Sachin, Rayudu star in MI's thrashing of RCB

Skipper Sachin Tendulkar and young Ambati Rayudu clobbered the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling as title contenders Mumbai Indians cruised to a nine wicket victory in an Indian Premier League match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, here on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 141, Mumbai Indians reached the target with nine balls to spare. Mumbai Indians now have two wins from as many matches.

On a strip where RCB batsmen struggled to get going, Tendulkar (55 not out, 46 balls, 7x4) and Ambati Rayudu (63 not out, 50 balls, 9x4) sent the RCB bowlers on a leatherhunt with an undefeated 110-run second wicket partnership from 86 balls.

They were also helped by some lacklustre fielding by the home team. It was Davy Jacobs (22, 16 balls, 2x4, 2x6) who started the charge by hitting Zaheer Khan for a couple of fours and two big sixes over long-on and deep mid-wicket.

Jacobs was cleaned up by Dirk Nannes when he backed too far down the leg-side trying to hit over extra cover. Tendulkar who was watching quietly from the other end then took it upon himself. A signature straight drive off Abhimanyu Mithun started it all. When the spinners came on, he was quick to rock on to the backfoot and hit them over deep mid-wicket.

Rayudu, who was watchful for the first few balls started with a flat-batted boundary over deep mid-wicket off Mithun and then followed it up by charging down the track and hitting the bowler through the covers. The youngster beat Tendulkar to his half-century in style when he lofted Asad Pathan for a boundary over extra cover.

Considered as an India prospect till he joined the rebel Indian Cricket League, the Hyderabadi who now plays for Baroda showed a glimpse of his talent when he clipped Zaheer over mid-wicket for a boundary and followed it with a lofted drive back over the bowler's head. He matched the legendary Tendulkar stroke-for stroke as never did MI look in any sort of trouble.

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