Rajasthan Royals Make Heavy Weather of Small Target

RR 131-4 (Rahane 62) beat
SRH 127-5 (Morgan 27) by six wickets
11th match, Indian Premier League in Visakhapatnam
Scorecard

Ajinkya Rahane scored a sublime half-century as Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in game 11 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at Visakhapatnam.

RR won the toss and chose to field first.

David Warner (21) started well yet again hitting three fours off one over of Chris Morris (0-23).

However, Shikhar Dhawan (10) edged one to the wicket-keeper, after smashing the previous delivery for four to Dhawal Kulkarni (2-9).

Meanwhile Warner who was looking good lost his wicket attempting a dangerous single to Rahane who got the direct hit in.

Lokesh Rahul (2) fell the very next ball, lbw to an inswinging delivery from Kulkarni. SRH managed only 55 for three in the first 10 overs.

Naman Ojha (25) got a lucky break when James Faulkner (0-20) overstepped for a delivery that got his wicket, Eoin Morgan (27) smashing a six off the free-hit.

Just when things were looking up for SRH, wickets toppled again and the last hurrah never came.

Pravin Tambe (2-21) who was brilliant on the day got Morgan lbw with a fuller one and castled Ojha’s stumps with a lovely leg-spinner that turned quite a bit.

SRH managed just 37 in the last five overs and set a small target of 128 for the in-form of RR team.
For RR, Kulkarni was terrific although he didn’t get to finish his quota of bowlers.

Tim Southee (0-30) was expensive and so was Morris, but Tambe more than made up for them with an economy of just 5.25 and picking couple of wickets as well.

RR never looked in trouble at any point of the chase until the last couple of overs.

They played out solid, composed cricket without finishing it off early.

Man-of-the-match and Orange Cap holder Rahane (62) who has been extremely consistent this season with lot of runs, laid the foundation with a 64-run opening partnership with Sanju Samson (26) who eventually fell to a good catch by keeper Ojha after being let off on 13.

Steven Smith (13) drove one straight to short extra cover and Karun Nair (1) was caught and bowled by Ravi Bopara (2-18) who was very good with the ball.

There were a few nerves when Trent Boult (1-31) sent Rahane’s stump for a cartwheel ending his 56-ball knock, with 10 runs still to win in eight balls.

However, Stuart Binny (16 not out) saw through the chase with Faulkner (6 not out) on the other end, the latter hitting a four off the last ball to win the game.

For SRH Bopara was the pick of the bowler once again having picked up two wickets while Boult and Karn Sharma (1-19) picked a wicket apiece.

RR won their fourth consecutive game while SRH have won just one game in three.

© Cricket World 2015