Lasith Malinga and captain Harbhajan Singh produced crucial two-wicket bursts to help Mumbai Indians defeat Pune Warriors by one run in a low-scoring game in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.

Malinga (2-25) and Harbhajan (2-18) both struck in successive overs at different times as Pune was restricted to 6-119 in reply to Mumbai’s 9-120 at Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium.

Pune won the previous encounter between them by 28 runs at Mumbai but this time the Warriors were made to struggle as Harbhajan produced a twin-strike to instill interest in the proceedings.

New Zealand left-hander Jesse Ryder holed out at long on while Australia captain Michael Clarke (14) was trapped lbw with a delivery that came in from the off stump.

With Robin Uthappa (18) and Steven Smith (2) also failing to do much, Pune were reduced to 4-47 by the 10th over before Manhas and Ganguly (16) brought the team back on track with a 47-run stand for the fifth wicket.

But just when Pune seemed to be taking control, Malinga came on to dismiss Ganguly and Wayne Parnell (2).

“The pitch was slow, low and it was difficult to play strokes,” Harbhajan said. “We did not expect the pitch to play this way but our bowlers did a great job. You’ve got to be active and move fielders around in such situations.”

Earlier, Mumbai’s openers top scored, Sachin Tendulkar made 34 and James Franklin 25.

The visitors were 2-81 in the 12th over but lost their way after Tendulkar’s dismissal.

Mumbai sit third with six wins and four losses from 10 games, while the Warriors are eighth in the nine-team league with four wins and seven losses from 11 outings.