Thaindian News

Jaipur, April 12 (IANS) Rajasthan Royals maintained their unbeaten run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a clinical six-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here Tuesday.

Riding on Rahul Dravid’s 38 and Johan Botha’s unbeaten 39, the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals easily chased down the target of 152 with nine balls to spare and followed up their win over Deccan Charges with an equally-impressive display on home soil. Warne was also the Man of the Match for his miserly figures of 2/17.

For Delhi Daredevils, it was their second successive loss and some poor bowling couldn’t help them in preventing a score of 151 for six in 20 overs. Y.Venugopal Rao (60 off 40 balls) and David Warner (54 off 44) were the chief contributors and helped Delhi achieve a competitive score after a poor start.

The Royals started their chase, despite the early dismissal of Amit Paunikar (5), on a bright note thanks to a quickfire 31-ball 38 by Dravid. The old warhorse came down heavily on Irfan Pathan, who is looking to make a national team comeback, with a six and two fours for a 15-run over. Dravid smashed six fours and a six during his quick knock.

Botha, South Africa’s ODI captain, also played a crucial knock in 32 balls and along with Ross Taylor (18 not not) took the 2008 champions home safely. Taylor hit Ashok Dinda for a four and a six to finish the match with nine balls to spare.

Earlier, opting to bat first Daredevils were reeling at 36/4, before Warner and Rao added 83 runs in 61 balls, striking 10 boundaries and five sixes between them, to take Daredevils to respectable total.

Daredevils lost captain Virender Sehwag (4) in the very first over to Australia paceman Tait, who also had compatriot Aaron Finch (11) caught at mid-on. Tait conceded four runs for his two wickets but also bowled the fastest delivery of 157.7 kmph in India.

Warne compounded the misery of Daredevils by dimissing Unmukt Chand and Naman Ojha within his first three balls.