3 memorable clashes between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium

#2 Ambati Rayudu’s 53 and Mitch McClenaghan’s 3-fer set-up a famous win for MI - 2015

Put into bat first on a flat deck, Mumbai Indians started their innings well thanks to their openers, Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons. The pair added 43 runs for the first wicket, before Dhawal Kulkarni dismissed Parthiv Patel caught and bowled for 23. Simmons looked good until he was trapped LBW for 38 of the bowling of off-spinner Ankit Sharma.

Unmukt Chand didn’t last long as he was bounced out by Tim Southee for 13. At this juncture, Mumbai Indians were 84-3 in 10.4 overs.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu stitched together a decent partnership of 34 runs for the fourth wicket before Rohit Sharma was caught at fine leg region by Ankit Sharma, who pulled of a one-handed blinder to dismiss Sharma for 27. With more than 5 overs to spare, Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard threw caution to the wind by attacking the Rajasthan bowlers.

The pair added 61 runs for the 5th wicket and Ambati Rayudu raced away to another IPL fifty. In the end, Mumbai Indians put up a solid total of 187/5 in the allotted 20 overs. Ambati Rayudu was the top scorer with 53 not out, while Dhawal Kulkarni was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets.

In reply, openers Ajinkya Rahane and Shane Watson got the team off to a quick start. The pair added 30 runs before Rahane skied one to be caught at the covers region. Shane Watson continued his good form but he couldn’t continue the good start as he was dismissed by Jagadeesh Suchith for 28.

Steve Smith and Sanju Samson got together to resurrect the innings. The pair cashed in against some loose bowling by Mumbai Indians and found the fence at regular intervals. Sanju Samson, in particular, was in a silky touch and he timed every boundary to perfection.

Rajasthan looked well on their way for a comfortable until things started to change in the 15th over, when Steve Smith top-edged one to third man of the bowling of Mitch McClenaghan for 23. Sanju Samson, who had played a match-winning knock, threw his wicket away by giving an easy catch to long off fielder of the bowling of McClenaghan for 76.

Mumbai Indians bowlers capitalized on this and kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Sanju Samson, Karun Nair and Deepak Hooda fell in a span of 5 balls and suddenly Rajasthan required 26 of 2 overs.

The penultimate over was bowled by Lasith Malinga and it yielded only 6 runs. With 20 to win off the last over, Stuart Binny and Rusty Theron tried their best but it was too much of a task as they could only manage 11 runs of the final over that was bowled by Vinay Kumar.

This was a game for the taking for Rajasthan but they grassed it by losing wickets at important junctures. Mumbai Indians won the game by 8 runs, and for his scintillating 53 of just 27 balls, Ambati Rayudu was awarded Man of the Match.