Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2012

Pollard, Malinga help Mumbai Indians overcome Rajasthan Royals.

 A terrific bowling effort from Lasith Malinga in the 15th over changed the fortunes for Rajasthan Royals to bring Mumbai Indians right back into the contest. Malinga picked up two wickets in that over including that of the dangerous Owais Shah to rescue the Mumbai Indians who eventually went onto win the high-scoring contest at the Wankhede Stadium by 22 runs.

Pollard had no role to play in his first boundary, Hogg's googly beating the batsman on the forward push and going between the wicketkeeper and first slip. It was Rayudu who took on Hogg in the 11th over, slog-sweeping for six over midwicket.

 Kevon Cooper's meeting with his Trinidad & Tobago team-mate was much awaited, but Pollard lofted his first ball from his fellow allrounder for six over long-on. Still, Royals had somehow managed to keep the expected torrent of runs down and Mumbai Indians were going around eight an over after 13.

 Johan Botha came on in the 14th, and Pollard dispatched his first four balls for boundaries. Botha dragged the first delivery short, tossed the second one up and went wide of Pollard with the third. It made scarce difference to Pollard as he swung all three deliveries between deep midwicket and long-on. His power showed off the fourth ball as even a leading edge beat the sweeper to the deep extra cover rope.

 Twenty-three runs came off that Botha over, and the pressure on Royals had increased significantly. Pollard threatened to do an encore of the Botha over in the 17th against Ankeet Chavan, hitting his first delivery so hard that it deflected off the non-striker's stumps to the straight boundary even as umpire Aleem Dar barely got out of the way. The next two balls also disappeared for boundaries but Pollard found long-on off the last ball.

 Harbhajan Singh ensured Mumbai Indians did not falter after Pollard's departure and left Royals with a mountain to climb. Munaf removed Rahul Dravid and Shreevats Goswami off consecutive deliveries in the second over to make the ascent appear steeper.

 The Rajasthan Royals were in early trouble at 7 for 2 in the 2nd over chasing 198. But a superb second wicket partnership between Ajinkya Rahane (40 from 31 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes) and Owais Shah helped the innings to get some shape. Owais Shah unleashing a few slog sweeps into the crowd went on the carnage after completing a fifty. And just when he was threatening to run away with the game, a perfect yorker from Lasith Malinga cleaned up his stumps. Owais Shah scored a smashing 76 from 42 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes before leaving the park at 134 for 4 in 14.1 overs.

The Royals got flashes of brilliance from Ashok Menaria (20 from 15 balls with 2 fours and a six) and Kevon Cooper (14 from 6 balls with 2 sixes) but both the batsmen couldn’t take their side home. Lasith Malinga was the pick of the bowler for the hosts with 4-0-13-2. Munaf Patel and Kieron Pollard were the successful wicket takers with four each to their names. Pollard who earlier scored 64 from 33 balls along with his 4 for 44 got the Man of the Match award.

Pollard, Rayudu fire Mumbai Indians to 197 for 6

Owais Shah’s brilliant knock goes in vain for Rajasthan Royals

 Mumbai Indians seem to have batted Rajasthan Royals out of the contest with a huge total of 197 for 6 at the Wankhede Stadium. Kieron Pollard led the way for Mumbai Indians with an explosive knock of 64 from 33 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes. AT Rayudu played a crucial hand for MI with his 47 from 32 balls with a four and 3 sixes. Skipper Harbhajan Singh provided the final touches with a cameo of 18* from 6 balls with a four and 2 sixes.

 The hosts were in a spot of bother when Brad Hogg picked up the key wickets of Richard Levi and Rohit Sharma to reduce the Mumbai Indians to 68 for 3 in 8.2 overs.