Sunday 12 May 2013

PEPSI IPL 2013 Match - 52: RR vs DD

By inflicting a nine-wicket defeat to the Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals kept their fortress, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, intact and cruised to the second position on the points table. After DD posted a respectable 154, RR chased it down on the back of a century opening stand between Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane.

Chasing 155, Dravid who played a first over maiden by Siddarth Kaul, set the ball rolling with two boundaries in the third over. Rahane was given a life as Pawan Negi dropped him on four off Morne Morkel. The RR skipper went after Ajit Agarkar hitting three boundaries as RR made 49 from their power play.

Rahane and Dravid rotated the strike well and played some breathtaking strokes as they laid a solid foundation. Dravid brought up his 4th fifty of the season in the 13th over and the opening pair added 108 runs before they were separated.

Kaul finally dismissed Dravid (53) having him caught by Agarkar at long-on. Shane Watson (28*) hit two boundaries off Umesh Yadav leaving RR needing 29 from 30 balls. Watson and Rahane (63*) launched a six each off Morkel in the 17th over as RR homed in on a much deserved win. They eventually reached the target with 13 balls remaining.

Earlier DD won the toss and elected to bat, making six changes to the team. Virender Sehwag (11) hit two boundaries off James Faulkner before he lost his off-stump deceived by a slower ball. Wicket-keeper batsman CM Gautam (2) making his IPL debut, was caught behind off Shane Watson. Shaun Tait was dispatched for four boundaries as DD made 42 from their power play.

Stuart Binny then had David Warner (13) caught by Sachin Baby to leave DD three down. Pravin Tambe, the 41-year old debutant was dispatched for three boundaries in the 11th over. Mahela Jayawardene (34) launched Siddharth Trivedi for a six before chipping one straight to Dravid.

Ben Rohrer and Kedar Jadhav (24*) brought DD back in the game adding 76 runs for the fifth wicket. Rohrer smashed Tait for consecutive boundaries before hitting two more off Watson to bring up his maiden IPL fifty in the 19th over. Rohrer (64*) struck a boundary and a six off Faulkner in the final over as DD posted a respectable 154 for 4.

Ajinkya Rahane




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