Rajasthan, Mumbai notch impressive wins in IPL

JAIPUR, India (AP):

Shane Warne took two wickets in his first three balls as Rajasthan Royals won a second-straight game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday, and Sachin Tendulkar hit 55 to also keep Mumbai Indians perfect in the Twenty20 tournament.

Warne won the Man-of-the-Match award after finishing with 2-17 against Delhi Daredevils at Jaipur. He helped put Delhi in a shaky position at 36-4. However, the team recovered to post a challenging total of 151-6, with Shaun Tait also taking two wickets.

Venugopal Rao (60 off 40 balls) and David Warner (54 off 44) added 83 for the fifth wicket for Delhi.

Johan Botha (39 not out off 32 balls) and Rahul Dravid (38 from 31) ensured Rajasthan won with nine balls to spare.

"Johan is such a clever cricketer in the way he bats, bowls and fields," Warne said of Botha, who scored 67 not out in Rajasthan's preceding eight-wicket win over Deccan Chargers. "He did a great job for us today batting at No. 3."

Mumbai also won with nine balls to spare, despite Bangalore managing a respectable 140-4 with Tillkaratne Dilshan topscoring on 59 off 52 deliveries and A.B. de Villiers hitting 38 off 36 balls. Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard took two wickets for Mumbai.

However, an unbroken stand of 110 between Ambati Rayudu (63) and Tendulkar gave Mumbai a nine-wicket victory.

Rayudu smashed nine fours, with Tendulkar hitting seven boundaries, finding the fence on either side of the pitch through placement rather than big shots.

"Sachin guided me and helped me get the runs today," Rayudu said.

Delhi have now lost both matches, while Bangalore have a 1-1 record.

Today, Kings XI Punjab take on Chennai Super Kings at Mohali, while new franchises Pune Warriors and Kochi Tuskers Kerala clash in Mumbai.