Bravo and Tendulkar dazzle in Mumbai Indians victory

CENTURION, South Africa, (Reuters) – Dwayne Bravo and  Sachin Tendulkar led the Mumbai Indians to an eight-wicket  victory over the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League  (IPL) yesterday.

Fourth-placed Mumbai now have 11 points from 11 matches, a  point behind the Deccan Chargers and two adrift of the Chennai  Super Kings. The Delhi Daredevils are top with 14 points from  nine games.

The Bangalore Royal Challengers (10 points from 11 games)  also stayed in the hunt for a place in the semi-final knockout  stages by beating the Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in  the opening match of the Centurion double-header.

Punjab opener Sunny Sohal blasted a quickfire 43 but the  innings almost ground to a halt when Mumbai off-spinners  Harbhajan Singh and JP Duminy were introduced.

Duminy picked up two for 15 while Harbhajan took one for  nine in four overs as Punjab limped to 119 for nine in 20 overs.

Mumbai’s reply started badly when Sanath Jayasuriya was  caught at third man off Brett Lee for four.

However, West Indian all-rounder Bravo and Indian great  Tendulkar shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 82 to carry  the Kings XI to victory with 22 deliveries to spare.

Bravo stroked 70 not out off 59 balls while Tendulkar  cruised to 41 not out from 29 deliveries.

Earlier, Kolkata’s bowlers failed to defend a score of 173  for four against Bangalore.

Kolkata were put in to bat and were in trouble at 21 for two  before being rescued by 84 not out in 64 balls from  New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum, who hit 10 fours and two  sixes.

Another Kiwi, Ross Taylor, then stole McCullum’s thunder as  he lashed 81 not out in 33 deliveries to steer Bangalore to  victory with four balls left.

Taylor bludgeoned seven fours and five sixes.