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29 March 2024

IPL 6 Playoffs: Mumbai face Chennai in final

Harbhajan Singh of Mumbai bats during the Champions League Twenty20 match against Sydney Sixers at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on October 22, 2012 in Durban, South Africa. (GETTY)

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By Staff

Mumbai Indians edged past Rajasthan Royals by four wickets at the Eden Garden, Kolkata to enter the final of the IPL6.

They will now take on Chennai Super Kings on Sunday in the same venue.

Chasing a target of 166 to win in Qualifier 2, Mumbai were cruising comfortably with Dawyne Smith and Aditya Tare sharing a superb 70-run stand for the opening wicket.

Tare departed scoring a quick 27-ball 35 peppered with three boundaries and two sixes but Smith continued to play his shots freely.

He was well supported by Dinesh Karthik and the duo shared a quick 55 runs for the second wicket.

But the fall of Karthik (22) suddenly triggered a mini collapse including the wicket of Smith (62, 44b, 6x4, 2x6).

It was a brilliant comeback from Rajasthan bowlers but Ambati Rayudu fired an 11-ball 17 in the end and Harbhajan finished it off with a boundary as Mumbai achieved the target with a ball to spare making 169-6.

Rajasthan skipper Rahul Dravid said: "We needed to field better, ground fielding on a greasy outfield needed to be better. But credit to the boys, the way we have fought the whole tournament."

Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma said: "Some tense moments but we have shown character throughout the tournament. We should have finished the game by the 19th over probably."

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals posted a challenging 165 for six.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, skipper Rahul Dravid (43, 37b, 7x4) and Ajinkya Rahane (21, 18b, 3x4) provided a strong start sharing 44 runs for the opening wicket.

But Harbhajan Singh who came into bowl hogged the limelight picking up three quick wickets and then accounting for two catches.

From 44 for 1, Rajasthan slipped to 64 for 3 and then 108 for 6 with only Stuart Binny scoring a quick 27 from 17 deliveries.

But Dishant Yagnik and Brad Hodge provided some late entertainment and Lasith Malinga bowling an erratic final over as Rajasthan reached 165 for six in 20 overs.

Yagnik smashed an unbeaten 31 from 17 balls including five boundaries while Hodge scored a steady 20-ball 19.

MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS

Harbhajan hits a boundary and Mumbai are through to the finals. They play Chennai Super Kings in the final on Sunday.

A Rayudu b Watson 17 (11b 1x4 1x6)

Watson strikes. Rayudu is out and Mumbai lose their sixth wicket. Mumbai are 160 for 6 in 19.2 overs.

That was a costly over from Cooper. 15 runs coming off it. Mumbai are 158 for 5 in 19 overs.

Faulkner's over is a special one. Given Rajasthan the hope picking up Pollard. Mumbai are 143 for 5 in 18 overs.

K Pollard c Cooper b Faulkner 11 (6b 0x4 1x6)

Pollard is gone. Mumbai in trouble. Rajasthan bouncing back into the game. Mumbai are 141 for 5 in 17.3 overs.

It's going down the wire. Pollard in focus as Mumbai are 140 for 4 in 17 overs.

D Smith c Samson b Binny 62 (44b 6x4 2x6)

The match is taking an interesting turn. Danger man Smith is gone. Great knock as Mumbai reach 132 for 4 in 16.3 overs.

R Sharma b Trivedi 2 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Is the match heading to a tight finish? Another wicket for Rajasthan and Mumbai are 128 for 3 in 15.5 overs.

D Karthik c Rahane b Cooper 22 (17b 3x4 0x6)

Rajasthan finally strike. Karthik is out but did it come a little late? Mumbai are 126 for 2 in 15 overs.

Nothing going right for Rajasthan as Smith is making a mockery of Rajasthan bowling. Mumbai are 125 for 1 in 14 overs. They need 41 from 36 balls.

It's all becoming easy for Mumbai now. Required runrate is around eight. Rajasthan need some quick wickets. Mumbai are 112 for 1 in 13 overs. They need 54 for 42 balls.

