May 28: A rainy day and an inconsequential match are potential spoilers of any game of cricket, but surprisingly, a fairly sizeable crowd braved the elements and turned up to watch the encounter. It was the last engagement for the Royal Challengers as well as for the Mumbai Indians and save for pride, there was nothing else left to play.

Artificial excitement came in the form of a 90-minute delayed start due to a wet outfield, reducing the match to 18-overs-a-side. A sudden downpour in the afternoon ensured that the wicket would be slow but even then, the Challengers’ 122 for eight, was below par.

Mumbai didn’t have to do anything spectacular and they didn’t do anything silly either. Unlike the Challengers they didn’t lose their wickets in a moment of madness as they cantered to a nine-wicket victory, cruising to 126/1 with four overs to spare.

The Challengers, who were sent in by Sachin Tendulkar, required something special from someone if they were to go out on a high. Aussie Cameron White, who has all along flattered to deceive, looked like getting out of the rut but once again, it was too short an innings from a batsman reputed to be one of the best in the T20 format.

The Challengers needed him if they were to get to a respectable score but in the event, White, after clubbing a huge six off Dhawal Kulkarni right into press box on the third tier, slammed Dwayne Smith down to Dilhara Fernando, two of the most successful bowlers for the Indians on the day, at deep square-leg.

Lankan Fernando was super economical, going for just three in two overs as he picked up three wickets in his first spell before finishing with 4/18, while Smith snared 3/26 in his quota of four. As it transpired, the Challengers needed a hugely unlikely 39-run partnership for the eighth wicket between the two Kumars, Vinay (23, 17b) and Praveen (8, 11b), to lift their sagging spirits. It was to be their best on the day. Tells a tale, doesn’t it?

Misbah-ul Haq fell first ball as did Virat Kohli to negate a brisk opening stand of 35 between Mark Boucher and the promising Sreevats Goswami.

The openers were hardly troubled but the outfield, which had taken a pounding, was real slow. As Fernando got rid off the top three in an unbelievably stifling spell, the Challengers’ middle order stood exposed and save for White and Vinay, there wasn’t much forthcoming.

Surprisingly, Mumbai’s start was subdued as Rahul Dravid again opened the bowling with Anil Kumble. It was just to unsettle the batsmen as he took the leggie off after just one over, but the intent was clear: he wasn’t going down without a fight. Then again, he had bargained without Jayasuriya, who after a lull, swung his broad blade in typical, murderous fashion.

The Mumbai openers, who scored only 36 from the first five overs, upped the ante as Jayasuriya made it a Lankan delight, becoming only the second batsman after Gautam Gambhir to score more than 500 runs in the IPL as he slammed four sixes and four boundaries in his 37-ball 54. When he fell, a top-edge going to B. Akhil off Dale Steyn, Mumbai had moved to 96 in 11.3 overs and Tendulkar (40 n.o., 42b) and Robin Uthappa ensured that there would be no further hiccups as they finished their engagements on a high.

Even given that it was an inconsequential match.