MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma shone with the bat as Mumbai Indians booked a semi-final berth in the Indian Premier League yesterday with a 32-run victory over Delhi Daredevils who are now out of contention.
Kolkata Knight Riders, second in the points table behind Mumbai, also brightened their playoff prospects, beating Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-marred home match at Eden Gardens.
Put into bat, opener Aiden Blizzard (37) gave Mumbai a rollicking start but Delhi pegged back the hosts by removing Sachin Tendulkar (14) and the Australian left-hander in successive overs.
Sharma (49) joined Rayudu (59) in the middle for a brisk 87-run partnership that powered Mumbai to a commanding 178-4 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Delhi lost their top four batsmen, including skipper Virender Sehwag (2), inside three overs and could not recover from the early setbacks.
James Hopes (55) and Y Venugopal Rao (37) helped them to 146 all out with a ball to spare.
In Kolkata, Chennai struggled to get going on a sluggish track following a rain delay and the side under Indian national skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni eventually managed 114-4, a total they owed mainly to Subramaniam Badrinath (54) and Albie Morkel (30 not out).
Kolkata were 61-2 after 10 overs in their chase when another rain interruption prompted the officials to call off the match with the home team 10 runs ahead of the par score under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
