Mumbai Indians have secured just their third win of the Indian Premier League season with a narrow eight-run win over Rajasthan Royals this evening.
The Royals won the toss, but chose to put Mumbai into bat first, allowing Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons to make a strong start, piling on 38 runs in the first four overs, but the former was back in the pavilion during the fifth when Dhawal Kulkarni made a diving catch off one of his own deliveries to take the opening wicket.
Simmons and Unmukt Chand were both out soon after, leaving the Indians on 84-3, but Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu steadied the ship, with the latter finishing on an unbeaten 53 to set Rajasthan a target of 188 for victory.
Kulkarni finished as the pick of the bowlers for the Royals with 2-26, but the remaining members of the attack all struggled.
Needing almost 10 an over for victory, the Royals made a solid start to their reply, adding 30 off the first three overs, but Ajinkya Rahane was caught out by a Vinay Kumar delivery.
Shane Watson and Sanju Samson looked to be forming a dangerous second-wicket partnership when the Australian was bowled by Jagadeesha Suchith, who also took the catch to remove Samson for 76 later in the innings.
Samson's dismissal was the second of three wickets in three overs for Mitchell McClenaghan, which left the Royals needing 27 off the final 13 balls of the match.
They still needed 20 going into the final over, with Stuart Binny and Tim Southee at the crease, but the latter was run out pushing for an extra run.
Rajasthan still needed 10 off the last ball, which Binny pushed through cover for a single, leaving the Indians to clinch an eight-run victory.
The win keeps Mumbai seventh in the standings, while the Royals remain in second.
Sian Cowper
