MI VS RR MATCH 14

Right then, that's all from this game where Rajasthan registered a resounding win to go top of the table. As for Mumbai, they are traditionally the slow starters but need to get their act together quickly. The action continues on Tuesday, the 2nd of April, when Bengaluru will go up against Lucknow. Bengaluru will aim to return to winning ways whereas Lucknow will be on the hunt for their second win on the trot. The atmosphere will be as electric as ever at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can join us earlier for the build-up. Cheers!

Trent Boult is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stunning new-ball spell, paving the way for a comfortable Rajasthan win. Says that he is happy to fill his role and take wickets with the new ball. Shares that after winning the toss, they executed what they had discussed earlier, picking wickets with the new ball and putting pressure on them. Adds that a couple of wickets in the first over, helped them put Mumbai on the back foot. Mentions that he has played against Rohit Sharma a lot, and it is just about doing something different against him. Feels that Nandre Burger is a great bowler, and they are grateful to have found him. Adds that he wears a lot of heart and bowls with great confidence, just like South African bowlers do.

Sanju Samson, the skipper of Rajasthan says that the toss was the game-changer and was really crucial as the wicket was sticky to start off and with the experience of Trent Boult and Nandre Burger they knew it would work well for them. Mentions that the experience of Trent Boult bowling up front speaks volumes and he wasn't expecting for 4 wickets right at the top. Adds that they have big individuals in the team and the players understand the situation and execute as a team. Appreciates Yuzvendra Chahal who has been doing pretty well for the past two to three years and hopes for him to continue.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

The leading run-getter of the competition, Riyan Parag is in for a chat. He says that he does not do anything special and likes to keep it simple instead of doing too much. Mentions that earlier, when he wasn't getting runs, he would think too much and try different stuff but this year, he is keeping it simple. Shares that this was the exact same situation when he goes out to bat in the domestic circuit. Adds that it was a calculative approach. Tells that he practised these kinds of balls and these scenarios a lot and he is happy to get the results.

Hardik Pandya, the skipper of Mumbai, says they didn't start the way they wanted to and this is a tough loss. Adds that they were in a decent position in the middle to get to that 150-160 run mark but his wicket cost them and he could have done better. Mentions that this is a cruel game for the bowlers and this wicket was not as expected but doesn't matter much. States that results sometimes come good and sometimes don't, and as a group, they will need to show some more discipline and courage to change things around.

Earlier in the game, after being inserted into bat, Mumbai were off to a far-from-ideal start, losing four wickets inside the first four overs, three of them being golden ducks. With the score at 20-4, Hardik Pandya joined hands with Tilak Varma to resurrect the innings. Pandya then began to counterattack to take his side out of choppy waters. The stay of the Mumbai skipper was short-lived, and his departure put Mumbai back to square one. Tilak Varma could not bail his side out of trouble either. There was no partnership of substance, and they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Tim David batted with the intention of taking the inning deep but perished before he could change gears. As a result, Mumbai could only muster 125, the lowest total so far in this edition of the Indian T20 League. For Rajasthan, Trent Boult set the tone up front with three wickets in his first two overs. Yuzvendra Chahal took three in the middle phase to pile the misery on Mumbai.

Third defeat in a row and the homecoming for Hardik Pandya and Co. was far from what they had envisaged. Mumbai have tasted a heavy defeat in their 250th Indian T20 League game and need to pick themselves up quickly. 125 runs was never going to be enough against a side with the batting depth as Rajasthan. Mumbai needed wickets in the Powerplay to set the cat amongst the pigeons early and put Rajasthan under pressure. After a forgettable debut outing, Kwena Maphaka struck early for Mumbai before Akash Madhwal dealt twin blows. Despite those three strikes, Mumbai were unable to keep the boundaries in check. They needed to chip away at the wickets to stand any chance. It did not happen and even though, Madhwal managed to get rid of Ravichandran Ashwin on his return to the attack, the game was pretty much done by then.

RAJASTHAN MAKE IT THREE IN THREE! An emphatic victory for the boys in pink, and this win has come away from home, which should taste even sweeter. The bowlers set it up for them and Riyan Parag continued his rich vein of form to take them home with ease. With only 126 runs to get, it was a matter of when rather than if for Rajasthan. They lost Yashavsi Jaiswal early but Sanju Samson got a couple of boundaries away as did Jos Buttler to ease off the pressure. Both fell in the space of two overs but given how small the target was, Rajasthan batters had the luxury of taking their time. Promoted to number 5 again, Ravichandran Ashwin got together with Riyan Parag and ticked along nicely. Ashwin got out on 16 but Riyan held his composure and saw his side home with yet another fifty along side the debutant, Shubham Dubey.

FOUR! Finishes it off with a boundary. Rajasthan beat Mumbai by 6 wickets and register their third consecutive win to advance to the top of the table. Gerald Coetzee digs this short over middle yet again, Riyan Parag waits back in the crease and looks to pull it but gets a top edge that flies over the keeper's head and races away to the fence for four runs.

SIX! Gets to his second consecutive FIFTY! A knock of maturity from Riyan Parag and Rajasthan are inching closer. Short-of-a-length delivery, over middle, Riyan Parag picks the length perfectly to pull this one over mid-wicket for another maximum.

SIX! How good was that shot? Gerald Coetzee bowls this fuller and wider on off, Riyan Parag just takes a step across and with his bottom hand slices it on the full over covers for a biggie!

Flatter trajectory, on a fuller length, on leg, Riyan Parag gets back and clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Rajasthan now just need 15 more runs to win.

Bowls this nice and full, into the stumps, Shubham Dubey tucks it to deep square leg for a single.

Beaten! Floats this fuller, outside off, Shubham Dubey looks for the slog sweep but misses on connection.

Bowls this fuller and outside off, Riyan Parag rocks back and slaps it to long off for a single.

SIX! BANG! Into the stands! Piyush Chawla tosses it up and serves it right in the slot, on middle and leg, Riyan Parag gets his front leg out of the way and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.