'Do or Die' for Mumbai against Royal Challengers

Bangalore, May 27 (UNI) The narrow loss to the Rajasthan Royals last night has put the Mumbai Indians in a do-or-die and must win situation tomorrow in the IPL final league clash against Bangalore Royal Challengers here, to gain a semi final berth.

Though their chance of making it to semi finals depends on Chennai losing to Deccan Chargers, Hyderabad in today's encounter, Mumbai can further firm up their position if they win outright against the hosts.

For the local team which had salvaged some prestige by winning two of its previous encounters and spoil the party of their rivals, nothing is at stake. The Rahul Dravid led team, which had come up with a dismal performance inviting the wrath of its owner Vijay Mallya, is seventh among the eight teams on points table and a win or a loss would not make any difference to its standing.

The team's performance on home turf was all the more dismal as it had won only one among the six it had played.

In last night's match Mumbai Indians, who were in a winning situation lost it in the last ball when a misfield by Dilhara Fernando and a fumble by Sanath Jayasuriya enabled Rajasthan Royals to romp home by five wickets.

Mumbai have their backs to the wall as they now need Chennai Super Kings to lose to Hyderabad Deccan Chargers.

MORE UNI MSP VK AB AS1654