Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals – Indian Premier League 5 – Match recap – Mumbai Indians break Royals’ winning streak with 27-run victory
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 on April 11.
Aided by the heroics of the indomitable all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754, the Mumbai Indians knocked the Royals off first place on the tournament points table, moving them down to the 4th spot as they took up the top positions themselves.
The Rajasthan Royals won the toss and skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tirumalasetti-Suman-c2685 (10) opened the innings for the Indians, and got them off to a fair start, putting 28 runs on the board before Suman departed in the
4th over off a delivery by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Amit-Singh-c44048.
He was followed to the crease by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RG-Sharma-c2309 – after his unbeaten 73 in his team’s previous match against the Deccan Chargers, the 24-year-old was fairly lukewarm against the Royals, managing a contribution of a mere 21 runs before he was sent back to the
pavilion by IPL debutant http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Bradley-Hogg-c59047.
Hogg struck again two overs later, and took Levi out of the game, but the dismissal made way for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ambati-Rayudu-c1007, who scored an unbeaten 47 off 32 deliveries, and the brilliant Pollard, who smashed 64 off 33. Both batsmen joined forces to form the highest
partnership of the match – a 96-run stand which got their side from 68 to 164 in the space of 8 overs.
After the prized wicket of Pollard was claimed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453 joined Rayudu for a 7th wicket 20-run partnership, in addition
to scoring 18 off 6 deliveries.
By the end of 20 overs, the Mumbai Indians managed to post 197 on the board – the highest total in the current IPL season so far. Hogg and Amit Singh remained the highest wicket-takers for the Royals’, having claimed 2 scalps each, while Chavan and Kevon
Cooper both took one wicket each.
The Royals’ innings started with two quick dismissals courtesy http://www.senore.com/Cricket/OA-Shah-c2134 (76 off 42) formed
a valiant 3rd wicket 82-run partnership, which Shah followed up with a 45-run stand with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashok-c46345 Menaria (20), after Rahane’s departure in the 12 over at the hands of the deadly Pollard.
This brought the team up to 134 by the 15th over after which Shah was bowled out by Malinga. The Lankan pacer struck again in the very same over, eliminating http://www.senore.com/Cricket/J-Botha-c1610, who only had a chance to make 2 runs before his dismissal.
After the departure of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Siddharth-Trivedi-c2526 (5) were
all unceremoniously dismissed, and the Royals found themselves cut short at 170 – 27 runs less than the 198 runs target.
While Munaf Patel (3.4-0-28-4) and Malinga (4-0-13-2) both registered impressive figures, it was Pollard who stole the show with his all-round performances, following up his stellar 64 with 4 for 44, and going on to win the Player of the Match award.
Harbhajan’s men are due to play their next match against the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Delhi-c780 Daredevils on April 16 at the same venue, while the Royals are due to face the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 13.
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