13.03.10
Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians
Rajasthan Royals managed to win hearts in Mumbai but unfortunately lost the match by narrowest of margins. The game would always be fresh in the minds of the cricket fans as they witnessed one of the greatest T20 innings of all time played by none other than Yusuf “Royal” Pathan. His 37-ball 100 (9X4, 8X6) is the second fastest hundred ever in any format of the game and the fastest in the IPL history.
Chasing a challenging score of 212 runs RR got off to the worst possible starts losing Swapnil Asnodkar in the first over. Graeme Smith and Naman Ojha steadied the ship and added 38 runs before both of them were dismissed in consecutive overs. Royals were struggling at 66 for four in the tenth over when Yusuf was joined by Paras Dogra (41 runs, 29b, 2X4, 2X6). The pair turned the game on its head adding 110 of just 47 balls. Pathan started the onslaught by hitting Ali Murtaza for 3 sixes in the 11th over and in the next over he smashed 3 fours and 2 sixes off R Sathish. He was equally brutal on Ryan McLaren, and found the boundary three times in the subsequent over. Suddenly RR started looking like favourites when Pathan plundered 19 in the 17th over bowled by Sanath Jayasurya and also reached his hundred. Needing 40 from last three overs Pathan was unfortunately run out when a straight drive by Paras Dogra was deflected on to the stumps by R Sathish. The Mumbai crowd stood up on its feet to salute Pathan for his heroic efforts. After Pathan’s dismissal Dogra threatened to take the game away from MI as he smashed R Sathish for 2 sixes and 2 fours in the same over. RR went into the last over needing 12 runs but Dogra was run-out of the first ball of the over. Even though Dimitri Mascarenhas tried his best to get RR over the line the target was too steep and RR fell short by 4 runs.
Earlier in the day MI won the toss and elected to bat first and started very promisingly with Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasurya getting the team off to flying start. Even though MI lost wickets in the middle Saurab Tiwary (53) and Ambati Rayadu (55) added 110 for the fourth wicket and put the team in a very strong position. Shane Warne rotated his bowlers around and tried different fields but was not very successful in containing the MI batsmen as they posted a mammoth 212 for 6 in 20 overs.
Even though the RR bowling looked a bit underdone, the fighting spirit shown by the young team proves that they are a very dangerous unit and this performance would surely get all other teams sit up and take notice.
Match details:
Match: MI Vs RR
Date: 13th March ,2010
Venue: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
Toss: Mumbai Indians, who chose to bat
MoM: Yusuf Pathan
Breif scores:
MI 212/6 - S Tiwary 53(33b,4x4,2x6) , A Rayudu 55(33b,6x4,2x6) , D.Mascarenhas 4-0-34-2
RR 208/7 - Yusuf Pathan 100(37b,9x4,8x6) , P Dogra 41(29b,2x4,2x6) , SL Malinga 4-0-22-2
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 4 runs
Article source www.rajasthanroyals.com/td20100312.aspx