IPL 2015, Match 32: MI vs RR - As it happened...

Mumbai Indians beat Rajasthan Royals by 8 runs in Match 32 of the IPL.

IPL 2015, Match 32: MI vs RR - As it happened...

New Delhi: Mumbai Indians beat Rajasthan Royals by 8 runs in Match 32 of the IPL. Sanju Samson played a superlative knock of 76 runs off 46 balls to lead the RR run chase.

RR Innings

Over 20 | 179/7

Vinay Kumar did not have too many problems in defending total. Binny failed to delivery the big six that was needed to put pressure on the pacer.

Southee run out 6 (5b)


Over 19 | 168/7

Hooda flicked Malinga's yorker straight up in the air for Chand to take a simple catch. The Sri Lankan completed a fine over, bowling accurate yorkers to concede only 7 runs.

Hooda c Chand b Malinga 1 (2b)


Over 18 | 161/7

McClenaghan low full toss was sweetly timed by Samson for a six over cover. The Kiwi exacted revenge on the very next ball as the right hander holed out to long-off. The left-arm pacer picked two-in-two Karun Nair edged a rising delivery to the keeper. This match has turned on its head.

Nair c Patel b McClenaghan 7 (6b)

Samson c Suchith b McClenaghan 76 (46b)


Over 17 | Score 154/3

Maling came back into the bowling attack for MI. Samson clobbered him for a massive six over long-on and capped off the Sri Lanka's over with paddle down fine-leg for four. That woke Shane Watson up in the dugout.


Over 16 | Score 140/3

Vinay Kumar came back into the attack and the RR batsmen immediately went after him. Karun Nair and Samson, both picked a boundary each off the pacer's over to keep the scoreboard ticking after Smith's dismissal.


Over 15 | Score 127/3

McClenaghan got the much-needed wicket of Smith. After being unable to put the Kiwi away, the Aussie tried to slash hard at a wide delivery, only to be caught by Bhajji at third man. Exception bowling by the left-arm who build pressure on arguably the most in-form batsman in the world right now.

Smith c Harbhajan Singh b McClenaghan 23 (20b)​


Over 14 | Score 124/2

Harbhajan completed his quota of 4 overs. Sanju once again guide his off-stump delivery to the third man region for a boundary. Bhajji was livid with the effort from the short third man fielder.


Over 13 | Score 115/2

In desperate need of a wicket, Rohit brought Malinga back into the attack. Though the Sri Lanka didn't pick up wicket, he contained the RR batsmen to just 6 runs.


Over 12 | Score 109/2

Royals got the hundred run-mark in the 12th over. Samson guided Bhajji's delivery down to third man region for a four. Smith then punished a low full toss from the off-spinner to end the over with another boundary.


Over 11 | Score 98/2

Suchith completed his quota of four overs. Samson got down on one knee and smoked him over midwicket boundary with a sweep for a six.


Over 10 | Score 87/2

MI opted with spin from both ends as Bhajji continued to operate from the other end. The veteran off-spinner bowled a tidy second over to concede just 5 runs.


Over 9 | Score 82/2

Watson lost his off-stump as he attempted to cut Suchith's delivery that hurried onto him. Rohit deserves credit for sticking with the left-arm spinner. Steve Smith is the new man in.

Watson b Suchith 28 (23b)


Over 8 | Score 71/1

Harbhajan Singh was brought into the attack by MI. Sanju played a well-controlled wide of deep midwicket for score another boundary. The young batsman is growing in confidence.


Over 7 | Score 62/1

Rohit took a brave call as he persisted with Suchith despite Watson's assault in his 1st over. The left-arm spinner made a good comeback, bowling a tidy over. The Aussie failed to get a solid connection on any of Suchith's deliveries this time around.


Over 6 | Score 55/1

Samson flicked Vinay's leg-side delivery fine of the fielder at fine-leg to pick up his first boundary.


Over 5 | Score 49/1

Spin was introduced for the first time by Rohit. Suchith was severely dealt with by Watson as he bludgeoned the left-arm spinner for a huge six and followed it up with a four.


Over 4 | Score 35/1

Vinay Kumar was introduced into the attack and he immediately got the wicket of Rahane. Sanju Samson came out to bat after the fall of that wicket.

Rahane c Rayudu b Vinay Kumar 16 (12b)


Over 3 | Score 30/0

McClenaghan's short ball was pull to the cow corner boundary by Watson for a big six.


