With a top 5 that includes Sehwag, Pietersen, Jayawardene and Ross Taylor you'd be fairly confident of chasing any total and so on winning the toss Sehwag decided to stick with their winning formula and put Mumbai in for a bat. At the start of this tournament I didn't think DD had quite managed to find that right balance that is so crucial to success in the IPL. Yes they have a fantastic batting line-up, but I thought it would be their bowlers that would let them down, in particular the absence of a quality spinner, I could barely have called it worse as the Delhi bowlers completely outclassed the strong Mumbai line-up on a pitch that offered plenty for batting and bowling. The start provided by Irfan Pathan (4-1-12-1), who swung the ball menacingly, and Shahbaz Nadeem (4-0-16-2 and MoM) paved the way for a highly disciplined performance from Delhi that prevented MI from ever getting into the match. Davy Jacobs was sent back after a miserable 2012 debut (0 from 10 balls) by one that didn't turn from Nadeem who'd already spun one past the outside edge. In his next over, Nadeem produced the perfect arm ball that Levi inside edged into his stumps attempting an ugly hoick over midwicket. 7/2 after 4 overs couldn't have been much worse for Mumbai.
Then came Morkel and Yadav, two bowlers both consistently top 140kph, who posed even more problems as they found steep bounce on the pacy track. Yadav, in particular, was impressive as he was too quick for both Pollard and Karthik and gave little away in a fine spell of 4-0-11-2. The combination of Morkel and Yadav is one that'll provide a challenge for any side and there was a compelling battle as Sharma was keen to remain positive and continued to take on the short stuff, with top edges flying everywhere before Agarkar sent him back for 29. Morkel (4-1-22-2) returned to end the late resistance from Harbajahn who played a counter-attacking 33, without which the scorecard could have been very embarrassing. The Delhi bowlers all played their role perfectly and they were on top of a Mumbai line-up, who really miss the stability provided by Tendulkar at the top, from start to finish. When Agarkar cleaned up Ojha in the last over, Mumbai were all out for 92 which was never going to be enough against the Delhi batting line-up.
Both RP Singh and Munaf Patel found some early movement to trouble Ojha and Sehwag but didn't have the scoreboard pressure to back it up. MI needed early wickets to have any chance and the opening stand of 34 effectively put the game out of their reach. Sehwag played a good hand in his uncharacteristically steady 32 and this allowed Taylor and Jayawardene to calmly get over the line with ease. The signs were all there that the pitch still had plenty to offer, Ojha finding some turn and drift to have Sehwag in trouble at times but simply didn't have the runs to play with. It was the Delhi bowlers that won them the match and on current form they look strong contenders this year, their batting firepower is yet to really be needed.
The Daredevils were comprehensively the better side here and it looks like their big spending at the auction may well get them that step-up that they're after this year, the top 4 and beyond. Their bowling attack, what I thought would be their downfall with too much pressure on Morkel, were impeccable and Nadeem deservedly got MoM as he set the tone early on with a cracking 2 overs of left arm spin to start proceedings. Mumbai will be keen to get Tendulkar back, as well as Malinga (although he would have made little difference today), because at the moment their whole line-up seems dependent on Rayudu and Sharma to play the innings building knocks. That said, they still look a strong side, especially with a full side out, and will be confident of a top 4 spot, as will Delhi who have lots of momentum and a side that could intimidate any opposition.
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