Royals' playoffs dreams come crashing down after 100-run defeat to MI at home

A Sunju Samson-less Rajasthan Royals crashed to their eighth defeat in 11 games, effectively ending the home team's chances to make the playoffs, after a 100-run defeat against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday.

Mumbai Indians, on their part, extended their remarkable winning streak to six matches, taking them to the top of the table. Another victory should be enough to secure a playoffs berth for the five-time champions.

Openers Rohit Sharma (53 off 36 balls) and Ryan Rickelton (61 off 38) struck sublime half-centuries before Suryakumar Yadav (48 not out off 23) and captain Hardik Pandya (48 not out off 23) went on the offensive to power MI to 217 for two.

Royals, who chased down 210 against Gujarat Titans here three nights ago with more than four overs to spare, never got going in the run chase and folded up for 117 in 16.1 overs.

The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was on top of the world after his 35-ball hundred on Monday night, was caught at mid-on off Deepak Chahar for a second-ball duck.

His opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal struck two towering sixes off Trent Boult in the following over before being castled by the New Zealander. It was a procession from thereon.

Jasprit Bumrah, who was brought into the attack in the fifth over, sent back Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag with short balls to reduce Royals to 51 for five inside the powerplay. Spinner Karn Sharma cleaned up the bottom half of the batting lineup, taking 3 for 23.

Earlier, openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton struck sublime half-centuries to power Mumbai Indians to 217 for two in their Indian Premier League game against Rajasthan Royals here on Thursday.

Expecting heavy dew, the Royals put the opposition in, but Rohit (53 off 36 balls) and Rickelton (61 off 38) put the home team under pressure with a sizzling display of clean hitting.

In their 116-run stand, Rickelton targeted the quick bowlers while Rohit went after spinners, especially Maheesh Theekshana, who was introduced as early as the third over.

Suryakumar Yadav (48 not out off 23) and skipper Hardik Pandya (48 not out off 23) capitalised on the openers' good work to take the team past 200.

Jofra Archer bowled a tight first over but the Mumbai openers collected 18 runs off his second. Notwithstanding the express pace of Archer, Rohit made room to cut the England pacer for a four before Rickleton pulled him for a six over mid-wicket.

The standout stroke of Rickelton's innings was the nonchalant flick off Fazalhaq Farooqi that went all the way. Mumbai Indians cruised to 58 for no loss in the powerplay after Rohit dispatched Maheesh Theekshana for back-to-back fours over mid-off. The lofted drive over extra cover from Rohit off Akash Madhwal oozed class.

Left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya offered a half tracker to Rickelton, and he duly dismissed it off his presence for a six and a well-deserved half-century.

Rohit, who did not start the tournament well, is back to his best. He hit a wide delivery from Theekshna over backward point to complete his fifty.

Both the openers were dismissed in quick succession but it was not an issue for Mumbai Indians with plenty of batting to come.

Suryakumar batted like he only can, and one of his audacious hits included a scoop over fine leg off Archer that saw the batter falling on the floor. He smashed the last ball of the innings for a six down the ground off Madhwal, who otherwise impressed with his yorkers. The last five overs fetched 71 runs for the Mumbai Indians.

Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indians: 217/2 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickleton 61, Rohit Sharma 53; Riyan Parag 1/12) bt Rajasthan Royals: 117 all out in 16.1 overs (Jofra Archer 30; Karn Sharma 3/23, Jasprit Bumrah 2/15, Trent Boult 3/28).
(With PTI inputs)