PORT ELIZABETH - Unbeaten half-centuries from Jean Paul Duminy and Ajinkya Rahane got Mumbai Indians back to winning ways, as they beat Bangalore Royal Challengers by 16 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the St. George’s Park here Sunday.

The win was Mumbai Indians’ first after three consecutive losses and it moved them to the sixth place. They have to win their remaining four matches if they want to make the semi-finals. Royal Challengers slipped to the seventh spot in the eight-team league and they have slim chances of making the last four.

Rahane (62 not out) and Man of the Match Duminy (59 not out) stitched a record 104-run stand for the third wicket as Mumbai Indians made 157 for two in 20 overs. Disciplined bowling by Mumbai Indians restricted Royal Challengers to 141 for seven in 20 overs.

Mumbai Indians also took sweet revenge of their humiliating loss to Royal Challengers in their previous meeting.

After deciding to bat, Mumbai Indians reverted back to their reliable opening combination of Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya. Skipper Tendulkar, however, failed to open his account after he edged Vinay Kumar’s away going delivery to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher in the second over.

Jayasuriya (29) then played some crisp shots to ensure that Mumbai Indians get advantage of the first Power-Play with 46 runs.

But the introduction of spinners after the first Power-Play by captain Anil Kumble did the trick for Royal Challengers. South African spinner Roelof van der Merwe trapped Jayasuriya leg before wicket when the Sri Lankan attempted for a sweep.

Duminy and Rahane then stitched a record 104-run unbeaten partnership for the third wicket to ensure that Mumbai Indians get a winning total. Both batsmen built their partnership by milking away the singles with their excellent running between the wickets and then unleashed their big shots to frustrate the Royal Challengers.

Rahane hit four boundaries and a huge six off Kumble in his 49-ball innings while Duminy’s fourth IPL fifty was studded with two fours and three sixes.

While chasing, Royal Challengers failed to get a decent partnership against the disciplined Mumbai Indians bowling attack. Lasith Malinga proved expensive but Dhawal Kulkarni and Dwayne Brave atoned for it by not allowing the Royal Challengers to free their arms.

The most successful bowler was off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was miser for his three for 15 from his four overs.

Boucher scored a 33-ball 48 but not enough to take Royal Challengers past the target.