Mumbai Indians cricketers Kieron Pollard (L) and Rohit Sharma celebrate the wicket of Pune Warriors India batsman Callum Ferguson during the IPL Twenty20 cricket match at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. AFP/Indranil Mukherjee
The DJ may still be
relieving the Mumbai Indians victory over Deccan Chargers in their last encounter 48 hours ago because on Wednesday, the Champions League winners were never under pressure and a defeat never looked a possible outcome against Rajasthan Royals.
Having won both their previous games batting first, Royals' skipper Rahul Dravid sprang a surprise by opting to bowl first and the host batsmen batted the visitors out of the game.
The hosts piled up 197 runs and Royals never looked primed for a chase despite the short boundaries at the Wankhede stadium.
South African Richard Levi again gave the hosts the start they desired and Rohit Sharma played a cameo before Kieron Pollard came to the party for the first time this season. The West Indies all-rounder treated every bowler, except Brad Hogg, with disdain.
He began with a golf like tee-shot over mid-on off compatriot Kevon Cooper and then welcomed South African Johan Botha's spin with a 4, 6, 6, 4 with one of the sixes landing on the top tier of the MCA pavilion. By the time Pollard departed for a 33-ball 64 in the 17th over, Rajasthan were already staring at a target of around 200 runs.