IPL 2018: Rajasthan Royals pull one back; MI now lead 9-7

After getting thrashed by Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, the super expensive Rajasthan Royals (RR) team needed to get them back on the winning track and they delivered just what the doctor ordered on Sunday, April 22, at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Powered by yet another gem of an innings by Sanju Samson, RR beat the defenders by 3 wickets to pick their third win. Rohit Sharma’s boys, who got their act together against Royal Challengers Bangalore the other night, floundered again and they now languish at the bottom half of the table with just a solitary win in five games.

Overall, however, MI have a lead against RR in the Indian Premier League as they have won 9 out of 17 matches while RR have won 7 with one match getting washed out in the 2009 edition.

Here is the list of the matches the two sides have played since 2008 till 2015 after which RR served a two-year suspension and their results in brief:

2008:

Game 1: MI won by 7 wickets at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai

RR 103 all out in 16.2 overs; MI 104/3 in 15.1 overs. MoM Ashish Nehra (MI) 3 wickets for 13 runs.

Game 2: RR won by 5 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

MI 145/7 in 20 overs; RR 146/5 in 20 overs. MoM Sohail Tanvir (RR) 4 wickets for 14 runs.

2009:

Game 1: Match abandoned without a ball being bowled at Kingsmead, Durban

Game 2: RR won by 2 runs at Kingsmead

RR 145/7 in 20 overs; MI 143 all out in 19.5 overs. MoM Shane Warne (RR) 3 wickets for 24 runs.

2010:

Game 1: MI won by 4 runs at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

MI 212/6 in 20 overs; RR 208/7 in 20 overs. MoM Yusuf Pathan (RR) 100 off 37 balls.

Game 2: MI won by 37 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

MI 174/5 in 20 overs; RR 137/8 in 20 overs. MoM Sachin Tendulkar (MI) 89 not out off 59 balls.

2011

Game 1: RR won by 7 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

MI 94/8 in 20 overs; RR 95/3 in 18.4 overs. MoM Johan Botha (RR) 3 wickets for 6 runs & 45 runs off 39 balls.

Game 2: RR won by 10 wickets at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

MI 133/5 in 20 overs; RR 134/0 in 13.1 overs. MoM Shane Watson (RR) 3 wickets for 19 runs & 89 not out off 47 balls.

2012:

Game 1: MI won by 27 runs at Wankhede Stadium

MI 197/6 in 20 overs; RR 170 all out in 19.4 overs. MoM Kieron Pollard (MI) 64 off 33 balls & 4 wickets for 44 runs.

Game 2: MI won by 10 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

RR 162/6 in 20 overs; MI 163/0 in 18 overs. MoM Dwayne Smith (MI) 87 not out off 58 balls.

2013:

Game 1: RR won by 87 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

RR 179/3 in 20 overs; MI 92 all out in 18.2 overs. MoM Ajinkya Rahane (RR) 68 not out off 54 balls.

Game 2: MI won by 14 runs at Wankhede Stadium

MI 166/8 in 20 overs; RR 152/7 in 20 overs. MoM Aditya Tare (MI) 59 runs off 37 balls.

2014

Game 1: MI won by 25 runs at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

MI 178/3 in 20 overs; RR 153/8 in 20 overs. MoM Michael Hussey (MI) 56 off 39 balls.

Game 2: MI won by 5 wickets at Wankhede Stadium

RR 189/4 in 20 overs; MI 195/5 in 14.4 overs. MoM Corey Anderson (MI) 95 not out off 44 balls.

2015:

Game 1: RR won by 7 wickets at Sardar Patel Stadium

MI 164/5 in 20 overs; RR 165/3 in 19.1 overs. MoM Steven Smith (RR) 79 not out off 53 balls.

Game 2: MI won by 8 runs at Wankhede Stadium

MI 187/5 in 20 overs; RR 179/7 in 20 overs. MoM Ambati Rayudu (MI) 53 not out off 27 balls.

2018:

Game: RR won by 3 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

MI 167/7 in 20 overs; RR 168/7 in 19.4 overs. MoM Jofra Archer (RR) 3 wickets for 23 runs.