Karun Nair’s unbeaten 73 helps Rajasthan thrash Delhi by 7 wickets
Karun Nair batted patiently to guide Rajasthan Royals chase of a modest total posted by Delhi Daredevils and win by seven wickets with nine balls to spare at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Saturday.Daredevils, who struggled in the middle-overs, could only post 152 for 5 which Royals chased without much difficulty to win their first match of the seventh season of Indian Premier league on Indian soil and registered their fourth win in six matches.
Nair, who opened the innings with Ajinkya Rahane, started off rather mutely but as he spent time in the middle he grew in confidence and played more shots to finish with 73 not out off 50 balls. The presence of stroke-makers in the ranks, modest total and ineffective bowling gave him time to settle down.
Earlier, Kedar Jadhav, this year's top-scorer in Ranji Trophy with over 1200 runs, once again reminded everyone, both in and out of Delhi Daredevils' dressing room, about his abilities. The diminutive right-handed batsman from Maharashtra, who was ignored for initial matches to accommodate bigger names in the squad, smashed an unbeaten 28 off 14 balls as Daredevils managed 40 crucial runs from the last three overs. He along with Duminy helped Daredevils recover from a mid-over slump after opener de Kock single-handedly provided a bright start.
Watson, who had the services of eight bowlers, strategically used seven different bowlers for the first seven overs with modest success as Rajasthan managed to get Murali Vijay in the fifth over. Rajasthan bowlers bowled a tight line but de Kock was more imaginative in using crease as he improvised well to keep the scoreboard ticking, even though Kevin Pietersen, who came in to bat at No 3, was finding it difficult to accelerate at the other end.
Pietersen, who was benefitted by an error of judgment by leg-umpire Sanjay Hazare, tried to break the shackles against leg-spinner Pravin Tambe but his form is yet to make peace with him. He tried to loft a tossed delivery straight over the bowler's head but the ball took the inside half of the bat and landed in the safest hands of Steven Smith. Tambe struck again in the same over and removed de Kock.
Twin strikes set the Daredevils' innings back. Dinesh Karthik, who himself is struggling with form, and Duminy, their most in-form batsman, tried to build the innings through middle overs. Thought Karthik once again failed to live up to team's expectations, Duminy impressed once again with a 31-ball 39.Duminy and Jadhav did what they could to take Daredevils to a total for which bowlers could stage a fight. They even provided a good start removing Rahane early but Nair batted through the innings and shared crucial partnerships with Samson, Rajat Bhatia and Shane Watson to take the game away from home team.
With this win Rajasthan Royals have moved to third position with eight points. Delhi Daredevils remain where they were at the seventh position in the points table.
Brief Scores Delhi Daredevils: 152 for 5 in 20 overs (Q de Kock 43, JP Duminy 39; P Tambe 2/26) lost to Rajasthan Royals: 156/3 in 18.3 overs (Karun Nair not out 73, Sanju Samson 34; Mohammed Shami 1/22) by 7 wickets.
Fire at Kotla
Meanwhile, a small fire broke out during Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals match at Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Saturday. It was Royals skipper Shane Watson who detected the fire and informed the umpires before the 18th over of the second innings. The fire was immediately doused off by the ground workers and match was resumed.