Over 2 | Score 18/0

Lasith Malinga shared the new ball with McClenaghan. The Sri Lanka conceded 9 runs off his over including a four off Rahane's willow.


Over 1 | Score 9/0

McClenaghan opened the bowling attack for MI. Rahane and Watson got off the mark in that over. Solid start by RR with 9 runs coming from the opening over.


MI Innings

Over 20 | Score 187/4

Theron bowled the final over of the innings. After having scored a boundary, Pollard perished trying to hit another one out of the park. Rayudu completed his fifty with a four of the last ball of the MI innings. He has played a stellar knock today.

Pollard c Samson b Theron 24 (14b)


Over 19 | Score 175/4

Another productive over for MI as Rayudu attacked Southee to pick up 2 fours and a big six.


Over 18 | Score 159/4

Shane Watson brought himself back into the attack. His 3rd over went for 20 runs as Pollard clobbered him for a six and a four off successive balls. The duo seem to have re-ignited their rivalry.


Over 17 | Score 139/4

Theron came back into the attack. Rayudu clobbered a length delivery straight into the stands for a six. 13 runs came off that over.


Over 16 | Score 126/4

After Rohit's wicket, Pollard walked in to bat. Ankit Sharma, having taken a great catch to dismiss the MI skipper, came back into the attack and bowled a superb over to concede only 6 runs.


Over 15 | Score 120/4

Sharma clobbered his good friend Kulkarni over deep midwicket for a six. The pacer immediately got his revenge has the right-hander spooned a catch to Ankit Sharma at fine leg. Rohit walked his stumps and tried to chip the ball over the fine leg fielder who pulled off a spectacular one-handed catch.

Sharma c Ankit Sharma b Kulkarni 27 (21b)


Over 14 | Score 112/3

Binny's second over cost 12 runs as Rohit hit a four and Rayudu capped it off with a six back over the bowlers head.


Over 13 | Score 100/3

Hundred came up for the home side in the 13th over. They need to get  a move on considering 183 is the average first innings score at Wankhede.


Over 12 | Score 95/3

Ambati Rayudu came in to bat after Chand's dismissal. Ankit continued to bowl well as he gave just 7 runs away off his 3rd over.


Over 11 | Score 88/3

Brought back into the attack, Southee's bouncer helped RR get rid of Chand. The right-hander was not in control of his attempted pull shot and top-edged the ball for to Binny who completed a good catch.

Chand c Binny b Southee 13 (14b)


Over 10 | Score 81/2

Ankit Sharma was brought back into the attack and trapped Simmons LBW on his first ball. The right-hander would consider himself unlucky as replays confirmed he got a big inside edge on that delivery. Skipper Rohit Sharma is the next man in. The adoring home crowed greeted him with cheers of 'Rohit Rohit Rohit'. 

Simmons lbw b Ankit Sharma 38 (31b)


Over 9 | Score 73/1

Lendl Simmons went after Watson clobbering him for a four and six of successive balls. RR need a wicket here or the dangerous West Indian could take the game away from them.


Injured MI opener Aaron Finch and his dog seem to be happy with this start from Mumbai.


Over 8 | Score 60/1

Spin was introduced into the attack as Ankit Sharma came to bowl round the wicket. His pitched one short and Simmons rocked back on the backfoot to hit the ball wide off Smith at long-on for a four.


Over 7 | Score 52/1

Stuart Binny replaced Kulkarni in the bowling attack. The all-rounder bowled a tidy over, keeping things tight and giving away just 5 runs.


Over 6 | Score 47/1

Unmukt Chand walked out to the middle after the loss of Mumbai's 1st wicket. Shane Watson brought himself into the attack and bowled a tight over conceding only 4 runs.


Over 5 | Score 43/1

Kulkarni gave RR a much-needed breakthrough as he took a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Patel. The left-hander hit the ball straight back to the bowler who bent down and took a good reflex catch.

Patel c & b Kulkarni 23 (14b)


Over 4 | Score 38/0

First bowling change!

Debutant Rusty Theron was introduced into the attack. He was attacked by Patel straight away, picking up two more boundaries in that over. Great attacking display by the MI openers here at the Wankhede.


Over 3 | Score 26/0

Patel flicked Southee down fine leg to pick up a boundary off the last ball.


Over 2 | Score 18/0

Dhawal Kulkarni bowled the second over of the match. Parthiv Patel hit two back-to-back fours off his bowling to get off the mark.


