Jaipur, April 18 (IANS) Rajasthan Royals jumped to the top of the table with a dominating 92-run victory over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here Wednesday.
It was an all-round performance by Rajasthan Royals as they inflicted the biggest defeat, in terms of runs, against Mumbai Indians.
If it was Ajinkya Rahane, whose 54-ball 68, helped Rajasthan Royals piled up a huge 179 for three in 20 overs, their bowlers tightened the screws early in the innings and skittled out Mumbai Indians for 92 runs with 10 balls to spare.
Rahane was also adjudged as Man of the Match.
While chasing, Mumbai Indians were in the back-foot right from the start as off-spinner Ajit Chandila (2/6) got rid of Sachin Tendulkar (1) and Ricky Ponting (4) in the first three overs.
James Faulkner (3/16) wrapped up the tail to bowl out the visitors for 92 runs with 10 balls to spare. Stuart Biny also got two for 14.
Chandila struck with the fourth ball of the innings when Tendulkar in his attempt to sweep top edged to Siddharth Trivedi at short-fine leg. In his next over, he got rid of Ponting taking a simple catch of his own bowling.
Mumbai Indians failed to recover from the two early blows and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Dinesh Karthik fought back with 30 off 32 balls and Ambati Rayudu hung on managing 27 off 29 balls. But the damage was already done and it was just a matter of time before Faulkner wrapped up the tail.
Earlier in the day, Shane Watson (31) and Rahane gave Rajasthan a good start with their 62-run opening stand. Royals got to their fifty in only six overs and were 88 for one by the 10th.
Watson was in good touch and smashed Malinga for three boundaries in the sixth over as 16 runs came up. Watson, however, had to blame himself as he edged to wicketkeeper Karthik while chasing a wide delivery from Keiron Pollard.
Rahul Dravid’s decision to promote Dishant Yagnik ahead of him at No.3 proved to be a masterstroke as the youngster hit 24-ball 34 and added 53 crucial runs for the second wicket with Rahane.
Rahane and Brad Hodge (27 off 15) added an unbroken 53-run stand for the fourth wicket in less than five overs that took Rajasthan to a formidable total.
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