While chasing a competitive total of 179 runs on the board set by Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals lost the plot in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 game No 44 played at Ahmadabad. They ended up with just 153 runs on the board. The likes of Sanju Samson, Unmukt Chand, Shane Watson, Kevon Cooper and Stuart Binny couldn’t get going on a dry wicket. Even James Faulkner, the all-rounder looked at sixes and sevens, while facing spinners. Karun Nair showcased deft placement to essay a few shots on the off-side.
Brad Hodge then used the depth of the crease and played a few fine shots, but it proved to be too late in the piece. Pragyan Ojha bowled well for Mumbai and took two wickets. Harbhajan Singh too bowled well for Mumbai. The innings though, was lit by Kieron Pollard taking a sensational catch on the boundary line to dismiss, Cooper off Harbhajan’s bowling. He lept in the air in an attempt to take the catch and then threw the ball up in the air, before showing superb balance to complete the catch. A superhuman effort from the athletic, Pollard at the boundary line. Rohit Sharma also took an excellent catch at long on off Krishmar Santoke, the medium pacer’s bowling in the 19th over of the game to dismiss, Hodge.
Actually for Mumbai, Michael Hussey and Lendl Simmons erected a solid platform for to setup a large edifice. In the end, they ended up with 178 for the loss of three wickets on the board. It was Simmons, who first opened up his shoulders by essaying fine shots. It was then, Hussey who took over by collecting a few boundaries. The way he rocked onto the back-foot to smash a six off Rajat Bhatia showcased his class. Hussey also played a fine slog sweep to thwack Ankit Sharma for a majestic six. He then went onto complete his half-century of just 32 balls. Here is a batsman who is slowly but steadily coming back to form in IPL 7.
Just like turbocharged engines then, Pollard and Rohit Sharma used their pyrotechnics to essay a few big shots right at the end of the innings to up the ante. In the last over of the game, they collected 16 runs. Sanju Samson missed an easy run out chance off Pollard and that may cost them the match in the end. However, Rohit, though would be ruing the fact that he came back to form when Mumbai don’t have any chance to qualify for Playoffs. Actually, it was a fine throw from Dhawal Kulkarni from the deep mid-wicket region.
Watson shuffled his bowlers well. But even on a slightly dry track, they weren’t able to steam the run flow. Kulkarni, who opened the bowling for Rajasthan bowled with decent control for them. Other than him, Ankit bowled reasonably well for them. To make it worse for Rajasthan, Watson the skipper dropped a touch chance off the bowling of Rajat Bhatia, the medium pacer. To add insult to injury, Simmons then clambered the medium pacer for a sumptuous six.
Cooper, the all-rounder also came in for some severe punishment, as he was smashed for a six during the 14th over of the game. Finally, Simmons got out for a well-measured innings, when he was caught by Cooper, the boundary rider, off the bowling of Ankit. Ankit also got the wicket of Hussey. He too was caught in the deep by Cooper. Earlier, Mumbai won the toss and elected to bat against Rajasthan on a dry track in IPL 2014. It was Simmons, who has been in fine form this season who opened the batting with the experienced campaigner, Hussey.
Surprisingly, Rajasthan dropped Pravin Tambe for the game. Shane Watson, who missed the last game though made a comeback into the game. The second over of the game was bowled by Kulkarni, the medium pacer. He hardly got any movement off the track. Simmons, on the other end of the spectrum looked to play his shots mainly through the on side. The third over of the game was bowled by Ankit, who continued to bowl with decent control. Both openers struggled to get him away. Simmons tried to play inside out shots, yet struggled to score boundaries.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 178 for 3 in 20 overs (Michael Hussey 56, Lendl Simmons 62, Rohit Sharma 40; Ankit Sharma 2 for 23) beat Rajasthan Royals 153 for 8 in 20 overs (Karun Nair 48, Brad Hodge 40; Harbhajan Singh 2 for 13) by 25 runs.
(Bharath Ramaraj, an MBA in marketing, eats, drinks and sleeps cricket. He has played at school and college-level, and now channelises his passion for the game by writing about it)
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