Rohit stars for Mumbai Indians in a last-ball finish

Visakhapatnam, April 10 (IANS) Rohit Sharma hit a match winning unbeaten 73 to guide Mumbai Indians to a five-wicket win over Deccan Chargers in a last-ball finish in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Y.S.Rajsekhara Reddy Stadium here Monday.

Chasing a target of 139, Rohit hit a six off the last ball as Mumbai Indians made 142 for five in 20 overs for their second win in three matches. Rohit, who hit five sixes and four fours in his 50-ball knock, was also adjudged as the Man of the Match.

With the win, Mumbai Indians stayed third with four points from three matches while 2009 champions Deccan Chargers remained at the bottom of the table with no win after two matches.

Mumbai Indians had to struggle to score as South African Dale Steyn (3-12) almost took the Deccan Chargers on the threshold of a win.

Steyn's brilliant penultimate over, during which he gave away just five runs, left Mumbai Indians needing 18 runs from last six balls.

Deccan Chargers captain Kumar Sangakkara, who missed the first match due to national duty, had no doubt in asking Daniel Christian (1-49) to bowl the last over as the Australian had conceded 29 runs for one wicket from three overs before that.

But Christian erred miserably in his last overs. James Franklin (7 not out) raised hopes hitting the first ball, a full toss, for a four down the ground in the first ball.

Rohit then held his nerves and hit the Australian all-rounder for a six in the fourth ball. The Mumbai batsman survived a run out chance in the fifth ball. And with three runs needed to win in the last ball, Rohit smashed Christian for a six over the long-on for the winning runs for an edge as the whole Mumbai Indians squad rushed onto the ground to embrace the youngster.

It was a tough win indeed for Mumbai Indians, as Ambati Rayudu (19) and Kieron Pollard (24) were the other two batsmen to get to double figures.

Mumbai Indians were going slowly till the 15th over when they were 85 for three. But they accelerated well in the last five overs scoring 57 runs that proved crucial for their win.

Earlier, opting to bat first, Deccan Chargers made 138 for nine in 20 overs after opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan top scored with 41 while Christian made 39. Cameron White also came up with a valuable unbeaten 30.

Munaf Patel was the pick of the Mumbai Indians bowlers with four for 20 while Lasith Malinga bagged three for 27.