Mumbai Indians clinched a spot in the IPL play-offs on Saturday after beating Delhi Daredevils by 32 runs to continue their dominant form.
Last year's runners-up, Mumbai Indians retained their position on top of the standings after Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs to end the defending champion's four-match winning streak in a rain-hit match.
Mumbai Indians posted a commanding 178-4 off 20 overs after being put in to bat. They reduced the visitors to 7-4 before bowling them out for 146 to secure an eighth victory from 10 games. The Daredevils are out of contention for the knockout phase.
"I think in all departments we have done well — batting, bowling and fielding — we have to continue to be consistent," Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar said.
Australian batsman Aiden Blizzard (37) smacked five fours in an over off fast bowler Morne Morkel as Mumbai Indians raced to 35 without loss from three overs.
However, Sachin Tendulkar (14) and Blizzard fell in quick succession before man-of-the-match Ambati Rayudu struck 59 and put on 87 for the third wicket with Rohit Sharma (49) to turn the heat on Daredevils.
Daredevils lost Australian opener David Warner to spinner Harbhajan Singh for 1 in the opening over, South African batsman Colin Ingram for 1 to quick Lasith Malinga in the next, and skipper Virender Sehwag (2) and Naman Ojha (1) to paceman Munaf Patel in the space of four balls to find itself struggling at 7-4.
However, James Hopes gave Daredevils hope with a stunning 55 in a fifth-wicket stand of 87 with Venugopal Rao (37). But the target turned steep for Daredevils following their shaky start as Malinga returned to fire out Irfan Pathan for 23.
"Very disappointed, because our top order didn't click today," Sehwag said.
Earlier in Kolkata, play was called off because of rain when the Knight Riders were 61-2 at the end of 10 overs while chasing 115 on a sticky Eden Gardens pitch. They were declared the winners on the Duckworth/Lewis method as they were ahead at the halfway stage of their innings.
Opting to bat, Super Kings made 114-4 after the start was delayed by an hour due to rain. A fighting 54 by Subramaniam Badrinath helped Chennai pass 100 runs on a low, slow pitch following a controlled bowling display by Kolkata.
Badrinath struck the first boundary of the innings in the 10th over and put on 65 for the fourth wicket with Albie Morkel, who scored 30.
Chennai offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Kolkata's Eoin Morgan for 5 and Gautam Gambhir for 16 but South African Jacques Kallis and in-form Manoj Tiwary were batting fluently on 21 and 15 when rain stopped the match.
Kolkata left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla, who took 1-15 off four overs, was declared man of the match.
On Sunday, Royal Challengers Bangalore meet Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Kings XI Punjab play Pune Warriors.
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