Match Review of Mumbai Indians vs. Rajasthan Royals

Indian Premier League - Match review
Date : 20th May 2011 Match No. : 66
Teams : Mumbai Indians vs. Rajasthan Royals
Venue : Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Umpires : Rudi Koertzen and Paul Reifel Third Umpire: S.Asnani
Toss : Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bat

Playing XI

Mumbai Indians Sachin Tendulkar © Ambati Rayadu T. Suman Rohit Sharma Munaf Patel K.Pollard J. Franklin Harbhajan Singh Andrew Symonds Dhawal Kulkarni Lasith Mallinga

Rajasthan Royals Shane Watson Rahul Dravid Johan Botha Ashok Menaria Shane Warne © Ross Taylor Ajinkya Rahane P. R. Shah S. Trivedi Amit Singh A. Chavan

It was a clash between titans Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar, ast they both have dealt with each other so many times and once recently in Jaipur in this season of IPL as well. But this match was considered as high drama match as Mumbai Indians are struggling to get their form back in all aspects of the cricket and from the Rajasthan Royals, there were so much talks in the air about Shane Warne and Rajasthan Cricket Board. So people were keen to see the knockout punch from Warne before he adieu to IPL from India.

Unlike the trend in this season of IPL, Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and decided to impress the crowd by putting the total on the board first and then defend it. Even he realizes that their strength is in their bowling and fielding. He didn't want to take a chance as well as they are on the last spot on the table for Play-offs.

Sachin Tendulkar along with T. Suman opened the batting at the home ground. T.Suman of course had a golden chance on his promotion up the order. But couldn't do anything and in the second over itself got out by Watson on the score of 5 only. Ambati Rayadu joined the skipper on the crease and Rayadu has been in a very good form in this season. Even Sachin Tendulkar stated once that he likes to build partnership with Rayadu. But the shocker came for Indians when Rayadu got out cheaply on just 2 runs by Amit Singh. Mumbai Indians were under tremendous pressure with 2 wickets down on 17 runs in first 4 overs. This was probably the slowest start for Mumbai Indians in this season.

Tendulkar looked good and took the responsibility to sail through and put a decent total with Rohit Sharma. Rohit has been in terrific form in this season and had all the chance to capitalize and does the rescue job for his team with skipper on other side. Both built nice looking partnership of 48 runs, though Sachin Tendulkar had been lucky and survived on two very good looking appeals of Lbw by Ankit Chavan. But the moment he was required to settle the pace in the inning, he got out on a fine catch by Shane Watson on the individual score of 31 in 35 balls.

Mumbai Indians were 3 down on 65 in 12 overs. It wasn't impressive figures at all for them. K. Pollard, who joined with Rohit Sharma was required to show some his trade mark shots and fasten the score board. Both built up another very useful partnership of over 50 runs during the middle overs. Rohit Sharma completed his half century as well with 5 boundaries and 1 six. Things were looking good and total score was expected to reach 150, when Royal's skipper Warne again invited Watson to put the breaks. He did the trick and got the most devastating batsman Pollard out on just 20 runs. Shane Warne himself came to bowling attack very late, but the wicket which he took, was actually a turning point of the match when Rohit Sharma completely got deceived by Warne and got stump out on the score of fine 58 in 47 balls.

Two new batsmen were on the crease and all they could do was to slog every possible ball to get runs on the board. Franklin made 11 in 5 balls with 2 boundaries and could put up a total of 133. The total wasn't good enough but was defendable with the kind of fielding and bowling attack they have with Mallinga, Munaf and Pollard.

Shane Watson and Rahul Dravid joined the crease. Both were there with different mindset and attitude. They knew that they had nothing to lose and have to exhibit the best cricketing shots. Watson slammed the bowling attack of Mumbai Indians like a child's play. The highest wicket taker of the season-4 Lasith Mallinga was trashed brutally by Watson. The most impressive bowler looked ordinary in front of Shane Watson and Rahul Dravid. The impressive Harbhajan Singh was welcomed with 18 runs in his first over by Royals. Its difficult to believe that both the bowler were beaten by Royals with the average of more than 11 in a over in their spells.

Royals' openers looked like making mockery of the complete bowling attack of Mumbai Indians. Pollard and Dhawal Kulkarni conceded 19 runs in the spell of 2 overs each. The modest total of 133 certainly wasn't enough and rattled up in just 14th over by Royals. It looked like a knockout punch from Shane Warne side, who was playing his last match with IPL and he had his share of Royal farewell the way they won this match. This has happened just for the fourth time when a team won the match with 10 wickets.

Result: Rajasthan Royals won the match by 10 wickets

The Awards

Man of the match
Shane Watson for his blazing 89 in 47 balls and 3 wickets, one of the finest all round performance.

Maximum Sixes
Shane Watson for hitting 6 huge sixes.

Kingfisher Fair Play Award
Chennai Super Kings tops the chart.

Orange Cap (The leading run scorer)
Shaun Marsh- Kings XI Punjab.

Purple Cap (The leading wicket taker)
Lasith Mallinga- Mumbai Indians

Question of the day
Should Shane Warne continue playing IPL?



Last Updated on 23 May 2011