May 29, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 23, 1429

BANGALORE, May 28: Chasing a meager 123, Mumbai Indians avenged their loss to Bangalore Royal Challengers in their previous IPL encounter by cruising home in 16 overs with nine wickets in hand here on Wednesday.

After Sri Lankan paceman Dilhara Fernando set up the win with his four-wicket haul, Mumbai openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar put up a 96-run stand.

The duo began sedately as Mumbai’s fifty came in the eighth over but Jayasuriya exploded in a Vinay Kumar over, clobbering him for thee sixes. And with the upped ante, it was always going to be smooth sailing for Mumbai.

The only consolation for Bangalore was when Dale Steyn nailed the Jayasuriya’s wicket in the 12th over but the damage was already done by the southpaw. His four boundaries and as many sixes had sealed the fate of Bangalore, who end the tournament with five wins in 14 games. Mumbai, who came agonizingly close to a semi-final berth, have seven wins and as many losses in their 14-game campaign.

Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 31 and Robin Uthappa made 12 as Mumbai romped home with two overs remaining in the rain-shortened game.

Mumbai’s culprit in the previous game Fernando, who gave away 15 runs in the last over against Jaipur Rajasthan Royals which cost Mumbai a place in the semi-finals, was on the money from the word go.

The pacer (four for 18) ripped the heart out of the Bangalore batting, restricting them to 122-9. The Sri Lanka pacer was ably supported by Dwayne Smith (three for 26) as Bangalore failed to get going after a bright start.

Apart from a confident start and a blazing cameo by Cameron White, the home side has had little to smile so far about in their last game of the Indian Premier League.

Rain delayed the start of play and the game was reduced to 18-overs-a-side. And after Tendulkar put Bangalore in, Shreevats Goswami and Mark Boucher gave the home side a solid start. The pair put up 35 runs before Fernando was introduced in the attack.Boucher (18) miscued a pull in Fernando’s first over and it was easy pickings for Uthappa. Misbah-ul-Haq (0), who has had a horror time in the tournament perished off his first ball as a thick edge flew into the safe hands of Tendulkar at first slip.

Rahul Dravid (11), Virat Kohli (0), Balachandran Akhil (5) were sent packing in quick time and Mumbai strangled the run-scoring as they kept the Bangalore total to an achievable target.

Summarised scores:

BANGALORE ROYAL CHALLENGERS 122-9 in 18 overs (Cameron White 26, Vinay Kumar 23, Shreevats Goswami 20; Dilhara Fernando 4-18, Dwayne Smith 3-26); MUMBAI INDIANS 126-1 in 16 overs (Sanath Jayasuriya 54, Sachin Tendulkar 40 not out).—Agencies