Final dismissal secured by Warne in swansong

The Royals were playing for pride in their final group game and it was Warne’s compatriot Shane Watson who set the victory up by first claiming figures of 3-19 and then scoring 89 in just 47 balls.

Mumbai had lumbered to 133 thanks to captain Sachin Tendulkar (31) and Rohit Sharma (58), but Watson’s superb effort alongside Rahul Dravid (43 off 32) took the visitors home in a mere 13.1 overs to give Warne a fitting send-off.

Warne, who took 708 Test wickets, including 10 wickets in a Test match on 10 different occasions said: “I’m 42 this year, I’m in a great place in life, both personally and the business point of view.

“I just want to thank everyone who supported me.

“It was a hard decision to make as I have really enjoyed playing the IPL. The decision had nothing to do with the way I was bowling. It’s time to move on.

“My life, like everyone’s, has been full of highs and lows. I have been fortunate to experience many more highs than lows and for that I am very lucky.”

After taking two early wickets in a slow-paced Mumbai innings, Watson then capitalised on some loose bowling to power Rajasthan to 52 in just six overs, with Dravid barely out of the blocks.

Even the fiery Lasith Malinga was not spared the barrage of boundary shots, going wicketless for 42 in his four overs as Watson reached 50 in 30 balls with Dravid also finding his scoring touch

It was the Australian, though, who finished with nine boundaries and half-a-dozen sixes.