Botha leads Rajasthan to 8-wicket win over Deccan Chargers

April 09, 2011 04:04 pm | Updated 11:14 pm IST - Hyderabad

Some believe it's the hoodoo hanging over this ground. The more rational will blame the decrepit display by the Deccan Chargers that would leave its most die-hard supporters deflated if not disgusted.

On home turf at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium in its first IPL season IV outing against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, the home-side capitulated meekly, surrendering by eight wickets and with seven balls to be bowled.

Chasing a target of 138, Royals registered 141 for two, thanks largely to Johan Botha's flawless 67, as he waded into the Hyderabad side's attack with the gusto of a gourmet at a feast. The South African smote a six and eight boundaries in a 47-ball stay that supplemented Siddharth Trivedi's Man-of-the-Match winning three for 15 haul earlier.

In every aspect of the contest that the hosts showed up shoddy, the Royals would have given them a lesson or two, the lone point of resemblance being the sound starts both sides got off to. If the Chargers were woefully short on steady partnerships, the Royals' campaign thrived on them.

Good start

IPL-III purple cap winner Pragyan Ojha opened the bowling for the home side, a gamble that didn't quite pay off. For soon enough, the visitors were well on their way.

Amit Paunikar wasn't overawed by Dale Steyn, square driving and pulling the speedster to the boundary in the same over.

After the tearaway uprooted Rahul Dravid's off-stump, Johan Botha seemed severe on his compatriot too. The bludgeoning of the Chargers continued thereafter until their abject submission.

Invited to bat, Deccan Chargers seemed well-launched, posting 40 in under five overs.

Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Ishank Jaggi were in rampaging form, pummelling the pacemen around the ground.

That display of fireworks was sweet, but short-lived as the procession to the pavilion began soon after.

So swiftly did domination of the game change hands that before long, the host was hobbling at 77 for five, most of the top order holing out catches to the long-on region.

Dhawan had smashed Amit Singh over the mid-wicket ropes but the latter had the last laugh, when the former's skier sailed into Abhishek Raut's palms.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara was hardly inspiring, snicking Siddharth Trivedi into the hands of his counterpart, Amit Paunikar for no score.

Bharat Chipli was unfortunate to play onto his stumps. J.P. Duminy greeted Shane Warne with a six but perished presently, a victim of the leg-spin legend's guile.

The duo of Daniel Christian and D.B. Ravi Teja brought back a semblance of stability, the former quick on the draw when it came to calling the shots with the bowlers.

That proved deceptive too when the muscular Aussie tried to dispatch a Trivedi steepler which was picked up by substitute Ajinkya Rahane at long-on. Hyderabad's Ranji captain Ravi Teja held charge briefly, even helping himself to a six.

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