Yusuf breaks records but Royals fail

Yusuf Pathan bludgeoned nine fours and eight sixes to help resurrect Rajasthan's pursuit of 213, only to fall slightly short

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Yusuf Pathan hammered the fastest century yet in the Indian Premier League but it was not enough for Rajasthan Royals, who went down by four runs to Mumbai Indians in a high-scoring thriller.

Yusuf hit 100 off only 37 deliveries, including eight sixes, and, aided by a fighting 41 from Paras Dogra, kept the Royals in contention. But Shane Warne's side eventually fell short on 208 for seven.

Sanath Jayasuriya gave Mumbai a cracking start, hammering Dimitri Mascarenhas for three boundaries in the first over and adding 38 in quick time for the opening wicket with Sachin Tendulkar.

Mascarenhas, landed twin blows in the first over after the powerplay, removing both Tendulkar and Aditya Tare in the space of three deliveries, but Mumbai recovered magnificently through Ambati Rayudu’s 55 and 53 from Saurabh Tiwary.

Their 110-run alliance allowed Mumbai to post 212 for six.

The only downside for the home side was a knee injury to Harbhajan Singh, sustained while batting, which kept him off the field for the rest of the match.

At the halfway stage of their reply, the Royals were reeling on 69 for four, but Yusuf injected life into the Royals' chase by clobbering left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza for three consecutive sixes.

Yusuf added 107 for the fifth wicket with Dogra and it left Rajasthan needing 19 from the last two overs.

But Zaheer Khan conceded seven in the 19th and Lasith Malinga snuffed out their chances by claiming two wickets and conceding only seven in the final over as the Royals fell agonisingly short.