When Rajasthan Royals took to the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium last year, they lost an ‘almost won’ match by one run. That was their third loss in as many matches at this ground against the hosts, Delhi Daredevils. But when they left for home on Saturday, the Kotla jinx was broken as they beat the Daredevils by five runs to win an ‘almost lost’ match to begin their 2013 campaign on a triumphant note.
After winning the toss, Rajasthan chose to bat first on a flat Kotla pitch and with the help of skipper Rahul Dravid’s brisk 65-run knock and Stuart Binny’s quick-fire 40, the visitors posted a competitive 165 for seven on board. In reply, Delhi could score only 160 for six.
Delhi were swiftly progressing towards the target needing 22 runs from last three overs with eight wickets in hand with thriving David Warner well past his half-century at the crease. But Kevon Cooper bowled two tight overs giving only nine runs and sending three batsmen to pavilion to change the course of the match.
First he dismissed Manprit Juneja in the 18th over and then bowled a superb last over in which he gave only four runs and dismissed two batsmen. Delhi needed nine runs from the last over but Cooper’s perfect yorkers, which he sent down six times in that over, gave Delhi batsmen no room to score. Johan Botha and Andre Russell tried some innovative shots to answer those pinpoint yorkers, only to lose their wickets.
When Rajasthan started their defence of 165 runs, they were very well aware that the injury-ridden Delhi side were without their stars. All they needed was to take care of two two players, the diminutive Australian left-hander David Warner and experienced Sri lankan Mahela Jayawardene, who could pose serious danger to their aspirations of winning the match.
A diving catch by Ajinkya Rahane at point to dismiss Jayawardene (19) and a direct hit by stand-in captain Brad Hodge from covers to run out Warner (77) in the penultimate over meant that Rajasthan had taken care of both threats in due time.
Unmukt Chand, who opened in the absence of injured Virender Sehwag, again failed to deliver for Daredevils. He looked tentative while batting against West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree — who opened the bowling for Rajasthan Royals — as well as against S Sreesanth, who ultimately ended his agony in the sixth over by cleaning his stumps.
Earlier, Binny played the most important knock for Rajasthan scoring 40 runs off just 20 balls. Besides providing the much required boost to their score in the middle order, he ensured that Daredevils’ skipper Jayawardene couldn’t use his most experienced bowler, Johan Botha, for more than one over.
Jayawardene kept Botha off the attack till 14 overs, probably death overs were in his mind but Binny had other plans. He hit Botha for two consecutive sixes after getting a lucky four on the first ball when he lost his bat.
He, along with skipper Rahul Dravid, collected 55 runs off just 28 balls in their third wicket partnership. During the period when Binny was batting the runs were coming at about 12 runs per over. He built well on the strong foundation laid by Ajinkya Rahane (28) and Dravid (65), who added 65 runs for the second wicket.
When Umesh Yadav dislodged Binny’s stumps on the first ball of 17th over, Rajasthan were 142 for three and looked set to post a commanding total. But a faltering lower-order couldn’t meet the demands and fizzled out. In the last four overs, Royals added only 23 runs and lost four batsmen. Two of them were claimed by Yadav on consecutive balls. He was on a hat-trick but having already finished his quota of overs, Yadav didn’t get the chance to have a go at it. However, with four wickets in his kitty, he made sure that the match didn’t go out of Daredevil’s reach.
Ashish Nehra, who was exchanged for Ross Taylor with Pune Warriors to improve their death bowling, justified the faith in him with a four-run over, which included two wickets as well, to finish the innings.
Brief Scores
Rajasthan Royals: 165/7 (Rahul Dravid 65, Stuart Binny 40; Umesh Yadav 4/24) beat DelhiDaredevils: 160/6 (David Warner 77; Kevon Cooper 3/30) by 5 runs.