Comfortable win for Rajasthan Royals over Mumbai Indians in CLT20 opener

Rajasthan Royals began their Champions League Twenty20 campaign in superb fashion as they thrashed IPL-VI champions Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in their Group A match, here today.

It was good all-round show by the hosts as they first restricted the visitors to 142 for seven, using helpful conditions well, and then comfortably overhauled the target with two balls to spare at Swai Man Singh stadium.

Opener Sanju Samson survived an lbw decision off left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson at individual score of one and went on to score a 54-run knock, that set up the victory.

Samson shared a 74-run stand for the second wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (33) after early fall of skipper Rahul Dravid and then Shane Watson Watson came up with a breezy 27 to steer the side to finish line as Rajasthan yet again proved that they are a force at home turf.

Mumbai, who were asked to bat, owed their total to skipper Rohit Sharma (44) and burly West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard (42) even as paceman Vikramjit Malik (3/24) did well for the hosts with his three-wicket haul.

Samson, who had impressed in IPL-VI, and Rahane steadily build the innings, relying on rotation of the strike. They punished bad deliveries with some exquisite shots and were hardly troubled by the Mumbai bowlers.

It was one poor shot that ended Rahane's knock as he was early into a pull shot off Rishi Dhawan, found a bottom-edge which fell on to his stumps.

Samson too departed after completing his half-century but Watson and Stuart Binny ensured that the good work does not got waste.

The two shared a 41-run stand for the unbeaten fourth wicket. Watson took 22 balls for his knock and hit two sixes while Binny's 27 came off 14 balls with three fours and a six.

Binny finished the match with in style with a six off Coulter-Nile over long-on.