MUMBAI: If Rajasthan Royals have been the sly foxes of the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League 2013, Mumbai Indians have been the elephant in the jungle. Mumbai might be a touch predictable at times, and work to a set plan, but when it does come off, they end up trampling whoever is in their path.
Yesterday, Rajasthan fought hard to keep them down to 166 on a belter of a batting surface, but the rub of the green did not go their way as they slumped to a 14-run loss.
Faced with a reasonably stiff target, Rajasthan, who had chosen to chase when Rahul Dravid won the toss, needed to get off to a good start. What they got was anything but. Dravid, who opened the batting, was sent back in the very first over, with umpire Sudhir Asnani detecting a faint edge where there was none. Dravid, late on the pull against Mitchell Johnson, stood his ground momentarily, uncharacteristically venting his ire at the umpire’s decision.
With the captain gone before the chase had really gotten under way, there was more trouble as James Faulkner, sent in to pinch-hit at No. 3, sliced Dhawal Kulkarni up in the air to be easily caught. Sanju Samson mishit a pull and when Ajinkya Rahane holed out, Rajasthan were 28 for 4.
It has been Rajasthan’s strategy to hold back their big guns based on the situation. When Shane Watson walked out at No. 5, he was welcomed by a chirpy Kieron Pollard. The two have barely gotten along since Australia’s last tour of the West Indies, and even as the umpires stepped in to calm things down, Watson got to work.
Lasith Malinga, not quite at his fittest and down on pace, chose the wrong man to try and bounce, and was flat-batted into the crowd over fine leg. The next ball got the same result. Perhaps buoyed by those strokes, Watson took on Pragyan Ojha, but failed to connect cleanly, leaving a gleeful Pollard to take the catch.
Furious with himself, Watson trudged back to the dugout, only to find that Pollard had finished his exuberant celebration and landed up there, prompting a further exchange of words.
Stuart Binny and Brad Hodge added 56 for the seventh wicket, keeping hopes alive. When Hodge (39) was nailed in front of the stumps by a Malinga yorker with an unlikely 23 runs needed off the final over, the game was up and Binny was left unconquered on a 29-ball 37.
Aditya Tare, playing his first game of this season, set up the first 20 overs. Tare, who filled the spot left vacant by a tendon niggle that Sachin Tendulkar suffered in Mumbai’s last match, smacked a 39-ball 57 at the top of the order. With no other batsman reaching 25, and yet several playing useful cameos, Mumbai got to 166 for 8. It was enough to take them to the top of the table.
Mumbai Indians beat battling Rajasthan Royals
Mumbai Indians beat battling Rajasthan Royals
Al-Hilal win tightens Saudi Pro League title race
- The 3-2 victory over Al-Khaleej leaves Al-Hilal a single point behind Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr, who play on Saturday
DUBAI: The gap at the top of the Saudi Pro League table was cut to just one point on Friday night, following Al-Hilal’s 3-2 win over Al-Khaleej.
Simone Inzaghi’s team leapfrogged Al-Taawoun into second place to remain the closest challengers to Al-Nassr in the title fight, with the leaders set to host Al-Okhdood on Saturday.
Al-Hilal opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Mohammed Kanno met Hamad Al-Yami’s lay-off on the edge of the penalty area, his long-range shot beating Al-Khaleej goalkeeper Anthony Moris at his left-hand post.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic doubled the lead on 39 from Malcom’s assist to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb in the second half. Al-Hilal looked to have secured all three points comfortably when Malcom made it 3-0 on 57 minutes, but Al-Khaleej had other ideas.
Joshua King’s goal on 79 minutes looked to be nothing more than a consolation, but five minutes later Al-Hilal were left sweating after Giorgos Masouras cut their lead to a single goal. The visitors’ revival was short-lived, however, with no more additions to the score.
The defeat leaves Al-Khaleej in eighth place, with three matches still to be played on Saturday.
Earlier on Friday, Al-Taawoun briefly climbed to second place in the table after an away win against Al-Kholood at Al-Hazem Stadium. Their goals came from Christopher Zambrano after 22 minutes and a William Troost-Ekong’s own goal in the 75th; Al-Taawoun ended the match with 10 men after Muteb Al-Mufarrij was sent off in stoppage time, but the three points were already secured.
Al-Hilal’s win later in the day meant Al-Taawoun dropped to third, while Al-Kholood sit in 12th.
The first match of the day saw Al-Fateh shock reigning Asian champions Al-Ahli with a 2-1 win, after falling behind at home to Valentin Atangana’s 22nd-minute goal. However, the home team turned the match around with two goals from Maria Vargas either side of half time.
The win saw Al-Fateh rise to 14th while Al-Ahli stayed in fourth.
