Resurgent Royals outplay Bangalore

A clinical Rajasthan Royals shot out Royal Challengers Bangalore for a paltry 70, the third lowest total in IPL history, and then romped to a six-wicket victory in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Rajasthan bowlers, led by spinner Pravin Tambe (4/20), justified their skipper’s decision to bowl first as only three Bangalore batsmen could touch a double-digit mark.

Ironically in 2009, Rajasthan were at the receiving end of Bangalore’s hostility when they were bundled out for 58 - the lowest IPL score by any team till now. Chasing 71, Rajasthan cantered to their target in 13 overs with skipper Shane Watson top-scoring with 24 runs.

The Rajasthan side though hit a few roadblocks when Ajinkya Rahane was caught behind off Mitchell Starc for 23, Sanju Samson was run out for 2 and Mitchell Starc struck his second blow to send Karun Nair back for 8. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also picked up a consolation wicket when Watson was caught at cover while trying to finish the game.

It was finally left-hander Abhishek Nayar who hit the winning runs to give Rajasthan their second win in the tournament after four games. Earlier a star-studded Bangalore batting line-up collapsed like a pack of cards as they were shot out for their lowest total in the Twenty20 league. The RCB innings was off to a disastrous start after their openers returned to the dug out in the very first over and the agony ended for them in the 15th over. 

Earlier, a star-studded RCB batting line-up collapsed like a pack of cards as they were shot out for a paltry 70. Rajasthan bowlers, led by spinner Pravin Tambe (4/20), justified their skipper’s decision to bowl first as only three batsmen could touch a double-digit mark.

RCB innings was off to a disastrous start after their openers returned to the dug out in the very first over and the agony ended for them in the 15th over. Medium-pacer Stuart Binny got Yogesh Takawale caught behind for nought and the in-form Parthiv Patel followed him soon after being run out for 1.

Australian pacer Kane Richardson then replaced Binny in the third over to choke the RCB top-order after picking up the prized wickets of Yuvraj Singh (3) and AB de Villiers (0) on consecutive deliveries. The hat-trick ball was foiled by Sachin Rana. Rana, who plays for Haryana in Ranji trophy, though couldn’t last long after he was cleaned up by Watson for 3.

The rot continued after leg-spinner Tambe got Albie Morkel for 7. Albie, who had been patient till now, went after a flighted delivery to lob a simple catch to Steven Smith at mid-off. Skipper Virat Kohli (21) tried his best to resist the fall but the attacking batsman gave away a sitter to Tim Southee at mid-off off Tambe.

On any other day it would have been four but Kohli seemed to have been bitten by the same bug that hit the rest of his mates. The procession continued as Mitchel Starc was caught by Binny off Rajat Bhatia after a fighting 18. Tambe then completed the formalities to wipe off the tail. 

Despite restricting the formidible Kings XI Punjab for a modest 132, Kolkata Knight Riders failed to script victory as they went down cheaply by 23 runs in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Rookie Punjab seamer Sandeep Sharma produced a dream spell (3/21) to push KKR on the backfoot while Mitchell Johnson and Akshar Patel bagged two wickets apiece to fashion their side’s victory.  For the losing side, young Mumbai batsman Suryakumar Yadav topscored with 34.

Earlier, spinners Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla outfoxed KXIP with their web of spin as KKR restricted Punjab to a modest 132 for nine. Narine (3 for 24) and Chawla (3 for 19) snapped three wickets each as Kolkata Knight Riders produced a disciplined bowling display to test the table-toppers in their stipulated 20 overs.

Put into bat, Punjab lost Cheteshwar Pujara (8) early in the second over when Manish Pandey’s direct throw from point found the opener short. Coming into bat at number three, Wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha (14) got a life early when a running Umesh Yadav spilled his catch but the Kolkata cricketer failed to make use of the chance.

After a four and six, he was sent back into the pavillion by experienced Jacques Kallis, who trapped him infront of wicket on his first delivery. New man Glenn Maxwell decided to throw away his wicket when he went for an over-ambitious shot on the leg side only to see his leg-stump go for a walk. David Miller then joined Sehwag but the South African’s knock was cut short by leg-spinner Chawla in the 10th over.