Mumbai Indians stay in the frame with 16-run win

PORT ELIZABETH: Mumbai Indians kept their chances of making it to the semifinals alive with a 16-run victory built on the back of a century stand by Ajinkya Rahane (62 not out, 49 balls, four fours, one six) and JP Duminy (59 not out, 41 balls, two fours, three sixes) who both made half-centuries against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the St George's Park on Sunday.

The win helped Mumbai Indians to swap positions with Royal Challengers Bangalore and go to the sixth place with nine points from 10 games. They have some tough matches against Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals but the manner in which they played today showed that they are unlikely to go out without a fight.

Opting to take first strike after Anil Kumble called the spin of coin incorrectly, Mumbai Indians were off to a disastrous start, even though they went back to the old firm of Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar to open the innings. Tendulkar was out in the second over, drawn to an outswinger and edging a catch.

Jayasuria played as many as 12 dot balls against a competitive Jacques Kallis before falling leg before wicket to Roelf van der Merwe in the eighth overs but the next 12 overs were all about Rahane and Duminy first pushing back the Royal Challengers Bangalore march and the scoring quickly. The 53 runs in the last five over helped the team post 157 for two in 20 overs.