27 May, 2008
Royals win again

A final-ball fumble by Sanath Jayasuriya gifted the Rajasthan Royals a five-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Monday.

With Rajasthan requiring two balls off the final ball for victory, Jayasuriya, standing at the bowler's end, bungled a routine run out when he dropped a throw from the outfield.

Sohail Tanvir had earlier recorded figures of 4-14 as the home side limited Mumbai to 7-145.

And Niraj Patel was the Royals' hero with the bat, cracking a fine 40 from just 29 balls to help his side to 5-146 and earn them their 11th win of the competition.

None of the Rajasthan batsmen were able to get into their stride early on as the form which has propelled them to the top of the IPL table threatened to desert them.

Kamran Akmal (18 off 16), Swapnil Asnodkar (17 off 18) and Shane Watson (18 off 19) all got starts, but were unable to push on.

But Ravindra Jadeja (23 off 20) and Patel in particular pulled them out of the mire, putting on an unbeaten 73 for the sixth wicket to see the Royals home - although the winning runs owed much to Jayasuriya's blunder.

Sent in, Mumbai made a promising start, openers Jayasuriya (38) and Sachin Tendulkar (30) putting on 71 for the first wicket.

Tanvir then took charge, removign Abhishek Nayar lbw for 25 and Shaun Pollock (nought) in successive balls, while Manish Pandey and Dwayne Smith were sent packing in the space of three balls in Tanvir's next over.

Pandey was bowled between bat and pad for three before Smith holed out to Niraj Patel at long off for eight.

Yogesh Takawale cut loose at the death with a rapid 24 off eight balls, but his contribution did not prove decisive.