This was Mumbai's second biggest triumph this year after they thumped Delhi Daredevils by 44 runs on Tuesday.
Rohit's quickfire 62 (32b, 3x4s, 5x6s) and stellar performances from Sachin Tendulkar (44: 29b, 7x4s, 1x6) and Orange Cap holder Dinesh Karthik (41: 29b, 4x4s, 1x6) ensured Mumbai post 183-3 in 20 overs, their second highest total of the season, before restricting Pune to 142-8.
Pune bowlers too seemed to assist the hosts giving away 68 runs in the last five overs to effectively hand over the match.
Mumbai's western rivals never seemed good enough for the chase when Johnson sent an inswinging ripper to pluck dangerman Aaron Finch's wicket on the very first ball of Pune's innings. New Zealander Ross Taylor (4) too left without contributing much when he tried to steal an improbable single only to be run out by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.
Johnson doubled his scalps by dismissing another opener Robin Uthappa cheaply in his very next over to leave Pune tottering at 13-3. All-rounder Yuvraj Singh (24) and T Suman (23) tried to salvage the situation but couldn't do much. Mitchell Marsh (38) did provide some fireworks before the bucket-handed Dhawan took the second of two good catches to end Pune's chances of a decent finish.
Earlier, the misfiring opening pair of Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting (14: 17b, 2x4s), together called 'Pon-dulkar', put up a 54-run stand, their highest in the tournament so far, to help Mumbai get to a flying start.
Tendulkar was super aggressive on Saturday and hit Ashoke Dinda for four consecutive boundaries. He even got a life when Yuvraj dropped him off Rahul Sharma at mid-on. As if to rub salt on Sharma's wounds, the batsman hit him for a huge six over long-on.
As their partnership threatened to grow bigger, Yuvraj broke the stand with his very first ball forcing Ponting to drive it into the hands of a diving Abhishek Nayar at deep backward point. The batsman stood his ground believing that the catch was off a half volley, but the third umpire sent him on his way.
Tendulkar departed in the very next over. Rohit then stitched a 55-run third wicket stand with Karthik and added another 68 runs for the fourth wicket with Pollard to take Mumbai to their eventual total.
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