Umesh's pace and bounce troubles Mumbai Indians, again

Umesh Yadav was Royal Challengers Bangalore's most expensive bowler in their last game, and in being so, he had persisted with a frustrating pattern of following up top performances with rank average ones this season. Having bowled spells of 1 for 27 and 1 for 23 in the previous two games, Umesh had gone for 36 without completing his quota while defending a small target.

Ironically, it was the sustenance of that pattern in a smaller chase that helped Royal Challengers successfully defend a total for the first time in the season on Tuesday. Umesh went straight back to finding success when given an extended spell with the new ball. In a devastating opening spell, Umesh dismissed Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians' top run-scorer this season, before having Kieron Pollard hopping about for safety as soon as he came in. Just like he had in the away fixture against Mumbai, he had helped put Mumbai in trouble in the Powerplay.

The difference - and a big one - was that he had also accounted for Rohit off the first ball this time. Rohit, who was the difference after Umesh's first-over double-strike last time around, turned out to be the second wicket of another double-strike. In a team lacking confidence, with a shaky Pollard at No. 5, and an uncharacteristically rusty Hardik Pandya at No. 6, Umesh had done considerable damage early on. Perhaps it was what turned his team's slog-overs morale around. A well-directed throw to run JP Duminy out certainly helped.

At 21 for 3, Mumbai needed all the experience of Pollard to help pick them up. They had the batting resources to make up for any efforts at solidity that might have slowed them down; what they needed was reassurance from the man they hadn't retained at the auction but had bought back nonetheless.

Except, Umesh was in the middle of one of his fiery streaks where he becomes unplayable. Watching from the sidelines, Pollard seemed to have made up his mind about this already. When he lined up to face the first ball - a hat-trick ball - he skipped down the track nervously, possibly looking to negate a full, straight ball. What Umesh hurled at him instead was a 142kph bouncer that caught him so off-guard that he had to end up deliberately chesting the ball away.

"Virat Kohli will be delighted by how his Indian quicks have bowled today. Umesh Yadav tilted the match RCB's way and Mohammed Siraj has held his own magnificently at the end"
Harsha Bhogle on Twitter