da bet7k： A current Indian Under-19 star and one from the not-too-distant past outdid a side with a wealth of international experience

da roleta： Cricinfo staff26-May-2008
On the final ball, Sanath Jayasuriya couldn’t collect the throw at the bowler’s end and that gave Rajasthan their winning run (file photo) © Getty Images
Those who doubted that cricket could be a demanding and capriciousmistress needed only to watch the last ball of this incredible game. Acurrent Indian Under-19 star and one from the not-too-distant past rangedagainst a side with a wealth of international experience. Two runs for thewin, one for the tie. Who would your money have been on?What unfolded was almost beyond belief. The experienced bowler, after acouple of nervous false starts, summoned up a delivery that couldn’t quitebe slogged, but when the ball streaked back towards him, he dived over it.Another international scampered in from long-off, gathered, and let flywith a throw that was a few feet wide of the stumps. International numberthree couldn’t collect the ball. In between all this mayhem, with thestadium noise amplified to ear-splitting levels, the two lesser lights rantwo. Game over.So much for experience. Shane Warne couldn’t stop gushing about NirajPatel and Ravindra Jadeja later, and who could blame him? “I thoughtthey’d left it one over too late,” he said with typical candour. “Jadejahit one shot over cover for six that showed unbelievable talent and skill,and then for Patel to hit him [Fernando] back over his head for six. I’mjust very proud of those boys.”No matter what the situation, and it was dire on Monday night with 32needed from the final 12 balls, the Rajasthan Royals seem to unearth ahero. It was Warne himself on an unforgettable night in Hyderabad early onin the competition, and Yusuf Pathan and Mohammad Kaif the other eveningin Kolkata. Shane Watson and Graeme Smith have done their bit, as hasKamran Akmal.”In our dressing room, the motto is Find a Way,” said Warne. “Whether it’sfor one ball or three balls, be the man, be the hero. Go out there andexpress yourself.”Mumbai’s fielding disintegrated in the final stages, with overthrowsconceded, poor efforts at the stumps and an air of panic all round. SachinTendulkar ventured across to the bowler after practically every ball, andFernando, who had bowled three magnificent overs for 12 and two wickets,seemed to wilt like a wallflower under the spotlight.With Tendulkar again staying away from the post-match press conference, itwas left to Lalchand Rajput to survey the wreckage of a campaign that hadappeared to revive with six straight victories. “Our fielding let us downtoday,” he said, before launching into an unconvincing explanation aboutluck that revolved around the toss of coins.Warne understandably was dismissive of those remarks. “It all comes downto belief,” he said. “These situations tell you about the differencesbetween the teams. Fernando bowled a wide down the leg side. That hasnothing to do with luck. Now, I’m not having a go at him, but it comesdown to poor execution of skills when the pressure is on.”Tendulkar’s diving catch to dismiss Watson epitomised the Mumbai Indians’desperation, but from the moment the Powerplay fetched them only 29 runs,they were always playing catch-up. Tanvir again bowled with the skill andaccuracy of Wasim Akram in his prime [“absolutely outstanding again” wasthe Warne-speak], and controlled spells from Siddharth Trivedi and YusufPathan denied Mumbai any sort of momentum. But for that sensational littlecameo from Yogesh Takawale, who struck four fours and a six in Watson’sfinal over, this would have been another demolition job in keeping withRajasthan’s absolute dominance on home turf.The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, which has become the IPL equivalent ofFortress Stamford Bridge, boasts of an obstacle course on the premises.For the moment though, the team that calls it home appears capable ofbrushing aside anything that blocks its path to glory. This fledglingleague couldn’t have more worthy winners.