IPL 2015: Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals – As it happened...

New Delhi: Steven Smith played yet another sensational knock as Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets in the 9th match of the Indian Premier League played at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad. (ALSO SEE: IPL 2015 FULL COVERAGE | POINTS TABLE)

Over 19.1 | Score 165/3

Gopal to bowl his third over, just 1 needed from 6. Faulkner hit the first ball and went for a risky single, it looked like a run-out initially but he has made his ground! Rajasthan have won their third man in a row, third consecutive defeat for the Mumbai Indians! Their captain has single-handedly won the game for them without much trouble! What a player!

Steven Smith 79* (53b) James Faulkner 6* (6b)

Over 19 | Score 164/3

12 needed from 12, Malinga to bowl his final over. Faulkner took a single off the first ball to bring Smith back on strike. Malinga fired a yorker, Smith charged down the wicket and handsomely drove it past extra-cover for a boundary. Smith worked the third ball towards fine leg for a couple of runs. Smith hit the fourth ball straight to covers for no run. Smith hit the fifth ball back to the bowler for no run. Malinga ended the over with another length ball and Smith once again drilled it past extra-cover for another boundary. 11 from the over. Smith has continued his form from the World Cup into the IPL as well!  

Over 18 | Score 153/3

Suyal to bowl his final over, RR need 24 off 18 now. Just six came off the first five balls, but Smith launched the last ball, a length delivery, over deep midwicket for a Six! 12 from the over.

Over 17 | Score 141/3

Malinga to bowl his third over. He started off with a length ball and Smith drilled it over midwicket for a boundary. Smith was offered width off the second ball and he hit it over covers for another boundary which brought his half-century off 40 balls. Smith drove the third ball past covers for a couple of runs. Smith charged down the wicket off the fourth ball, got an edge which flew past third man for a boundary. Malinga bowled a slower one to Smith, a dot ball. Smith took a single off the last ball to keep the strike. 15 from the over. Malinga fails to show his magic as Smith's terrific run continues.

Over 16 | Score 126/3

Suyal has been brought back into the attack. He bowled a length ball to Smith who got an edge which rushed past third man for a boundary. Suyal bowled a fronfoot no ball to Smith, who scored a couple off it and Suyal followed it with a beamer. 13 from the over.

Over 15 | Score 113/3

Malinga to bowl his second over, his three overs will be the key for the result of the game. Hooda shuffled across against Malinga, exposed his leg-stump which was uprooted by another excellent yorker! Hooda was dismissed in a similar fashion by Anureet Singh in Royals's first match against Kings XI Punjab. James Faulkner is the new man in. He conceded 29 runs from three overs and his teams needs him to score much more than that. 52 needed from last 6 overs.

DJ Hooda b Malinga 13 (4b)

Over 14 | Score 107/2

Gopal to continue. Rahane charged down the wicket, but holed it straight to Anderson at long-off. He has once again thrown his wicket away after getting a very good start. He was dismissed for 47 in the previous match and has fallen short of a half-century against by four runs. Deepak Hooda, the hero from the previous match comes to the crease. He charged down the wicket off the second ball and launched it over deep midwicket for a Six! That wasn't it as Hooda shimmied down again off the last ball and launched it high over long-off for another Six! He has the license to kill and 19-year-old Hooda has already played some fantastic strokes.

AM Rahane c Anderson b Gopal 46 (39b)

Over 13 | Score 92/1

Suchith to bowl his final over. Just three runs came off the first five balls, but Smith stood in the crease off the last ball and smashed it straight down the ground for a boundary. 7 from the over.  

Over 12 | Score 85/1

Shreyas Gopal to bowl his leg-spin now. Second ball was short, Rahane went for the pull and mistimed it towards deep midwicket where Chand dropped a tough chance diving to his front. 7 from the over.

Over 11 | Score 78/1

Suchith into his third over. Nine from the over. Without taking too many risks, these two are keeping the scoreboard moving. They have also added 50 runs off just 39 balls. Mumbai clearly need couple of wickets here.

Over 10 | Score 69/1

Anderson to continue. Just four from the over. Anderson ended the over with three consecutive dot balls to Smith, one off which should have clearly been a wide.

Over 9 | Score 65/1

Suchith to continue. He bowled a short one to Rahane who was quick enough to pull it past midwicket for a boundary. 8 from the over.

Over 8 | Score 57/1

Corey Anderson into the attack. Rahane was offered width off the fourth ball and he hit it off the backfoot over covers for a boundary. 8 from the over.

