May 28, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1429

JAIPUR, May 27: A misfield by Dilhara Fernando and a fumble by Sanath Jayasuriya, both off the last ball, saw Mumbai Indians lose their crucial Indian Premier League tie against Jaipur Rajasthan Royals by five wickets here on Monday.

Mumbai were very much in the game as Rajasthan Royals needed three off the last ball. But a wide by Fernando eased the pressure on the home side and then two runs came when the drive past the bowler could so easily have been stopped, as could the throw from long-on been collected by Jayasuriya at the bowler’s end.

Resultantly, a sensational sixth-wicket unbroken partnership of 69 between Niraj Patel (40 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (23 not out) carried the home side to 146-5.

Needing 15 off the last over, a six by Patel brought down the equation to an achievable level for Rajasthan Royals and they completed yet another close win.

Jaipur’s win means Delhi Daredevils (15 points in 14 games) have made it to the semi-finals.

And Mumbai have their back to the wall, as they now need the beleaguered Hyderabad Deccan Chargers to beat Chennai Super Kings, and they also have to defeat Bangalore Royal Challengers in their last league game. Mumbai have 12 points from 13 games while Chennai have 14 from the same number of matches.

It looked impossible for Rajasthan Royals when they lost Yusuf Pathan, Shane Watson and Mohammad Kaif in the middle overs and Mumbai looked all set to score a vital win.

However, youngsters Patel and Jadeja were involved in an unbroken 69-run stand that ended the match in an improbable win for Jaipur, who now have seven wins form seven games at home.

Fernando had a bad match overall, as he dropped Swapnil Asnodkar initially, and the youngster went on to score a quick 17, which, in view of the way the game ended, was crucial.

Earlier, Sohail Tanvir continued with his sensational form in the tournament, claiming 4-14 off four overs as Mumbai scored 145-7 after being sent in to bat by Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne.

It needed a poor last over by Watson and some educated long-handle from Yogesh Takawale to take them to the total, as the over went for 25 runs.

The tension was evident in the Mumbai batting in a match they had to win to keep their semi-final hopes on the track. Jayasuriya failed to set the stadium alight as he had done in the previous games, while skipper Sachin Tendulkar continued to display mediocre form.

The bowling was tight and the pitch slightly variable, but event that did not merit the kind of display from the openers, and the middle-order, especially after the openers had played till past the 10th over.

Watson had incredible figures, giving away just five runs in his first two overs, and then went for 25 in his third.

Mumbai had begun the tournament disastrously, losing four straight games, but then came back to win six on the trot.

Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, were probably the most underrated of the sides, and have ended up being the best in the business.

Summarised scores:

MUMBAI INDIANS 145-7 in 20 overs (Sanath Jayasuriya 38, Sachin Tendulkar 30, Abhishek Nayar 25, Yogesh Takawale 24; Sohail Tanvir 4-14. Siddarth Trivedi 2-31); RAJASTHAN ROYALS 146-5 in 20 overs (Niraj Patel 40 not out, Ravindra Jadeja 23 not out; Dilhara Fernando 2-27).—Agencies