Runs coming in boundaries. Both Smith and Karthik are taking on Rajasthan bowlers. Poor fielding adding to it. Mumbai are 99 for 1 in 12 overs.

Mumbai are 83 for 1 in 11 overs.

Cooper makes a bright start. Concedes only three runs from his first over. Mumbai are 73 for 1 in 10 overs.

A Tare c Samson b Cooper 35 (27b 3x4 2x6)

Cooper begins with a bang. Ends a dangerously growing partnership in his very first ball. Mumbai are 70 for 1 in 9.1 over.

It's a strong partnership building up for Mumbai. Rajasthan need a wicket desperately here. Mumbai are 70 for no loss in 9 overs.

Mumbai has another good over. They look to be heading in the right direction as they reach 61 for no loss in 8 overs.

A fine start from Trivedi. Rajasthan are bowling well but they need wickets as well. Only three runs from it and Mumbai are 48 for no loss in 7 overs.

Mumbai has all the wickets intact. Rajasthan needs to break this partnership if they are to make a match of this game. Mumbai are 45 for no loss in 6 overs.

Another brilliant over from Malik. Rajasthan need more of them. Mumbai are 36 for no loss in 5 overs.

Mumbai going strong as they get 11 runs from Watson's first over. They are 32 for no loss in 4 overs.

Malik bowls a beautiful over. Just gives three runs as Mumbai reach 21 for no loss in 3 overs.

A six and a boundary. Not the kind of over, Rajasthan want to see early on. Mumbai in control at the moment as they reach 18 for no loss in 2 overs.

Misfielding cost a boundary or else a great over from Mallik. Mumbai are 6 for no loss in 1 over.

Smith and Tare to open for Mumbai Indians. Malik to bowl for Rajasthan.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS

That was a funny over from Malinga. Two huge wides and that cost Malinga 18 runs in the final over. Rajasthan finish at 165 for six in 20 overs.

It turned to be another good over for Rajasthan. They get 15 from it as they are 147 for 6 in 19 overs.

Malinga gives away 13 runs. Rajasthan have another two overs to get a big score as they reach 132 for 6 in 18 overs.

Rajasthan need some big ones now if they were to put a strong total. They are 119 for 6 in 17 overs.

Pollard makes a superb start. Focus now on Hodge as Rajasthan reach 110 for 6 in 16 overs.

K Cooper c Smith b Pollard 4 (2b 1x4 0x6)

Pollard is upsetting Rajasthan's plans as he picks another. Rajasthan are 108 for 6 in 15.3 overs.

S Binny c Harbhajan Singh b Pollard 27 (17b 3x4 1x6)

Harbhajan is everywhere today. He takes his second catch as Pollard strikes in his first ball to end Binny. Rajasthan are 104 for 5 in 15.1 overs.

Only three runs from that Dhawan over. Rajasthan have to start firing. Only five over to go as they reach 104 for 4 in 15 overs.

Malinga keeps it tight. But Rajasthan still manage eight runs from it. Rajasthan are 101 for 4 in 14 overs.

So a good spell from Harbhajan comes to an end. His four-over spell gave away only 23 runs claiming three wickets. Rajasthan are 93 for 4 in 13 overs.

R Dravid c Sharma b Harbhajan Singh 43 (37b 7x4 0x6)

Harbhajan on a high. Takes another wicket in the first ball off his final over to make it three to his tally. Rajasthan are 87 for 4 in 12.1 overs.

It was some great shots from Binny. Using his feet well for Ojha. Rajasthan are 87 for 3 in 12 overs.

Another good over from Harbhajan. Just eight runs from that as Rajasthan are 73 for 3 in 11 overs. It's time for some big shots.

S Samson c Harbhajan Singh b Malinga 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

This time Harbhajan takes the catch off Samson. Malinga takes the wicket. Rajasthan looks to be slipping after a good start. They are 65 for 3 in 10 overs.

S Watson c Sharma b Harbhajan Singh 6 (8b 1x4 0x6)

Harbhajan gets his second wicket. This time a big one with ending Watson. Rajasthan are 61 for 2 in 9 overs.

Good over for Rajasthan as 11 runs comes off it. Rajasthan are 54 for 1 in 8 overs.

