Rohit deals knockout blow to Mumbai

Mumbai Indians threw away a superb chance to revive their IPL hopes as Deccan Chargers claimed an unlikely 19-run victory at Centurion.

The Indians were well placed to chase down Deccan’s total of 145 with JP Duminy controlling the chase, but Dwayne Bravo threw his wicket away and a hat-trick from Rohit Sharma hammered a nail into Mumbai’s coffin.

Deccan are now back on the winning trail and well placed to reach the semi-finals, but Mumbai face a mountain to climb to reach the last four.

Herschelle Gibbs’ horror run in The IPL continued, as he offered up a catch to Sachin Tendulkar at slip off Dhawal Kulkarni for his fourth duck of the competition as Deccan's innings got off to a poor start.

Tirumalsetti Suman came out with the intention of putting bat to ball, but one expansive drive too many enabled Bravo to prise him out.

Adam Gilchrist seemed fearful of a lack of depth to Deccan’s batting and was surprisingly circumspect. One huge six off Harbhajan Singh reminded the Centurion crowd of his talents, but he was removed in the final over before the strategy break after missing a straight ball from Rohan Raje.

Dwayne Smith has forged a reputation as a fearsome striker and hit one towering six, but he looked all at sea against the slower bowlers and was clean bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya.

Rohit Sharma, so highly rated in India, was the glue that held the Deccan innings together and he stroked his way to 38 before falling to the impressive Lasith Malinga.

Venugopal Rao crashed a quick-fire 28, but some impressive bowling from Kulkarni, Bravo and Malinga restricted Deccan to 145.

Deccan’s target did not look insurmountable, but it appeared that way after two overs as RP Singh removed Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar in successive balls.

Jayasuriya fell to a superb catch from Ryan Harris, while Tendulkar was removed by a superb swinging ball that went through bat and pad and knocked over middle stump.

Pinal Shah was sent in at three by Mumbai and looked ill at ease early on, but he chanced his arm and 29 off 19 balls provided them with a platform.

Hid dismissal to Suman brought in Bravo to partner JP Duminy and he looked like providing the support he needed, but holed out after making 16.

Duminy made his way to 50 with some cultured batting, but he was given no support and this proved crucial.

Abhishek Nayar was bowled round his legs by Sharma and the next ball Harbhajan played on going for a big slog.

The shocking batting appeared to affect Duminy as he gloved a sweep to Gilchrist to become Sharma’s hat-trick victim.

Sharma claimed a fourth victim as Tiwary was out stumped playing a big heave, as Mumbai pressed the self-destruct button in some style.