SHANE Watson’s all-round show helped compatriot Shane Warne sign off his professional cricket career with a thumping win as the Rajasthan Royals routed Mumbai Indians by 10 wickets in the Indian Premier League on Friday (May 20).
The Rajasthan team, out of contention for the playoff stages, romped to victory with 41 balls to spare as openers Watson (89) and Rahul Dravid (43) remained unbeaten to knock off the 134-run target.
Warne rolled over his arm for the last time in competitive cricket for the Rajasthan side and picked up the wicket of Mumbai’s top-scorer Rohit Sharma (47-ball 58) giving away 30 runs in his quota of four overs.
The flamboyant leg-spinner, in his last over, lured Sharma out of the crease with a flighted delivery that spun away from the right-hander for an easy stumping as Mumbai were restricted to a paltry 133 for five.
The much-anticipated duel between Mumbai captain Sachin Tendulkar (31) and the 41-year old Warne turned out to be a drab one as the batting maestro was forced to be watchful after his side lost wickets early.
Watson picked up three wickets for 19 runs off his four overs as Mumbai struggled for momentum from the onset and needed a 53-run stand for the fourth wicket between Sharma and West Indian Kieron Pollard to help go past the 130-run mark.
The Australian all-rounder then tore into the Mumbai bowling attack, after being hit on the jaw by a Lasith Malinga bouncer, and hit nine boundaries and half a dozen sixes to reach the target in just 13.1 overs.