Over 1 | Score 5/0

Tim Southee took the new ball for RR as Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel opened the MI innings. The New Zealander bowled a perfect outswinger, which Simmons edge straight into the hands of Sanju Samson who dropped the catch. The West Indian then rubbed salt in Southee's wounds as he picked up his first four smacking a length delivery to the long-off boundary.


Toss and team news

Shane Watson won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Juan Theron comes in for James Faulkner and Ankit Sharma for Pravin Tambe.

RR XI: A Rahane, S Watson, S Smith, K Nair, S Samson, S Binny, D Hooda, T Southee, J Theron, A Sharma, D Kulkarni

MI XI: L Simmons, P Patel, U Chand, RG Sharma, K Pollard, A Rayudu, H Singh, J Suchitch, V Kumar, M McClenaghan, L Malinga


Match preview

MI had lost to RR when the two met in the first leg encounter at Ahmedabad a fortnight ago and the game offers a chance to the hosts to avenge that defeat at home.

Mumbai have enjoyed a well-needed short break after stopping Sun Risers Hyderabad in a low-scoring seventh game through excellent seam bowling on April 25.

Also read: IPL 2015 Full Coverage

The Royals, on the other hand, would enter the game somewhat tired after being on the road to play in the rain-abandoned match against Royal Challengers Bangalore last night at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

It was their second successive rain-hit contest after the total wash-out at the Eden Gardens against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders on April 26.

Royals are well on target to take one of the four play-off spots in the tournament, currently lying second behind leaders Chennai Super Kings in the eight-team table, while MI's hopes of making the play-offs after five defeats in seven games hang by a slender thread.

The win over Sun Risers when they defended a total of 157 through some fine bowling from sling-arm Lankan pace spearhead Lasith Malinga and newly-inducted New Zealand all rounder Mitchell McClenaghan - who has filled up well for his injured compatriot Corey Anderson -- has re-ignited MI's fading hopes.

Also read: IPL 2015 Points Table

But beyond these two, the pace bowling unit has not been impressive with none among R Vinay Kumar, the victorious Karnataka Ranji captain, Pawan Suyal and Jasprit Bhumrah, being really impressive in the shortest format of the game.

They have other issues to be sorted out too. One of the major ones is the lack of a good opening combination as Parthiv Patel, who opened in the previous game with Lendl Simmons, has not really been convincing despite getting some starts.

With just 73 runs from five games to his credit, the diminutive Gujarat Ranji captain has not made the sort of impact the team's think tank, led by chief coach Ricky Ponting, would have liked.

Captain and batting lynchpin Rohit Sharma - who has scored 244 runs so far -- has constantly harped on having the team combination right when asked why he's not been opening the innings despite scoring a brilliant 98 in the IPL opener on April 8 against KKR.

The team's think-tank could be tempted to ask him to revert to the opening slot after the lack of big partnerships at the top which has upset the team's batting rhythm.

Also read: IPL 2015 Schedule

The other issue is the absence of a good spin option to complement Harbhajan Singh's tight wicket-taking spells in the middle overs. Neither Shreyas Gopal nor his Karnataka colleague Jagadeesha Suchith have impressed on a consistent basis.

Royals too have some important issues to address.

Their batsmen, including man-in-form Ajinkya Rahane, have not got a chance to go out and bat in the middle after their only loss at home (Ahmedabad) to RCB on April 24.

It was a batting failure which saw them being restricted to a paltry 130 for 9 by the RCB bowlers led by lanky Australian left arm pacer, Mitchell Starc.

Rajasthan have fielded the same eleven in almost all their games but for some changes like New Zealand's Tim Southee replacing the gangling South African Chris Morris in the abandoned return game against RCB last night.

Leg spinner Pravin Tambe, also a Mumbai-born, had leaked runs in both innings against RCB, but they have limited options in the spin department.

In batting, they would once again depend on local man and current orange cap holder, Rahane (323 runs) to provide the spark to raise a big total or make a successful run chase.

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The other batsmen they have depended on this season are captain Shane Watson (144 runs), his victorious Australian World Cup-winning teammate Steve Smith (172) and all-rounder Deepak Hooda (117).

James Faulkner has so far not been impressive with the bat but is a dangerous customer and MI will be wary of him in the slog phase as well as his clever bowling.

Mumbai-born Dhawal Kulkarni would be another player,

Rajasthan would be looking forward to get cracking, apart from Rahane - as he knows the Wankhede track as well as anyone else from both teams.