The Rajasthan Royals fell to an agonising four run defeat to the Mumbai Indians despite Yusuf Pathan blasting the fastest ever IPL century. Pathan’s extraordinary innings contained nine fours and eight mighty sixes as the visitors just failed to chase down Mumbai’s impressive 212 for 6.

Shane Warne’s side have now lost their first game in each of the competition's three seasons but in 2008 went on to win the tournament.

Hampshire’s Dimitri Mascarenhas played for the Royals and was the pick of their bowlers with 2-34. Michael Lumb was omitted from the final XI. Mascarenhas opened the bowling and was promptly spanked for three off-side boundaries by the ultra aggressive Sanath Jayasuriya.

Prior to the game, Warne mischievously questioned whether Tendulkar would expose himself to the lightening Shaun Tait at the top of the innings. The ‘little master’ emphatically answered the query by flicking Tait’s first two deliveries to the square-leg fence in a compelling beginning.

After Jayasuriya departed for 23 Aditya Tare brutally punished some wayward Royals bowling in a boundary-laden first six overs; nine fours and two sixes were struck as the hosts powered to 69 for 1. Dimi bounced back from his poor first over to claim two wickets in three balls, including the prize scalp of Tendulkar to haul Rajasthan back into the contest. However at the halfway stage Mumbai were healthily placed on 101 for 3.
 

Dimi in action closer to home

Rajasthan continued to haemorrhage runs as the inexperienced Ambati Rayudu and Saurabh Tiwary put on 50 with a mixture of big hits and purposeful running.  After 15 overs Mumbai were ominously placed on 159 for 3 and eyeing up a score in excess of 200. Rayudu exploded into life with a flurry of boundaries and went to a debut 50 off 30 deliveries - an eye-catching start to his IPL career. Tiwary also claimed a maiden half century off 30 balls in a partnership of 110 runs. Rayudu was dismissed for 55 but the damage had been done as Mumbai were 180 for 4 with 18 balls remaining.

Harbhajan Singh and Ryan Mclaren propelled Tendulkar’s men to their highest IPL total - a formidable 212 for 6.

The Royals suffered a disastrous start to their daunting run chase when Swapnil Asnodkar was run out second ball. After the powerplay they were struggling on 38 for 2 with the target looking insurmountable. Smith looked scratchy and it was no surprise when he fell for 26 to leave the Indian’s firmly in command. The required run rate was climbing every ball as Warne’s men couldn’t come to terms with Lasith Malinga’s subtle variations; after 10 overs they had limped to 69 for 4.

The belligerent Yusuf Pathan seemed oblivious to the situation and smeared three consecutive sixes off Ali Murtaza. Pathan then took 26 off a Rajagopal Sathish over in an astonishing assault which reignited the Royals’ hopes. Pathan went to a 21 ball half century with six massive maximums and after 12 overs the score was 114 for 4. Pathan continued his attack and powered to the fastest ever IPL hundred off just 37 balls leaving his side needing a feasible 40 off 18 deliveries to win. 

Disaster struck the very next ball as the centurion was run out backing up by Sathish, potentially the decisive moment of the match. The previously subdued Dogra then plundered 21 off the next five balls to put The Royals on the brink of a miraculous victory with 19 needed off the last two overs. But Malinga produced a fantastic final over under pressure which went for just 7 and finished with the magnificent figures of 2-24.
 

Next match: Rajasthan Royals versus Delhi Daredevils, Ahmedabad, Monday 15 Match 2010 at 14.30GMT.
 

Neil Evans

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