still got it!

Final result: Deccan Chargers beat the Mumbai Indians by 10 wickets.

Watch Gilchrist’s Innings:

Symonds Century Not Enough For Hyderabad

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Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals overcame the Deccan Chargers by 3 wickets despite a blazing century from Andrew Symonds at the Rajiv Ghandi Stadium in Hyderabad.

Symonds scored 117 from just 53 balls including 11 boundaries and 7 sixes. Hyderabad started poorly with Gilchrist, Laxman and Afridi falling cheaply to Yusuf Pathan and Warne but Symonds more than made up for the poor start, partnering Rohit Sharma (36) for 111 runs to guide the Chargers to a final score of 214-5 from 20 overs.

Rajasthan started much better than Hyderabad and that was helped when Laxman used rookie bowler Pragyan Ojha in the six over. An over which conceded 16 runs. Despite losing Kamran Akmal for 12, Rajasthan were motoring along with Graeme Smith (71) and Yusuf Pathan (61) joining for a 98 run partnership. The Royals went past 100 after just 8.3 overs. When those two were out though, it was Warne’s turn for heroics. In a final over, Rajasthan needed 17 runs and Warne scored two sixes against his former Australian team mate to spark wild celebrations.

Final result: Rajasthan Royals beat Deccan Chargers by 3 wickets.