Rajasthan make two in two

Match Report – IPL4: Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils, Jaipur, April 12, 2011

Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Daredevils by playing as a well-knit unit under their captain Fantastic, Shane Warne. Despite Venugopal Rao’s late onslaught, Royals restricted Daredevils to a manageable score through disciplined bowling, and then chased down the target comfortably in the penultimate over.

Shaun Tait removed the danger-man Sehwag in the first over and then made Finch his second victim to peg back Delhi at the start. Warne then rocked the middle order by taking two in three balls in his first over. David Warner who was going well for Delhi needed an able partner to resurrect the innings and he found that in Venugopal Rao.

Both added invaluable 83 runs in just over 10 overs to keep their team in the hunt. Rao was the aggressor of the two initially as he launched Botha for two sixes apart from caressing a few boundaries. Warner joined the act but departed after reaching his 50 for a 44-ball 54. Rao hit Trivedi for two back-to-back sixes before holing out to deep midwicket. He made a whirlwind 60 off 40 balls with 4 fours and same number of sixes. Delhi finished at 151 for 6. Warne took 2 for 17 while Tait gave away 40 runs for his two scalps.

Ashok Dinda removed Pauniker early but Dravid launched Irfan Pathan for 15 runs in one over with a stunning six over long-on and two fours. Johan Botha and Dravid took the score to 61 in the 8th over, when Dravid was caught behind off Ojha for 38 (31b, 6×4, 1×6). Rajasthan kept nibbling at the score despite losing two more wickets as Delhi bowlers were unable to apply enough pressure. Botha remained not out on 39 off 34 balls as they reached the target with 9 balls to spare.

With this win Rajasthan have won both their matches, while Delhi have lost two in two. They need to lift their batting and Sehwag has a lot to offer in that regard in the coming matches.

Rajasthan 152/4 (Botha 39*, M Morkel 1/11) beat Delhi 151/6 (Rao 60, Warne 2/17) by 6 wickets

Man of the match: Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)