Ahmedabad: Mumbai Indians kept their play-off hopes alive with a comfortable 25-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in a one-sided IPL encounter here on Monday.
Batting first, MI scored a stiff 178 for three, riding on half-centuries from Lendl Simmons (62) and Mike Hussey (56).
In reply, the Royals were never in the chase as they were restricted to 153 for eight. Karun Nair (48 off 24) was the lone ranger for the Royals. Brad Hodge (40) and James Faulkner (31) tried their bit at the end but it was too late by then.
It was a collective effort by the Mumbai bowlers led by Harbhajan Singh, who outshone the others with brilliant figures of two for 13 from four overs. Pragyan Ojha also did his bit with two for 30 from his four overs.
Royals’ team management’s baffling decision to rest the performing trio of Ajinkya Rahane, Pravin Tambe and Steven Smith backfired as the team lost the necessary momentum going into the match.
Rajasthan with 14 points from 12 games remain third in the table and firmly in the hunt. But back to back losses will certainly affect their chances of finishing in the top two, which would have given them an additional game.
Mumbai now have eight points from 11 matches.
Unmukt Chand (2) finally got a game but could well be the last one in the tournament. It was a rank bad delivery from Pragyan Ojha and Unmukt failed in his bid to play a proper pull shot as Mike Hussey made no mistake at the deep mid-wicket boundary.
Shane Watson (5) did not get going as he misjudged the turn off an Ojha delivery and the ball ballooned up hitting the toe-end of the bat for Ambati Rayudu to take a simple catch at mid-on.
Sanju Samson (2) also played early to a Krishmar Santokie slower as Rayudu got his second catch as Royals were reduced to 42 for three.
While Karun was playing his strokes at the other end, Kevon Cooper was dismissed by a sheer piece of fielding brilliance from Kieron Pollard standing at the long-on boundary. Cooper hit a Harbhajan delivery that would have been a sure six had any other fielder save Pollard been manning that area.
The giant Caribbean player timed his jump to perfection as he plucked a one-handed catch with the momentum forcing him over the rope. He kept his balance and threw the ball inside, turning in a flash to dive in front and complete a stunner as Cooper looked shell-shocked. (PTI)
Brief scores:
MI: 178/3, 20 overs (L Simmons 62, M Hussey 56, R Sharma 40; A Sharma 2-23)
RR: 153/8, 20 overs (K Nair 48, B Hodge 40, J Faulkner 31*; Harbhajan 2-13, S Gopal 2-25, P Ojha 2-30)