Master blasts Mumbai to semis

Tendulkar: Top knock

Sachin Tendulkar starred as Mumbai Indians easily beat Rajasthan Royals by 37 runs in Jaipur to seal their place in the semi-finals of the Indian Premier League.

The Master Blaster smashed an unbeaten 89 from 59 balls - including two sixes and ten fours - as his side posted 174 for five.

In reply, the Royals could only muster 137 for eight to leave their hopes of progressing into the semi-finals hanging by a thread - they need to win their remaining two matches and hope other results go their way to progress.

A Mumbai victory initially looked a distant prospect as the Royals started the game well thanks to Shane Watson's prowess with the ball.

Double blow

The Australian inflicted a double blow in his first over, snaring Sanath Jayasuriya for one and then his replacement Ambati Rayudu for a duck.

Watson struck again in his second over to remove Saurabh Tiwary for 15 and plunge the visitors into some disarray.

But Tendulkar held firm and built a 64-run partnership with JP Duminy before Duminy mistimed a pull shot and was caught by Michael Lumb at short square-leg for 31.

With Mumbai on 93 for four, the Royals were still in command, but they contrived to lose the plot from there.

Missed opportunity

Adam Voges missed an excellent opportunity to have Kieron Pollard run out before he could get off the mark, before a costlier miss shortly afterwards saw Tendulkar dropped on 45 as the pair added 50 for the fifth wicket before Pollard was out for 25.

Watson also failed to collect a throw which could have had Rajagopal Sathish run out and Tendulkar changed gears quickly at the death to help Mumbai finish with a flourish.

In response, the Royals got off to the worse possible start with Lumb, Naman Ojha and Watson all out early on to leave the home side 11 for 3.

Abhishek Jhunjhunwala briefly arrested the slide with a 23-run stand with Faiz Fazal and also shared in a 28-run partnership with Voges (28).

But Fazal and Jhunjhunwala were both run out as Mumbai effectively sealed victory with Yusuf's dismissal in the 14th over.

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