Rohit crush Daredevils

          

Mumbai had lost their openers in the first nine balls of the innings - Ricky Ponting caught by Mahela Jayawardene for a duck, Sachin Tendulkar run out by Jayawardene for one - but Karthik played like a batsman who has had solid scores in his first two games of the season.Rohit batted at the right pace, letting Karthik take more strike during their stand. Later he played second fiddle to Kieron Pollard and Ambati Rayudu, who blasted two fours and two sixes in his eight-ball 24. Rayudu helped Mumbai take 22 runs off the penultimate over from Irfan Pathan, who had begun the evening with a maiden over, and Rohit's final-over treatment of Nehra - 20 runs - took his team to 209 for 5.After seeing out three overs quietly, Karthik took 15 runs off an Ashish Nehra over. He dominated the third-wicket partnership with Rohit, reaching 50 off 29 balls. Rohit was on 12 at the time. Mumbai reached 80 for 2 in 10 overs, and made it to the 100 mark in 12 overs.Mumbai got off to a stunning start when they began defence of their 209 runs. Off the first ball of the innings, Ponting dived quite a distance to his right at cover to take a stunning catch to dismiss Unmukt Chand. It was the opener's second first-ball duck in the tournament, but it was also the most unlikely bowler-fielder combination. The bowler was Harbhajan Singh, who had a history of run-ins with Ponting, but now they were hugging in joy.Karthik went ballistic after reaching his fifty. He raced to 86 off 48 balls, taking his last 36 runs off 19 balls. He pulled the ball with glee, and his on-side play was entertaining. Karthik was perhaps the least likely among the Mumbai top four to get the orange cap, but he is now the first this season.