Rajasthan Royals got their Champions League T20 campaign off to a winning start, cantering to a seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in their opening game here on Saturday night.
Chasing a modest 143, the Royals got there in 19.4 overs keeping their all win record in T20 matches at home this year. They had won all of their eight league matches in the 2013 Indian Premier League here.
Young Sanju Samson (54, 47b) took time to settle, but came up with a delightful innings that contained eight boundaries. His second wicket partnership with opener Ajinkya Rahane (33, 31b) raised 74 off 59 balls, and he later killed the chase batting freely in Shane Watson’s company.
The 100-mark came up in 14.2 overs and thereafter the hosts played sensibly picking up singles and occasional boundaries.
Young Rishi Dhawan with 1/17 from four overs and Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled impressively but seasoned spinners Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha proved to be expensive.
With 21 required off the last three overs, Watson (27 not out) and Stuart Binny (27 not out) guided Royals home with ease.
Earlier, the Royals’ bowlers played their part to perfection restricting Mumbai Indians to a manageable 142/7.
Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma (44, 37b, 3x4, 2x6) led the way for his side, raising 52 off 45 balls for the fifth wicket along with Kieron Pollard after they were left reeling at 43/4 in 8.1 overs.
Pollard (42, 36bs) provided the late fireworks helping Mumbai reach a respectable total, with the visitors notching up 55 in the last five overs.
Royals’ medium pacer Vikramjeet Malik (3/24) scalped opener Dwayne Smith and Dinesh Karthik as Mumbai struggled to 31/2 in six overs. The wet conditions also helped with the track offering bounce and carry.
With Smith and Karthik back in the hut early, the packed house cheered for Sachin Tendulkar — appearing in his final T20 tournament. The maestro disappointed though, edging a wide delivery off Stuart Binny falling at 15 (17 balls).
Scores: Mumbai Indians 142/7 (Rohit 44, Pollard 42, Malik 3/24, Watson 1/26, Binny 1/13) lost to Rajasthan Royals 148/3 in 19.4 overs (Samson 54, Watson 27 not out, Binny 27 not out, Dhawan 1/17)