IPL 8, MI vs RR: Mitch McClenaghan applies brakes, cruising RR stall
Spunky Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu the batsman can range from the delectable to the innocuous. He can play the most fluent cover-drive you’ll see, with the elbow and hands in such perfect harmony, you would think they mugged up the batting text-book. But next ball, you’ll see him walking across his stumps, and attempting an ugly hoick through the on-side that would send the purists running for cover. No wonder he divides opinions.
On Friday at the Wankhede Stadium, both shades of Rayudu’s batting repertoire were on display but for once, it didn’t matter how he got the runs. Not for him, or for the Mumbai Indians. In the IPL, he’s been the redeemer for Mumbai when all else have failed, a status that he’s not justified this season—an average of 14 in six outings. Till Friday that is, as he smashed an unbeaten 53 off 27 balls to burgeon Mumbai’s total to 187/5.
He loves those full tosses, like Rajasthan Royals found out. On five occasions they erred with being too full, and they were either swatted for four or helped over the ropes—two of those coming in the penultimate over bowled by Tim Southee. Other times, he stayed back in his crease, and ensured that length deliveries were landing right under his bat and soaring into the Wankhede stands.
He ensured Mumbai scored 61 runs off four overs, finishing the innings off with a cheeky upper-cut over short third-man to bring up his first half-century of IPL8.
Insipid Watson
Something happens to Watson the bowler in the IPL. He has picked just one wicket in five games and has an economy rate of 9.22. Usually a bowler who can be trusted to come and do his bit in the middle overs, be it hitting the deck or getting it to reverse, he has been rather insipid this year. He started off well on Friday, giving just three runs, but was profligate in his later overs. Mumbai were dawdling a touch at 60 for 1 in 8 overs when Watson opened the floodgates in the next. A short ball was pulled for a four before Lendl Simmons charged down the track to wallop the next one over long-on for a six. 13 came in the over but he was to leak 19 runs in the 18th over. Again, Mumbai were just trying to recover from the loss of Rohit Sharma and looking for some momentum when Watson came on.
There were three full tosses in that over, a rank short ball and Kieron Pollard and Rayudu helped themselves to a few boundaries. Rayudu smashed a full toss to midwicket, Pollard pulled another for a four and he also slugged a short ball for a six over the midwicket boundary.
McClenaghan’s Triple strike
Rajasthan needed 64 from 36 when Mitch McClenaghan came on to bowl to Steve Smith. Everyone knows Smith loves to cut. And there was McClenaghan almost daring him to cut. From around the stumps, he sent three quick deliveries that skidded on from short of length outside the off stump. Deep backward point was untenanted and there was the risk of four every single time. However, even as Smith went for his most productive shot, he could only carve through thin air. Even he couldn’t believe it- there was a shake of head, the shadow practice of the shot but it just wouldn’t connect. He then walked right across off the fourth ball to drag a shortish delivery to the leg side for a single and was on strike for the final ball again. Would he dare to bowl another fast short-of-length ball outside off?
And if he does, will Smith miss again? McClenaghan pinged the line and length again and this time Smith’s flashing blade made contact. However, it was just a top edge and the ball looped down to third man where Harbhajan Singh didn’t make any mistake and McClenaghan roared in delight. In the 19th over, he served the final blows, inducing Samson to hole out to long-off and luring Karun Nair to edge behind. Game over.
Audacious Samson
It was almost a lone battle from Sanju Samson. No other batsman even managed to reach 30 but Samson kept Rajasthan’s hopes alive till the end. In the 18th over, needing 61 from 30, he thumped Lasith Malinga for a stunning six over long-off. Next, he did a little dance down the track – his back foot first went outside leg stump before he skipped right back inside the line of the stumps to somehow squeeze a full delivery past short fine-leg with an audacious paddle scoop. But he too was done in by McClenaghan.
