Sachin Tendulkar sets up Mumbai

One of the key factors in Mumbai Indians' comprehensive win was the way their captain sachin Tendulkar led from the front. As if carrying on from where he left off in Gwalior, where he made an epic 200, he entertained the Delhi crowd with an array of pleasing shots. The pitch was nothing like the minefield which forced the abandonment of the one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka a few months ago. Evenly paced, Tendulkar showed just how easy it was to get to the pitch and pick the gaps with deft touches and delicate clips.

Farveez Maharoof's one-dimensional bowling - overusing the legcutter - made it easier for Tendulkar to plan his shots. After slicing Maharoof past backward point, he made Delhi pay for not placing a slip as he guided the next ball to third man. He then chipped down the track, got inside the line and played a glorious on drive past midwicket to give Delhi some anxious moments.

He brought up his fifty, off just 23 balls, with a paddle to fine leg. He played one false shot, an inside out loft which nearly had him caught at cover. The fielder on that occasion, Mishra, had palmed it off for four. Tendulkar made 63 before he was caught at long-off by the substitute Yogesh Nagar. He set the platform for the middle order to attack and make a big score.