IPL5: Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians - Match Recap
Indian batting prodigy, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556, and West Indian all-rounder, Dwayne Smith, shared a record opening stand worth 163 to allow Mumbai Indians to sign off from the league phase of Indian Premier League in an emphatic style, clinching a comprehensive
10-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals, at Jaipur, on Sunday.
Chasing a par 20-over total of 162 for 6, set by the Royals, Mumbai sent Windies all-rounder Dwayne Smith to open with the Master Blaster, as off-spinner Ajit Chandila took the new ball for the hosts. The Barbadian dismantled Chandila’s off-spin right from
the start, looting him for a six straight down the ground. Smith then plundered Shane Watson for a boundary through the short fine-leg region before Sachin got into the action with a four off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SW-Tait-c2616.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians home quite comfortably with two overs to spare. Smith’s hefty knock was studded with ten muscular boundaries and three
lofty sixes while the Master Blaster cleared the boundary six times during his 51-ball stay at the crease.
The 163-run opening-wicket stand shared between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Vijay-c1867 and Mike Hussey of Chennai Super Kings, last season.
Earlier, the Rajasthan Royals, after electing to bat, lost skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajinkya-Rahane-c970 could score only
13 runs before falling prey to Kulkarni in the sixth over.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stuart-Binny-c2589 for the third wicket. The Australian top scored for Royals with a 36-ball 45, including four fours and two sixes.
After Shane Watson departed in the 14th over, having been caught by Dwayne http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashok-c46345 Menaria allowed the side to post a challenging total. Shah returned not out on 28 while Menaria scored
a 20-ball 21 as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rajasthan-c837 amassed 162 for 6 from their stipulated 20 overs.
Kulkarni, the 23-year-old right-arm medium pacer from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Maharashtra-c811 returned with startling figures of 3 for 18 from four overs. Dwayne Smith was adjudged as the Man of the Match.
The Rajasthan skipper Rahul Dravid blamed his bowlers and fielders for the 10-wicket crushing, saying that 162 was a par total to defend.
"162 was not a bad score. We needed early wickets but when batsmen like Smith get going, it is tough [for the fielding side]," said Dravid after the match.
"I feel our performance today on ground and bowling was the worst. I am disappointed but there are some positives too. We couldn't make it to play offs but have played good cricket," he added further.
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