Over 7 | Score 49/1

Suchith has been brought into the attack. Seven from the over. These two batsmen are good players of spin and Rohit Sharma should look to unsettle them with pace.

Over 6 | Score 42/1

Lasith Malinga finally comes into the attack. He bowled a short one to Smith who pummelled it past midwicket for a boundary. 9 from the over.

Over 5 | Score 33/1

Vinay into his third over. Samson got a short of a length ball which he neatly hit over mid-on for a boundary. Samson was looking to work the third ball down the leg side, mistimed it straight into the hands of Rohit Sharma at mid-off. Vinay bowled one down the leg side and Rahane timed it well past fine leg for a boundary.

SV Samson c Sharma b Vinay Kumar 17 (16b)

Over 4 | Score 24/0

Suyal to continue. Rahane charged down the wicket off the fifth ball and hit it between mid-on and midwicket for a boundary. Nine from the over.

Over 3 | Score 15/0

Kumar to continue. Another good over from Vinay, three runs off it.

Over 2 | Score 12/0

Pawan Suyal to bowl from the other end. Second ball had width on offer and Samson timed it well between the gap at point and covers for a boundary. Third ball had width on offer and Samson hit it over covers for another boundary. 11 from the over.

Over 1 | Score 1/0

Sanju Samson and Ajinkya Rahane will open the innings for Rajasthan Royals, Vinay Kumar to bowl the first over for Mumbai. Good start, just one run from the first over.

Over 20 | Score 164/5

Morris to bowl the final over, Jagadeesha Suchith is the new man in. He started with a low full-toss, Anderson hit it straight down the ground for a couple of runs. Anderson was offered width off the second ball and he hit it over point for another boundary. Anderson was offered another full-toss and he smacked it over deep midwicket for another Six to reach his half-century off just 37 balls. Morris fired a yorker and it worked as Anderson was bowled! Shreyas Gopal was the new man in. Gopal worked the fifth ball for a single straight down the ground. Sucheth didn't connect with the last ball, they ran for a bye and an overthrow yielded another run for them. This is a very competitive total and the Mumbai bowlers should bowl their heart out to back the magnificent show put in by Pollard and Anderson.

CJ Anderson b Morris 50 (38b)  

Over 19 | Score 149/4

Southee to bowl his final over. He came round the wicket, bowled at the pads and Pollard dispatched it over deep midwicket for another Six! Southee followed it with a short ball, Pollard pulled it for a boundary past deep fine leg. Third ball was wide and full and Pollard drilled it straight down the ground for another boundary. Fourth ball was another short ball and Pollard pulled it for a Six over deep square leg. 20 off the first four balls. Southee finally managed to get a yorker right for a dot ball. Southee once again bowled one at the pads, Pollard went after it but on that occasion found the fielder at deep midwicket. A mind blowing knock comes to an end. These two have also added 104-run partnership for the fourth wicket. 20 from the over.

KA Pollard c Nair b Southee 70 (34b)

Over 17 | Score 129/3

Tambe to bowl his final over. Pollard swept the first ball, a half-volley over long-on for a Six! Second ball was a full-toss and Pollard hit it straight down the ground for a couple of runs. Tambe bowled a googly and Pollard took a single off the third ball. Anderson followed it with another single off the fourth ball. Pollard charged down the wicket off the next ball and hit it towards deep midwicket for a couple of runs. Pollard took a single off the last ball to reach his half-century off just 28 balls. 13 from the over.

Over 17 | Score 116/3

Faulkner has been reintroduced into the attack. He started with a short ball and Pollard pulled it past midwicket for a boundary. He followed it with another half-volley with width on offer and Pollard went over extra-cover for a Six! Third ball was a slow bouncer and Pollard couldn't connect with that one. Pollard was offered a low full-toss next ball and he drilled it straight down the ground for another boundary. Pollard took a single off the fifth ball. Faulkner bowled a slower one to end the over and Anderson hit it towards wide of long-on for a couple of runs. 17 from the over. Another forgettable spell from Faulkner so far.

Over 16 | Score 99/3

Southee has been brought back into the attack. He too started off with a length ball and Anderson smacked it over long on for a Six! Southee followed it with a slower ball, but his compatriot picked it early and hit it towards wide of long on for another bouondary. Southee bowled one at Pollard's legs and he fllicked it past midwicket for another boundary. 16 from the over. Mumbai needs at least three more overs like this one.

Over 15 | Score 83/3

Kulkarni into his third over. He bowled a slower bouncer to Pollard who pulled it powerfully past midwicket for a boundary. Anderson was offered some width off the last ball, he went after it but found the fielder at long-off. But wait, that was a front-foot no-ball! Corey gets a life on 23. The free hit was a wide length ball and Anderson hit it for a single towards deep cover.

