Ricky Ponting's Mumbai Indians have cruised to a vital six-wicket Indian Premier League win over the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Mumbai had lost three of their first four fixtures and desperately needed the two points, but saw RCB, who left out Chris Gayle, chalk up a challenging 7-170 after skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field.
Virat Kohli (33) and Lokesh Rahul (23) put on 32 for the opening wicket and, after South Africa superstar AB De Villiers (29) joined the India Test skipper at the crease, the pair laid the platform by guiding the visitors to 1-91 at the midway stage of the innings.
However, the match turned when the pair departed in the same over off the bowling of Krunal Pandya and they were soon joined back in the pavilion by Shane Watson, who was caught behind for just five.
Australia's Travis Head was in red-hot form for the visitors with a quickfire 37 off 24 balls but his stay at the crease ended when he was run out from the first ball of the final over with Sarfaraz Khan (28) departing three balls later.
Mumbai opener Partiv Patel (5) exited in the second over but Sharma took control of the game with a superb 62, alongside a steady 31 from 23 balls from from Ambati Rayudu.
Jos Buttler then seized the initiative for Mumbai by bludgeoning 28 from 14 deliveries and after the dismissals the England star and Sharma, Kieron Pollard guided the team home with 40 off just 19 balls with two overs to spare.
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