Pathan's Ton goes in vain by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
Scorecard:	Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals
Player:	AT Rayudu, SS Tiwary, YK Pathan
Event:	Indian Premier League 2009/10

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DateLine: 14th March 2010

 

One of the greatest innings in the history of Twenty20 cricket went in vain at the Brabourne Stadium here on Saturday. Yusuf Pathan’s brutal knock (100 off 37 balls) saw Rajasthan Royals fall four runs short of Mumbai Indian’s imposing score of 212 for seven in the DLF IPL match.

 

It took an extraordinary piece of fielding by Sathish to end the great knock. Pathan who single handedly brought Royals to a striking distance of the Mumbai score was run-out at a crucial time. Sathish reacted sharply after stopping a Paras Dogra’s drive and flicked the ball to the stumps catching Pathanshort in the 18th over. Though Dogra opened up in that over smashing Sathish for 21 runs, both Zaheer Khan and Laslith Malinga gave little away in the next two overs. Malinga kept his nerve to bowl a great final over. He ran out Dogra and then yorked Uniyal to clinch the issue for Mumbai side. When Pathan walked in, Rajasthan Royals were wobbling at 40 for three but after surviving a difficult chance when Sathish dropped him, the Baroda batsman tore into the rival attack.

 

It was pure carnage as Pathaneffortlessly cleared the fence with powerful hits. Nineeten runs came off Murtaza's over - the 11th of the innings- and it set the tone for the rest of the innings. Tweny six came off the next over from Sathish. Mumbai missed the services of Harbhajan Singh who was injured and Tendulkar had to rely on his part-time spinners who were sent to the cleaners by Pathan. Pathan went on to complete his century in style by hoisting Jayasuriya for a massive six. But when it appeared that he would pull his team through came the disastrous run-out.

 

Earlier, the two youngsters stole the limelight from super stars to lead the Mumbai innings. Ambati Rayadu, who is making a comeback into the first class cricket after a brief dalliance with now defunct ICL, and Jharkhand’s S Tiwary put the Rajasthan attack to sword. The talented Rayadu reminded everyone of his awesome talent with an innings of delicate strokeplay. Tiwary, lacking the usual left-hander's elegance, too played a strokes of authority to flay the Rajasthan bowlers who overdid the slow stuff on a true pitch. Uniyal who did well to trap Sachin with a slower ball was the main culprit. His slow deliveries were cannon fodder to Rayadu who mauled him. Both these batsmen were also not overawed by Shane Warne’s reputation and treated him with disdain. Shaun Tait was erratic and despite generating good pace failed to create an impression. The duo added 110 runs for the fourth wicket off just 63 balls and quickly wiped away the smile from Warne’s face.

 

Earlier Jayasuriya and Tendulkar started the innings like a runaway train. But both the batsmen fell to slower balls when they were threatening to take the match away from Royals’ hand. However, the veterans had laid foundation for a big total which was cashed on by both Rayadu and Tiwary