AIPUR: It was a moment that had Rajasthan written all over it. Sachin Tendulkar stumped Dishant Yagnik (of Jaipur) bowled Ashok Menaria (of Udaipur). And it was a delivery that would have made Shane Warne proud.
That was the beginning of a rare Mumbai Indians batting failure after Warne decided to chase. Managing just 94 for eight on a slow turner at Sawai Mansingh Stadium against Rajasthan Royals, the Mumbai team knew they just had not done enough.
If the Royals batsmen started off the reply as if they were playing Test cricket, they can be pardoned. The wicket called for caution and they had a less than five-an-over chase.
A few good blows were enough to make up for the dot balls. Those blows duly happened, with Johan Botha throwing in a few in his 39-ball 45. With his stunning three-for-six earlier, the South African was clearly the most valuable player on the field on Friday.
The Royals achieved the target with seven wickets remaining and regained the second spot on the points table. Mumbai remain on top.
The talking point was of course Menaria's left-arm orthodox spin (delivered with a rather unorthodox action), which tempted Tendulkar to charge down the wicket. The ball fell just short and moved away enough to elude the batsman's slashing bat. Yagnik was swift enough to leave the 'God of cricket' stranded in no-man's land. It is not often that Tendulkar is foxed in such a manner. He was gone for seven and Mumbai Indians were struggling at 28 for two in the fifth over.
The best part for the home team was that their main bowlers -- Warne, Botha, Shane Watson and Siddharth Trivedi -- hadn't even bowled by then.
After Menaria, Warne played a remarkably economical hand before Botha came in to shatter whatever fight Mumbai Indians had left in them. Menaria had more to say before completing his quota. He dismissed dangerman Ambati Rayudu, caught and bowled for 11. The Udaipur lad finished with figures of two for 20, not bad for a batsman who bowls only if required.
toi
That was the beginning of a rare Mumbai Indians batting failure after Warne decided to chase. Managing just 94 for eight on a slow turner at Sawai Mansingh Stadium against Rajasthan Royals, the Mumbai team knew they just had not done enough.
If the Royals batsmen started off the reply as if they were playing Test cricket, they can be pardoned. The wicket called for caution and they had a less than five-an-over chase.
A few good blows were enough to make up for the dot balls. Those blows duly happened, with Johan Botha throwing in a few in his 39-ball 45. With his stunning three-for-six earlier, the South African was clearly the most valuable player on the field on Friday.
The Royals achieved the target with seven wickets remaining and regained the second spot on the points table. Mumbai remain on top.
The talking point was of course Menaria's left-arm orthodox spin (delivered with a rather unorthodox action), which tempted Tendulkar to charge down the wicket. The ball fell just short and moved away enough to elude the batsman's slashing bat. Yagnik was swift enough to leave the 'God of cricket' stranded in no-man's land. It is not often that Tendulkar is foxed in such a manner. He was gone for seven and Mumbai Indians were struggling at 28 for two in the fifth over.
The best part for the home team was that their main bowlers -- Warne, Botha, Shane Watson and Siddharth Trivedi -- hadn't even bowled by then.
After Menaria, Warne played a remarkably economical hand before Botha came in to shatter whatever fight Mumbai Indians had left in them. Menaria had more to say before completing his quota. He dismissed dangerman Ambati Rayudu, caught and bowled for 11. The Udaipur lad finished with figures of two for 20, not bad for a batsman who bowls only if required.
toi
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