The Hindu : Sport : A Royal spectacle, but not for the Kings

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Sunday, May 25, 2008
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A Royal spectacle, but not for the Kings

S. Dinakar

Shane Warne’s tactical acumen helps the Rajasthan team clinch a thriller

Royals sitting pretty on 20 points
Super Kings remains on 14

— Photo: K. Pichumani

Leading the charge: Graeme Smith’s blistering start helped Rajasthan Royals to a winning total.

Chennai: Apart from his extraordinary bowling and leadership qualities, Shane Warne has plotted and created depth in the Rajasthan Royals camp.

Rajasthan Royals continues to beat opponents despite resting key players — an Australian attribute.

The visitor was without influential all-rounder Shane Watson and in-form paceman Siddharth Trivedi for the DLF-Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday. Rajasthan Royals still managed to clinch a humdinger by 10 runs.

Warne used his resources cleverly, making the most of them.

He used Yusuf Pathan’s off-spin for two overs with the new ball and had his best pacemen, Munaf Patel and Sohail Tanvir, sending down the crucial 19th and the 20th overs. With Tanvir conceding just four runs in his final over, Rajasthan Royals had the final say.

Super Kings, with 14 points in 13 games, will go through to the semifinals if Mumbai Indians defeats Delhi Daredevils. Otherwise, the Chennai side would need to beat Deccan Chargers in its last game to qualify. The Jaipur side has 10 victories in 12 games.

The host mounted a spirited chase under the lights on a belter and a fast outfield but fell short. Parthiv Patel’s 54 off 40 deliveries contained some crisp shots square of the wicket. Suresh Raina sizzled during his 24-ball 45.

Morkel (71, 40b, 4x6) kept Super Kings in the hunt before being deceived by Tanvir’s quick-arm action in the final over.

Warne and seamer Pankaj Singh bowled well for Royals at crucial junctures and Tanvir finished things off. Skipper Dhoni too succumbed to Tanvir at the death.

The young Taruwar Kohli’s fine catch on the square-leg fence to dismiss S. Badrinath reflected the side’s intensity on the field.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals was off to a tremendous start. The opening pair of Graeme Smith and Swapnil Asnodkar once again exploited the field restrictions, blazed to 67 without loss in six overs after Warne opted to bat.

Makhaya Ntini and Manpreet Gony disappointed, providing the batsmen the length or the width.

Smith (91, 51b, 9x4, 4x6) walked down the track to smash L. Balaji for a six over covers.

Asnodkar raced to 41 off 27 balls before fielder Dhoni-’keeper Parthiv combination ran him out. The first-wicket pair had put on 127 runs in 11.1 overs.

Kamran Akmal, a busy batsman, used the width of the crease well to remain unbeaten with a 28-ball 53. However, the innings lost some momentum towards the end with the admirable Morkel bowling a fuller length and varying his pace. He and Muralitharan were the only bowlers who made an impression.

The total proved enough in the end.

The scores:

Rajasthan Royals: G. Smith c Dhoni b Raina 91, S. Asnodkar (run out) 41, K. Akmal (not out) 53, Y. Pathan c Muralitharan b Morkel 6, M. Kaif c Mukund b Morkel 10, T. Kohli (run out) 3; Extras (lb-5, w-1, nb-1): 7. Total (for five wkts. in 20 overs): 211.

Fall of wickets: 1-127, 2- 150, 3-178, 4-199, 5-211.

Super Kings bowling: Ntini 4-0-43-0, Gony 3-0-32-0, Morkel 4-0-35-2, Muralitharan 4-0-31-0, Balaji 3-0-45-0, Raina 2-0-20-1.

Super Kings: P. Patel st Akmal b Warne 54, S. Fleming (run out) 7, S. Raina c Kaif b Warne 45, A. Morkel c sub b Tanvir 71, M.S. Dhoni c Kaif b Tanvir 12, S. Badrinath c Kohli b Patel 1, M. Gony (not out) 2, A. Mukund b Tanvir 0; Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-3, nb-3): 9. Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 201.

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-84, 3-157, 4-182, 5-188, 6-201, 7-201.

Rajasthan Royals bowling: Tanvir 4-0-33-3, Pathan 3-0-31-0, Patel 4-0-55-1, P. Singh 4-0-30-0, Warne 4-0-35-2, Salunkhe 1-0-14-0.

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