Rajasthan Royals team-mates Ajinkya Rahane (left) and Rahul Dravid celebrate the century stand against Delhi Daredevils during their IPL match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur yesterday.
Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals strengthened their play-off chances with a dominating nine-wicket win over season’s favourite whipping boys Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here yesterday.
Skipper Rahul Dravid (53) and Ajinkya Rahane (63 not out) gave the hosts a great start with a 108-run stand to allow Rajasthan Royals achieve the target of 155 with ease -- losing a single wicket and with 13 balls to spare.
It was another pathetic performance by the Daredevils, who suffered a batting order collapse at 78/4 and it was a valiant 40-ball 64 by Ben Rohrer that helped them get a respectable 154 for four in 20 overs
With their seventh consecutive home win, Rajasthan maintained their unbeaten record at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. They moved to the second spot with 16 points from 12 matches while Daredevils remained at the eight place with their ninth loss this season.
Unlike Daredevils, who suffered a disastrous start, Rajasthan Royals got off to a steady start as Dravid and Rahane went on scoring runs in a clinical fashion. They were never in a hurry and played some good cricketing shots and the runs flowed freely.
Dravid got to his fifty in the 13th over with an edge that also brought up the 100-run stand for the first wicket. Dravid hit seven fours in his 48-ball innings and with the team needing another 47 runs to win, the skipper departed.
Rahane, who struck five fours and a six in his 45-ball innings, and Shane Watson (28 not out) carried the team home safely with their unfinished 47-run stand in just 17 balls.
Daredevils bowlers were erratic and bowled too many loose deliveries. Morne Morek went for 40 runs from his four overs while Ajit Agarkar gave 22 for his two. Rohrer failed to translate his success with the bat into his bowling as he conceeded 12 runs from the only over he bowled.
The only one to get some respect was young pacer Siddharth Kaul, who opened with a sensational first over maiden and also picked up the only wicket of Dravid, whose pull was well taken by Ajit Agarkar at long-on.
Opting to bat first, Daredevils lost Virender Sehwag (11) early in the second over only to trigger a batting collapse and they were soon left at 3/47. Skipper Mahela Jaywardene (34) was the only notable scorer amidst the top-order collapsed again.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians moved to second place, all but ending Kolkata Knight Riders’ dreams of qualifying for the playoffs, after an emphatic 65-run win at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai yesterday.
Mumbai bowled out the Knight Riders for a meagre total of 105 in 18.2 overs after electing to bat and scoring 170 for six. They collected all two points and moved within just two points of league leaders Chennai Super Kings, who are on 18 points.
Harbhajan Singh produced his best performance this season picking up three wickets while Pragyan Ojha and Mitchell Johnson chipping in with two apiece.
Johnson again made the early inroads for Mumbai, castling Gautam Gambhir (0) in the fourth ball of the chase. IANS
