IPL CRICKET 2010 - Kings XI Punjab Vs Rajasthan Royals

IPL CRICKET 2010

Rajasthan Royals Vs Kings XI Punjab

Royal hiding for Kings

Jaipur: The Sawai Mansingh Stadium has always been a happy hunting ground for Rajasthan Royals, particularly Shane Warne and Wednesday was no exception. Under lights, Warne's boys played some outstanding strokes bt send the crowd into a frenzy before pulling off a nine-wicket win. A win or loss doesn't matter Kings as they are languishing at the bottom of the points tally. But a defeat could have furrowed the eyebrows of Shane Warne as it would spoil their semifinal hopes.

        Michael Lumb justified his faith in skipper Warne, coming up with a great knock of 83 of 43 balls. The win lifted Royals to joint secondspot, an unlikely position for a team that was written off after starting with three defeats in a row. Kings skipper Kumara Sangakkara shuffled his bowlers around but to no avail. Lumb picked off the spinners witha sweeps and reverse sweeps.

        The 100 came up in the ninth over when Irfan was punished for four fours. Lumb could have completed his century, but a lapse in concentration cost him dearly. He was dismissed in the next over. But cool-headed Ojha took charge of the chase and with the help of Yusuf Pathan, finished off the game in the 15th over. Earlier, Kings XI Punjab won the toss and decided  to bat first. but they came a cropper against a none too-intimidating bowling, leaving royals well-placed to complete a hattrick of wins. Mahela Jayawardene top scored again, and Yuvraj Singh showed off his awesome hitting, but the rest failed to contribute anything substantial. Their innings ended at 153 for 6. Aditya Dole (2/36) and Siddharth Trivedi  (2/22) were the pick of the bowlers.

       It started well for them with Manvinder Bisla and Nahela jayawardene punished some average howling to gallop to 28 after three overs. Shane Watson broke through with a quick boncer, removing Bisla, but Jayawardine calmly continued to pick off the runs.