Agencies
AHMEDABAD, May 19
Changes. For once, they worked for Mumbai Indians. And for once, the ‘surprises’ fell flat for Rajasthan Royals as reigning champions Mumbai Indians romped home to a life-extending 25-run win at the Sardar Patel Stadium on Monday.
If the Royals thought they could get away with wholesale changes – with key players like Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith and Pravin Tambe rested – in the absence of a certain Lasith Malinga from a struggling Mumbai line-up, they were in for a rude shock. In the must-win encounter for MI, Michael Hussey and Lendl Simmons put on a 120-run opening partnership before a quick-fire 40 off just 19 balls from skipper Rohit Sharma propelled them to 178 for three.
The Hussey-Simmons duo – the sixth opening combination tried out by Mumbai Indians – began cautiously, making just 21 in the first four overs. The fifth over bowled James Faulkner provided the much-needed push to the Mumbai scoring, as Hussey punched a lovely cover drive before Simmons twice got cuts away past backward point. Sidelined after the first few games in the UAE, Hussey returned with his sweetly-timed drives while Simmons, who posted his third 30-plus score in four matches, was severe on anything short. Ankit Sharma dealt them a double blow in the 15th over, having the openers caught in the deep, Cooper being the fielder on both occasions. However, Rohit, along with Kieron Pollard garnered 56 runs off the last five overs. The last over by Faulkner produced 17 runs as the Mumbai skipper struck two sixes and a four. That was after RR keeper Sanju Samson missed a run out opportunity, with Pollard having just walked in. The very next ball, the big man smacked Rajat Bhatia over long-on.
Chasing a competitive score, RR began earnestly, making 17 in the first two overs. While opener Karun Nair kept one end going, his teammates failed to come to terms with the slow turning surface as left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, the debutant, picked up two wickets apiece.
Playing his first game this IPL, former India under-19 captain Unmukt Chand’s uncomfortable stay ended after nine balls, with just two runs to his name. Skipper Shane Watson, who missed the last game due to injury, came in at number three but was done in by the slowness of the track as Ojha had him caught at mid-on, attempting a pull. Sanju too played far too early, trying to lift left-armer Krishmar Santokie over the off-side field, as Rayudu ran backwards at point to take the skier.
Pollard then plucked out a sensational catch on the long-on fence to send back Kevon Cooper. He leapt high to take the ball one-handed on the fence, threw the ball back on to the field as he went over the line, and then scrambled back to complete the dismissal diving forward. Faulkner and Brad Hodge threw their bats around to hit up 69 runs for the eighth wicket, off just 48 balls, but the damage had already been done. The result, while giving MI fresh hopes, brings some pressure upon the Royals as the race for the play-off spots hots up.
