Mumbai, May 23 (IANS): Mumbai Indians handed Delhi Daredevils their eighth straight loss, beating them by 15 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Wankhede Stadium here Friday.
Mumbai's third win on the trot kept them in the hunt for a playoff spot -- all be it the smallest of chances.
Mumbai Indians have 12 points, the same as Sunrisers Hyderabad and the only chance of either team making it to the playoffs would be if Rajasthan Royals, who are in fourth with 14 points and a game in hand, lose both their final matches.
The Daredevils' dismal run since returning from the UAE continued. Delhi are bottom of the table having won just two of 13 matches, both their victories coming in the UAE leg.
An 85-run fourth wicket partnership between Manoj Tiwary (41) and J.P. Duminy (45 not out) took Delhi close but it wasn't enough as they were restricted to 158 for four in 20 overs.
Kevin Pietersen (44) got things rolling for the Daredevils but Murali Vijay (8) and Dinesh Karthik (7) failed as Delhi managed just 61 runs off the first 10 overs.
Tiwary and in particular Duminy played superbly to make a match off the contest but had a little too much to do as they fell 15 runs short.
A power packed half-century from Michael Hussey (56 off 33) helped Mumbai score 173 all out in 19.3 overs.
Lendl Simmons (35) and Hussey bludgeoned their way to a 87-run opening stand off just 48 balls.
Hussey was dismissed in the 12th over with the score on 120. Rohit Sharma (30) looked to started from where Hussey left off but the captain's fall had catastrophic effect on the team as they lost eight wickets for just 33 runs-- giving Delhi a way back.
South African leggie Imran Tahir bagged three wickets while Jaydev Unadkat chipped in with two.