Rajasthan Royals’ decision to take the load off Shane Watson’s shoulders by handing over the leadership to one-drop batsman Steve Smith paid dividends.
The Australian all-rounder was thus allowed to put his skills to right use, pulling the side through to the IPL play-offs. He turned match-winner at the Brabourne Stadium in a key league game against Kolkata Knight Riders, leaving the defending champion playing catch-up till the end.
“Batting wise I am relieved. I have not scored as many runs as I wanted to, got decent sort of starts before fading away. I spent a couple of training sessions, during the break days, to try and get my batting to where I can strike the ball more cleanly.”
KKR bowlers and fielders were helpless in the face of a controlled, ruthless assault from the Aussie, warming up in Ajinkya Rahane’s company in a 80-run stand for the first wicket and taking charge from then on till the overs ran out. Watson raced to half century in 50 balls, struck nine fours and five sixes. He returned to frustrate dangerous Yusuf Pathan in the 16th over making him heave to Dhaval Kulkarni’s safe hands on the fence, finishing with 4-0-38-2 in a nine-run victory.
The Aussie said: “I had spent the last couple of days bowling yorkers. Under pressure I executed them pretty well. I have been working really hard on my bowling, trying to be effective in T20. The injury at the start of IPL meant I could not do much skill work to execute my yorkers and change of pace as well.”
Pathan was left gritting his teeth in frustration in a Watson over with the yorkers making the batsmen reach for the ball. Piyush Chawla was foxed by change of pace and spooned a catch to Stuart Binny.
Watson did not forget to mention his team-mates’ contributions, hitters down the order who rotated the strike in between striking few blows, the wickets taken by Chris Morris, the catch taken by Rahane to dismiss Azhar Mahmood (when KKR’s chase was in full swing at 156 for seven).
“There were a couple of very important moments for us as well. Morris getting (Andre) Russell out, Rahane's catch to get rid off Mahmood as well. He is very skillful and we were very lucky to get him out in the end.”
RR won five games in succession at the start, went into a nosedive and pulled out just in time against defending champion KKR to qualify for the play-offs. Watson, the match-winner is relieved.
“We were a bit up and down after first five games. It was a battle to get back to winning ways. This was a knock-out game and the win gives us a chance to make the final. We can just go out and play with a lot of freedom.”
In nine games played so far this time in IPL, the Aussie allrounder scored 337 runs and grabbed six wickets.
He opened the batting and is ready to make an impact with the ball for RR.
Watson’s 104 not out was his second IPL ton, after 101 in 2013. Fellow opener Rahane is the other team-mate to carry his bat through, 91 not out in IPL 2015.
