Rajhistan royals continue their pride for becoming ipl champions with their another victory

Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians, IPL, Jaipur

May 26, 2008

20 overs Mumbai Indians 145 (Jayasuriya 38, Tanvir 4-14) v Rajasthan Royals
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out


Sohail Tanvir took an impressive 4 for 14 to become the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.


On a slow pitch not conducive to stroke-making, the Rajasthan Royals restricted the Mumbai Indians to 145, a modest total that was reached thanks to Yogesh Takawale's eight-ball 24. Rajasthan's bowlers held sway for most of the innings, and Sohail Tanvir reinforced his status as the tournament's best bowler with a four-wicket haul that earned him the purple cap.

Mumbai struggled to find momentum from the start, and the opening pair of Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar were stifled by the new-ball bowlers to such an extent that only 29 runs, and two boundaries, came in the Powerplay. Tanvir and Shane Watson kept the ball on the stumps and Jayasuriya, in particular, had a torrid time. There was no room for him to work with and, with the ball keeping low, his short-arm jabs failed to connect on several occasions.

Pankaj Singh was the only bowler who leaked runs early as three straight fours were taken off his two overs - Tendulkar playing a signature drive down the ground and Jayasuriya powerfully flat-batted two deliveries over the infield.

Yusuf Pathan, bowling flat and quick, and medium-pacer Siddharth Trivedi kept Mumbai in check - conceding only nine runs from their three overs before Warne came into the attack for his much-anticipated showdown with Tendulkar. Warne varied his flight well but was competently handled by Tendulkar, who kept tucking him away to the leg side.

With the boundaries hard to come by, the Mumbai openers scampered between the wickets to keep the score ticking. Only 60 came off the first ten overs, and Jayasuriya felt the need to provide some impetus. An attempt to mow Trivedi over midwicket was miscued but landed safely and an outside-edge raced past the wicketkeeper for four. However, his luck ran out off, and a pull went straight to Pankaj Singh at midwicket.

Things were to get worse for Mumbai as Trivedi foxed Tendulkar with a slower ball in his next over. Tendulkar closed the face of the bat early, offering a simple return catch. Robin Uthappa's short, uneasy stay at the crease ended when Kamran Akmal effected a smart stumping off Warne, and it was the impressive Abhishek Nayar's three off-side boundaries that pushed them along.

Just as the innings was gathering some momentum, Tanvir ran through the Mumbai middle-order - taking four wickets in two overs to leave them at 120 for 7. However, Takawale, coming in place of Pinal Shah, lifted Mumbai with a assault against Watson - four fours and the innings' only six came off the final over to take Mumbai to a competitive score.

Rajasthan are still favourites to maintain their 100% win record at home but with no Graeme Smith at the top of the order, Mumbai aren't out of it yet.

A day of cricket which will be remember years2come.