What a performance from the Mumbai Indians? Everything went in favor of them today! Sachin, still not recovering from the groin injury, did not play in this game and had Pollock lead the team one more time.
Winning the toss and deciding to field, things were going well for Rajasthan until the 10th over. After that, poor selection of shots, temparement were poor.
Smith did not realize when he missed the ball pitched outside leg and thought he was bowled. But, the ball came out of the glove of Takawale, but by that time, Smith started walking. It was an easy task for keeper to pick the ball to stump him out. He score 5.
Yousuf Pathan was bowled by Nehra for 1. The ball was pitched up but he missed the ball trying to hit across the line. The score was 21 for 2 in 3.1 overs.
A third wicket partnership of 53 runs between Asnodkar and Watson gave some hopes to Rajasthan. Asnodkar was always trying to take risk and playing his shots. At the end of 8 overs, Rajasthan Royals were 68 for 2, going at 8.5 runs per over. Watson was bowled when he played across and missed the ball off Bravo. He was out for 32 off 20 balls with 4 fours and a six. He looked very dangerous as he started hitting Jayasuria and Kulkarni.
Kaif did not play sensibly. He should have taken singles and given strike to Asnodkar who was scoring well at one end. He played an uppish shot to third man and got himself out for 4.
Jadeja was out immediately by a good bouncer. The defense took the edge and went in the air beyond the wicket keeper's head. But, Takawale ran behind and took a wonderful catch to sent back for 0 and leaving the score board 82 for 5 in 11.1 overs.
Warne also did not stay long in the crease. He pulled a short ball but went in the air to give a catch to the wicket keeper for 7. From 79 for 3 in 10 overs, Rajasthan lost 3 wickets for 15 runs in a span of 19 balls.
Asnodkar got out in the first ball of the 15th over caught by Uthappa at long off of a slower ball from Raje. He scored 39 off 36 balls with 3 fours and a six. Rajasthan's last hope ended with that!
Sohail Tanvir got out for 6 in the next over, Rawat got out in the same over for 1 caught by Takawale. That was his fourth catch in the innings and that is a record by any keeper in current T20 IPL.
Finally Bravo bowled Trivedi through a slower ball. That's the end of Rajasthan Royals! They were bowled out for 103 in 16.2 overs. No one stayed in the crease to play out the 20 overs.
Nehra picked 3 wickets giving away 13 runs. Kulkarni, Bravo and Raje picked 2 wickets each.
It was obviously an easy target unless Mumbai does something stupid. The chase did not go agreesively as expected.
Jayasuria tried to slog couple of shots, but he was beaten by the pace. They did not try to score of Tanvir as they do not want to lose wickets.
Jayasuriya and Takawale hit a six each before Jayasuriya was caught at deep midwicket of Watson. He bowled a short ball and Jayasuriya hit the ball, but it went straight to Yousuf Pathan.
Uthappa ensured that he stays in the crease till the end. His only rash shot came towards the end when he pulled a short ball that went over keeper's head for a four.
Takawala was bowled by Warne off a flipper. He was out for 27 off 32 balls. Bravo gave a simple catch to short mid on for 1.
Nayar and Uthappa played well to ensure that Mumbai reaches the target safely. There was no pressure as far as the overs are concerned but they should not lose wickets.
It was a good start by Rajasthan, but it was not properly utilized. From 79 for 3, they were all out for 103 losing 7 wickets in a gap of 23 runs in less than 6 overs.
Nehra was chosen rightly for his wonderful bowling performance of 3 for 13 in his 3 overs dismissing Yousuf Pathan, Sohail Tanvir and Rawat.
With this Mumbai have stopped the winning streak of Rajasthan Royals. So far no team have won 5 continuous games and Rajasthan was actually trying to do it today. Added two more points to the table, Mumbai Indians are now in 5th place, just below Delhi and Chennai.
This victory has pushed Bangalore Royal Challengers to the last position in the table!
Match 27
Venue: Mumbai
Date: May 7, 2008
Teams: Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals
Captains: Shaun Pollock and Shane Warne
Toss: Mumbai Indians and decided to field
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 7 wickets with 29 balls remaining
Man of the Match: A Nehra off Mumbai Indians (India)
Points: Mumbai Indians-2; Rajasthan Royals-0
Score:
Rajasthan Royals 103 all out in 16.2 overs (GC Smith 5, SA Asnodkar 39, YK Pathan 1, SR Watson 32, M Kaif 4, RA Jadeja 0, SK Warne 7, Sohail Tanvir 6, M Rawat 1, SK Trivedi 1, MM Patel 0 not out, Extras—7 (lb 2, wide 5), SM Pollock 3-0-19-1, A Nehra 3-0-13-3, DS Kulkarni 3-0-22-2, DJ Bravo 2.2-0-12-2, ST Jayasuriya 2-0-17-0, RR Raje 3-0-19-2) lost to Mumbai Indians 104 for 3 in 15.1 overs (YV Takawale 27, ST Jayasuriya 18, RV Uthappa 34 not out, DJ Bravo 1, AM Nayar 12 not out, Extras-12 (lb 2, wide 10), Sohail Tanvir 3.1-0-13-0, MM Patel 3-0-21-0, SK Trivedi 3-0-23-0, SR Watson 4-0-26-2, SK Warne 2-0-19-1)
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