Smith’s form continues but Mumbai lose

HYDERABAD, India,  CMC – Barbados and West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith extended his rich vein of form but his Mumbai Indians crashed to a surprise seven-wicket defeat to West Indies captain Darren Sammy’s Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League yesterday.

The right-handed Smith made a uncharacteristically patient top score of 38 off 40 balls as Mumbai were restricted to a amazingly paltry 129 for four from their 20 overs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

He struck three fours and two sixes, putting on 42 off 44 deliveries for the third wicket with Rohit Sharma (22) before falling in the 13th over, lbw to leg-spinner Amit Misha (2-24).

Smith’s West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard struck 14 from 19 balls.

In reply, Mumbai cruised to their target off 18 overs, with opener Shikhar Dhawan top scoring with an unbeaten 73.

In Raipur, Sunil Narine’s Kolkara Knight Riders plunged to yet another defeat, this time going down by seven wickets to Delhi Daredevils.

Opting to bat first, Knight Riders managed just 136 for seven and Delhi then resisted a miserly spell of four overs for 14 runs from the West Indies off-spinner, to get home with over two overs remaining.

Knight Riders, the defending champions, are third from bottom of the standings on six points from seven defeats.