Watson Ensures Warne's Farewell Is A Winning One

20 May 2011

Shane Warne bowed out of the game with a win and one final wicket behind him

©Action Images

Rajasthan Royals 134-0 (Watson 89no) beat
Mumbai Indians 133-5 (Watson 3-19) by ten wickets
Indian Premier League 2011, Mumbai
Scorecard

The Rajasthan Royals gave their captain Shane Warne a fitting farewell as they crushed the Mumbai Indians by ten wickets in their final match of the Indian Premier League 2011 season.

The Indians will have one more chance to reach the play-offs but Warne says his goodbyes having announced his retirement earlier in the tournament.

Topping the bill again, he took the wicket of Rohit Sharma with his third-last delivery in the game as the Mumbai side were limited to 133 for five.

The Royals then raced home with all ten wickets intact thanks to a fine unbeaten 89 in 47 balls from Shane Watson and 43 not out in 32 balls from opening partner Rahul Dravid.

Watson had earlier taken three for 19, striking early to dismiss Tirumalsetti Suman (5) and Ambati Rayudu (2) before returning to bowl the dangerous Kieron Pollard for 20.

Sachin Tendulkar made 31 but it was left to Sharma, who made 58 in 47 balls, to try to steer Mumbai to a competitive score. He hit five fours and a six before charging down the pitch to Warne and being comfortably stumped by Pinal Shah.

A warm handshake was exchanged by Sharma and Warne, who until then had gone wicketless, ending his bowling career with figures of one for 30.

He was subsequently not required to bat, and it did not appear as if, once Watson and Dravid had got off to a flyer, any thought was given to him promoting himself up the order for one last hurrah with the bat.

This was Warne's farewell, but it was his namesake Watson who was Rajasthan's star with the sort of all-round performance that earned him the man of the tournament award in 2008, when Warne led the Royals to victory.

If Mumbai are to join the Royals on the list of IPL winners, they must now beat the Kolkata Knight Riders in their final match, although they could still qualify for the play-offs should they lose and the Deccan Chargers beat the Kings XI Punjab.

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Watson Ensures Warne's Farewell Is A Winning One