Mumbai bite the dust again: Defending champions lose to Sunrisers for fifth defeat in a row

By Mail Today Reporter

Published: 00:17 BST, 1 May 2014 | Updated: 00:17 BST, 1 May 2014

Mumbai Indians will leave the UAE shores without a single victory in the first leg of the Indian Premier League, as the defending champions slumped to their fifth straight defeat after losing by 15 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai on Wednesday.

Powered by David Warner's 65-run knock and his 111-run partnership with Lokesh Rahul (46), soulofcricketer.mystrikingly.com Hyderabad overcame a shaky start to score a competitive 172 for five after being invited to bat.

After losing three quick wickets, Mumbai fought through big-hitting Kieron Pollard (78) and Ambati Rayudu (35 off 27) but all they could manage was 157 for seven in the end.

The defeat means Mumbai Indians now need to win most of the nine matches in the Indian leg to make it to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Pollard prevented it from becoming a one-sided match with his scintillating 48-ball knock, embellished with six sixes and three fours.

Irfan Pathan bowled Pollard off the first ball of the final over, in which Mumbai needed 20 runs.

It was Pollard, who had brought Mumbai this far and his wicket at the crucial juncture dashed the hopes of the defending champions.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar also played a stellar role in Hyderabad's win as he gave away just 17 runs and took two wickets.

Led by the ferocious Dale Steyn, the Hyderabad attack rocked the Mumbai top order with three quick wickets.

Bhuvneshwar was miserly in his twoover spell as he conceded just three runs and also got rival skipper Rohit Sharma (1).

Steyn had Corey Anderson (1) caught with a well-directed bouncer.

Darren Sammy joined the party by castling opener Ben Dunk (20), reducing Mumbai to 31 for 3 inside the Powerplay. Earlier, Warner worked hard for his runs initially but once he got his eye in, the Australian left-hander scored runs at a brisk pace.

He hit more sixes (four) than fours (one) in his 51-ball knock before departing towards the end of the innings.

Rahul also contributed to Hyderabad's total by supporting Warner in their thirdwicket stand, following cheap dismissal of their openers.