Images: Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals

One of the best opening combinations in Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar walked in the middle, after Tendulkar won the toss and elected to bat first.

Jayasuriya continued to torment bowlers as he got the ball rolling, picking up 13 runs off the first over of Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Tendulkar at the other end, facing one of the quickest bowlers in world cricket now, Shaun Tait, hit him for two consecutive boundaries as the hosts got off to a steady start.

However Jayasuriya couldn't last long as he was caught plumb in front of the wicket by the debutant Amit Uniyal. The veteran made a quick-fire 23 off 14 balls.

Photographs: Getty Images

Much was expected from Tendulkar, but he couldn't stay at the wicket for long too.

With Jayasuriya back in the pavilion, it was important that Tendulkar stays and hold the fort. But he fell, while playing a paddle shot off Mascarenhas for 17.

Two balls later Mascarenhas picked up Aditya Tare, who looked good for a short while was also sent packing when he was caught at short mid on by Shane Warne for quick fire 23 off 13 balls.

Ambati Rayudu, making his debut in the IPL, played a sensible innings. He was aggressive right from the outset, hitting Mascarenhas for a boundary off the very first ball that he faced.

And Rayudu got a perfect partner in Saurab Tiwary as the MI picked up boundaries at will against some poor bowling from the Royals.

The under-19 World Cup star showed little respect for the Warne as he hit the Aussie for consecutive boundaries and a six.

The duo shared a 110-run partnership, and set up a good platform for the lower order players to go for the final flourish.

Mumbai Indians finished the 20-overs with 212 for six wickets -- their highest total of the IPL.

Chasing a mammoth 213 for a win, Royals got off to a worst possible start losing Swapnil Asnodkar, off the second ball of the innings.

R Satish hit the stump at the non-strikers end with a direct hit finding Asnodkar short of his crease, without facing a ball.

Royals run chase was largely dependent on the start Gareme Smith gives them.

However the South African was unable to deliver the goods as he struggled to time the ball.

Smith did odd boundaries off Ryan McLaren but mistimed a shot and was caught and bowled by R Satish.

With wickets falling regularly for the Royals, Yusuf Pathan decided to take the attack to the opposition.

The dashing India all-rounder played the best innings of the IPL so far as he smashed a mind-boggling 37-ball century.

He slammed left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza for a hat-trick of sixes. Medium pacer Satish was the next casualty as Pathan smashed him for three boundaries and two huge sixes to amass 26 runs from the over.

In the process, the dashing batsman brought up his half-century from a mere 21 deliveries, having hit six sixes and two boundaries.

The introduction of Sanath Jayasuriya saw Pathan complete his maiden century. He slammed the Sri Lankan for a huge six over mid-wicket and then edged one through third man for a boundary.

Off the next delivery he dismissed one into the long-on boundary to bring up his century in some style.

Pathan's innings came to an end when he was brilliantly run-out by R Satish off his own bowling.

After Pathan's dismissal, Paras Dogra took over the momentum as he plundered runs from Satish's over.

However the experienced duo of Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga ensured that the Royals don't run away with the game.

In the end Royals fell short by just four runs.