The Rajasthan Royals' five-game winning streak has come to a crashing halt with Shane Warne's IPL side belted by seven wickets by the Mumbai Indians last night.
The Indians had few difficulties in chasing down the Royals' meagre target of 104, claiming victory with a massive 29 balls to spare as captain-coach Warne tasted defeat for just the second time in seven IPL games.
Shane Watson scored 32 off 20 balls, but despite his 53-run partnership with opener Swapnil Asnodkar (39), the Royals failed to bat out their 20 overs, dismissed for 103 in 16.2 overs.
Robin Uthappa (34 not out) then guided the home side to victory with Watson rounding off a strong game by taking 2-26 with the ball. Warne took the other wicket while going from 19 off his two overs in Mumbai.
The result sees the Royals drop from top to second spot on the ladder behind the Kings XI Punjab, while Mumbai, who are expected to have Sachin Tendulkar return from a groin injury next week, improved to fifth with their third win.
The match included one of the more bizarre dismissals of the competition when Royals opener Graeme Smith was dismissed stumped off the bowling of fellow South African Shaun Pollock.
Smith mistakenly thought he had been clean bowled by the pace bowler and without checking his stumps began walking to the pavilion.
Wicket-keeper Yogesh Takawale made the most of Smith's error by quickly taking the bails off to dismiss the Proteas captain for just five.
