Royal Challengers Banglaore pulled the rug from under Mumbai Indians' feet to cruise home to a clinical nine-wicket victory and catapult themselves to the fourth place in the DLF Indian Premier League table at the Wanderers here on Sunday. It was Royal Challengers Bangalore's third straight win.
Robin Uthapppa made a quickfire 66 (42 balls, eight fours, two sixes) teamed up with South African paceman Dillon du Preez (three for 32) and all-rounder Jacques Kallis (69, 59 balls, five fours, two sixes) to see Royal Challengers Bangalore home and dry with 11 balls to spare against a listless Mumbai Indians squad.
On a day when Rahul Dravid returned to the side - and took a fine catch in slip to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar cheaply - du Preez rocked Mumbai Indians with a triple strike in the span of six deliveries. He induced a drive from Tendulkar and found the egde, had similar success of the next ball to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane and found the egde off in-form JP Duminy.
Sanath Jayasuriya made a battling half-century but fell to a poor shot off a short ball from Roelf van der Merwe, leaving Dwayne Bravo to make a late flourish (50 off 40 balls, one four and two sixes) and power Mumbai Indians to 149 for four in 20 overs. Even Tendulkar would admit that it was at least 25 runs below par on a good batting track.
Kallis took on Bravo and dangerman Lasith Malinga and infused energy at the start of the innings that took Mumbai Indian by surprise. He eased the pace with as the innings progressed but Uthappa took it upon himself to ensure that the match did not go into the final over with some big hitting off the slow bowlers.
Sachin Tendulkar was hampered by strike bowler Zaheer Khan's absence in the death but the fact that he did not get off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to bowl his full quota of four overs will be spoken about for some time. In the event, Tendulkar's two overs cost him 21 runs and Jayasuriya leaked 20 in his two overs.
The league table wears a very interesting look with Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore all having eight points each. Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals all have seven points, Kolkata Knight Riders wallowing at the bottom with three points.
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