Watson joins Dravid.

A Rahane b Harbhajan Singh 21 (18b 3x4 0x6)

Harbhajan comes into bowl and strikes in his first over. Rahane is bowled. Rajasthan are 44 for 1 in 7 overs.

Two boundaries again coming from Dravid off Ojha. Mumbai looking for a wicket now as Rajasthan reach 42 for no loss in 6 overs.

Johnson turning to be an expensive bowler. Another two boundaries this over. His three overs now have conceded 23 runs. Rajasthan are 33 for no loss in 5 overs.

That's a great start for Ojha. Only three runs coming off that. Rajasthan are 23 for no loss in 4 overs.

Words exchanged between Dravid and Johnson. And Dravid has the last laugh and gets two boundaries. Rajasthan are 20 for no loss in 3 overs.

Good battle between Dhawan and Rahane. He gets seven runs from it but Rahane was impressive. Rajasthan are 11 for no loss in 2 overs.

Fine start from Johnson. Kept Dravid under wraps except for that lone boundary. Rajasthan are 4 for no loss in 1 over.

The players are on the field. Rahane and Dravid to open for Rajasthan. Johnson to bowl for Mumbai.

Playing XI:

RR XI: R Dravid, A Rahane, S Samson, S Watson, S Binny, B Hodge, D Yagnik, K Cooper, J Faulkner, V Malik, S Trivedi.

MI XI: A Tare, D Smith, D Karthik, R Sharma, K Pollard, A Rayudu, H Singh, M Johnson, L Malinga, P Ojha, R Dhawan

Despite the delay, it still is going to be a 20-over a side match

Alan Wilkins tweets "@alanwilkins22" "RR v MI match delayed maybe an hour. It is not raining in Kolkata but it's going to be a late night of cricket!"

The inspection is on and it's stopped to rain.

The Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals square off in Qualifier 2 of the IPL6 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday to determine who faces the Chennai Super Kings in the final on May 26.

Mumbai are lucky to get second chance after being blown away by Chennai in Qualifier 1 by virtue of finishing among the top two teams in the league.

Rajasthan have battled adversity off the field to pull off an incredible victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator.

MI will be hungry for success since they have not been able to lay their hands on the IPL trophy despite having finished among the top four teams in each of the last three seasons.

RR, the inaugural champions, have rallied under the inspirational leadership of Rahul Dravid and will be buoyed by their spirit fightback against Sunrisers.

Being down and out at 57-5 chasing a target of 133, they were lifted by Brad Hodge's 29-ball unbeaten 54 against the best bowling attack in the competition.

However, even Dravid conceded Mumbai are favourites since they have a star-studded line-up.

“Mumbai are never easy, they are a very good side. There are all stars. There's nothing to lose for us, we go out there, have some fun and see what happens,” he told the media at the post-match press conference after the win over SRH.

It remains to be seen whether Sachin Tendulkar who missed the last three matches with an injury will return to the side.
 
In his absence, Smith fired against CSK with a 28-ball 68.

However, MI will need the big guns like skipper Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Smith and Kieron Pollard to fire if they are to cross this hurdle.

Despite cruising chasing a formidable target of 193 against CSK, they crashed to 44-run defeat after losing nine wickets for 57 runs.

The Rajasthan challenge will again be spearheaded by their Aussie trio of Shane Watson, Hodge and James Faulkner.

On a slow and low Eden track, the spinners are likely to play a major role and MI are likely to have the edge.

Harbhajan Singh and left-arm spinner Prajyan Ojha could pose a few problems for RR.
 
The Royals spin attack, on the other hand, has been hit by the arrest of the tainted duo Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.

With veteran leggie Pravin Tambe also unavailable due to injury, Dravid was forced to go with an all-pace attack against Sunrisers on Wednesday.

MI's pace attack has lost its bite, mainly because Lankan Lasith Malinga is no longer as lethal as he was last season. Both Malinga and Johnson went for plenty against CSK.

The Mumbai Indians have won six of their 12 previous matches against the Rajasthan Royals.

Both teams won their respective home games when they met earlier this season.