Fri, 29 Apr 2011 - IP Rajasthan vs IP Mumbai, IPL 2011, 34th Match - Bulletin

All-round Botha humbles poor Mumbai

The slow surface at Sawai Mansingh Stadium proved a dampener to what was billed as one of the fiercest encounters of the IPL. Rajasthan wouldn’t mind that as home team scored an impressive seven wicket win over table leaders Mumbai taking them to second spot in the IPL standings.

Majority of the batsmen in either side struggled to cope with the slow and low surface with Rajasthan spinners setting up their side’s comprehensive victory by restricting power house batting lineup to paltry 94. Johan Botha was phenomenal with his all-round performance following his three wicket haul in only two overs with a 39-ball 45 to help his side to round off the Mumbai total without substantial hiccups.

After losing Rahul Dravid early to Munaf Patel’s nagging line and length, Botha coming at number three combined with Shane Watson to steady the chase with circumspect approach. Both were very determined not to let Lasith Malinga and co to make inroads by meandering towards the target rather than going after the bowlers.

They put on 39 runs for the second to shut any ideas of Mumbai bowling rattling them and kept the scoreboard ticking over. Watson finally fell to Malinga but not before hitting a six and three fours including a gorgeous straight dive off Kieran Pollard in 32-ball stay for crucial 26.

Botha was all calm and productive at the crease getting the odd boundary and picking the gaps on the slow surface on his way to 45 off 39 balls including two fours and a six. He fell to Patel’s beautiful leg-cutter, his first dismissal in the tournament with jus five runs to win.

The formalities were done by Ashok Menaria and Ross Taylor (13 not out) with nine balls to spare.

It was inability of their batsmen to apply themselves on the slowish where shot making was very difficult that led to Mumbai loss. Batsmen were left wondering with Shane Warne employing quick bowling changes and inspiring fielding positions to outguess Mumbai.

Warne as he often does pulled the rabbit out of hat by asking part time spinner Menaria to bowl the first over and he didn’t disappoint his skipper by getting a big fish Sachin Tendulkar stumped when master tried to hit one over him. Sachin dismissal which came after fast bowler had Dave Jacobs clean bowled in the slow start was very disappointing for the fans who were eager for another Warne-Sachin battle. Menaria added another one to his wicket column when Ambati Rayudu chipped one back to the bowler to put Mumbai batting effort in tatters.

Things didn’t go better with Warne showing his spin magic again when he beat Rohit Sharma in the flight forcing to play one in the air and caught easily in the deep. Such was the domination of ball over the bat, that explosive duo of Andrew Symonds and Kieran Pollard hardly got the ball off the square as Mumbai innings lacked direction and urgency to take game into Rajasthan camp.

Symonds top scored with 17 and he consumed as many as 26 balls and any hopes of a competitive total were put to bed by Botha who claimed three wickets for six runs. His wickets included that of Symonds, Pollard and Satish to restrict Mumbai to under -100 total.