Over 14 | Score 74/3

Faulkner comes back into the attack. He started with a length ball and Pollard flicked it over deep midwicket with all the power for a Six! He ended the over with another dot ball and Anderson clobbered it over long-off for another huge Six! Superb hitting from these two and if they bat till 20 overs, RR would be in huge trouble!

Over 13 | Score 61/3

Morris to bowl his third over. He bowled towards Pollard's pads and he launched it past wide of long-on for a boundary. He bowled a length ball to Anderson who hammered it straight down the ground for a boundary. These two are slowly getting their momentum back. 9 from the over.

Over 12 | Score 52/3

Tambe to continue. He ended the over with one down the leg side and Anderson swept it for a boundary past square leg. Six from the over.

Over 11 | Score 46/3

Morris to bowl his second over. Just one from the over. Two big-hitting men are at the crease and we all expect some fireworks in the next ten overs.

Over 10 | Score 45/3

Pravin Tambe brought into the attack. Chand charged down the wicket off the fifth ball, only to york himself as the middle-stump was uprooted! Magnificent ball from Tambe, he has struck again! 7 from the over.

UBT Chand b Tambe 12 (17b)

Over 9 | Score 38/2

James Faulkner introduced into the attack. A maiden over to start with!

Over 8 | Score 38/2

Deepak Hooda comes into the attack. Good start, just three from the first over.

Over 7 | Score 35/2

Binny to bowl his second over. Binny bowled an outswinger to Rohit who edged it straight into the hands of Steven Smith in the slip cordon. Corey Anderson is the new man in. He played a blinder when these two teams met in their previous match last year. Anderson was offered length off the fifth ball and he drove it past covers for a boundary.

RG Sharma c Smith b Binny 0 (5b)

Over 6 | Score 31/1

Southee to bowl his second over. Chand was offered width off the fifth ball and he cut it past extremely hard past third man for a boundary. Four from the over.

Over 5 | Score 27/1

Kulkarni to bowl his second over. He bowled a slower one to Parthiv who tried making some room to clear extra-cover but hit it straight at mid-off. Rohit Sharma is the new man in. Great over, just one run and a wicket for Kulkarni.

PA Patel c Morris b Kulkarni 16 (11b)

Over 4 | Score 26/0

Stuart Binny has been brought into the attack. Finch took a single off the third ball was seen limping off the field. Unmukt Chand is the new man in. Just 2 from the over.

Over 3 | Score 22/0

Dhawal Kulkarni has been brought into the attack. Pathiv flashed hard at the first ball, got an edge which went over the stumps for a boundary. Good start from him, just 5 from the over.

Over 2 | Score 17/0

Chris Morris to bowl from the other end. He started off with one at Parthiv's pads and he flicked it for a boundary. He ended bowling one at Finch's pads who also flicked it past deep square leg for another boundary. 11 from the over.

Over 1 | Score 6/0

Tim Southee to bowl the first over. He bowled a short of a length delivery to Finch who drove it through covers for a boundary. Good start from Southee, just six from the over.

MI have won the toss and they have decided to bat first.

Mumbai would be itching to register their first win of the tournament after consecutive defeats against Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab.

They need to put their batting order in place as they have one of the most formidable batting line ups in the tournament. Rohit Sharma played an incredible knock in the IPL opener, and it's high time Aaron Finch fires with the bat. Corey Anderson, Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard are three batsmen who should bat at number three, four and five respectively. After Finch's failures in the first two matches, the Mumbai camp might be contemplating to give Lendl Simmons a chance.

In the bowling department, Vinay Kumar is yet to pick his first wicket of the tournament and Lasith Malinga too hasn't lived up to his reputation so far. Harbhajan Singh bowled an excellent spell in the previous match and also made a significant contribution with the bat. Surprisingly, Corey Anderson, who swung the ball both ways in the first match, didn't bowl a single over against Punjab.

Rajasthan on the other hand are beaming with confidence and have found a new hero in Deepak Hooda. RR have been blessed with some of the most talented domestic Indian cricketers being a part of their squad.

James Faulkner, Steven Smith have been their consistent performers and Tim Southee, Chris Morris have been good with the ball so far.

Among the Indian players, Ajinkya Rahane as always will be expected to provide a solid foundation at the top of the order and a big knock is due from the likes of Sanju Samson and Stuart Binny.

When these two teams met the last time, we witnessed a thriller where Aditya Tare smashed a Six in the 15th over of the innings to give his team a memorable win against the Royals.