Thaindian News

Mumbai, May 20 (IANS) Shane Watson plundered 89 off 47 balls as Rajasthan Royals gave a fitting farewell to captain Shane Warne with a 10-wicket drubbing of Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Wankhede Stadium here Friday.

Chasing 134 for victory, Rajasthan Royals raced to the target in 13.1 overs. Watson contributed with the ball as well and took three wickets.

Rahul Dravid (43 not out) played the role of sheet anchor with Watson smashing the ball all over the park. Together they brought up the best IPL opening partnership of Rajasthan Royals.

Watson, who was struck by Lasitha Malinga, hammered nine fours and six mighty sixes. The tournament’s top wicket-taker, the fiery Malinga tested Watson with some short balls and hit him on the grill in the fourth over.

The Australian, who began with hitting two sixes off Harbhajan Singh, punished Malinga when the pacer returned to bowl his remaning two overs, dispatching him for three sixes with brutal power.

The loss made the Mumbai Indians job of qualifying for the play-offs tougher. They will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata in their last league match. Both teams are on 16 points. Kings XI Punjab, who are at 14 points and fifth in the table, are also in hunt. They will go all out to beat Deccan Chargers Saturday.

It was legendary spinner Warne’s last IPL match and it was only fitting that he ended on the winning side.

The wily spinner had inspired Rajasthan Royals to a fairytale victory in the inaugural 2008 season and has captained the team in all the four editions.

Warne (1-30) is not the one to bow out without making his presence felt and Friday too he bowled two good overs in the end to restrict Mumbai Indians to 133/5.

He had the last laugh when he foxed Rohit Sharma (58) in the last over with a well tossed up delivery that spun a lot, beating Sharma all ends up to be stumped.