A calm and cool Dhawal Kulkarni showed a safe pair of hands to bring an end to Andre Russell’s bludgeoning innings and Rajasthan Royals saw the crucial league match against Kolkata Knight Riders tilt in its favour on a hot and humid evening at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.
Kulkarni later snapped up Yusuf Pathan at the same position — long-off — to add to the Knight Riders’ misery.
Russell and Yusuf had added 55 off 31 balls for the fourth wicket.
The ‘home’ side, which appeared to be wilting under the assault, held its nerve and the catches that came its way.
Shakib Al Hasan and Umesh Yadav raised a flicker of hope, smashing 20 off the penultimate over bowled by James Faulkner.
However, Morris, who took four wickets, sent back the Bangladesh all-rounder as KKR fell short by nine runs, chasing a target of 200.
The Royals, who qualified for the play-offs, also pushed Knight Riders closer to elimination.
It was a memorable day at the CCI, but the choice of two players confounded the discerning — Azhar Mahmood for Sunil Narine in the KKR side and left-arm seamer Brainder Sran in the Royals team.
Shane Watson’s century (104 not out, 59b, 9x4, 5x6) propelled the Royals to 199 for six in 20 overs. The determined Australian, playing second fiddle to Ajinkya Rahane until the latter fell while attempting a suicidal second run, took control of the proceedings and anchored the Royals innings after it elected to bat.
Royals made 66 in the PowerPlay overs as the Australian all-rounder cover-drove and whipped Mahmood for two boundaries, square-drove Yadav and followed it with a straight hit.
He employed the sweep against left-arm spinner Shakib and also lofted him over long-off.
At the other end, Rahane, too, played some delectable shots as seven fours and two sixes were struck in the first six overs.
Russell caused a middle-order slump, claiming the wickets of Smith, Sanju Samson and James Faulkner.
However, Watson loomed large at the other end, cutting loose with some fierce shots. It was Watson’s second century in 77 IPL innings, the earlier one (101) coming against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai in April 2013. Royals had lost that match, but this one proved different.
