Another loss for Kolkata team
In the 18th match of the ongoing DLF Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 45 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur today.
This was the third consecutive loss for the Kolkata team after it failed to chase down a target of 197 runs set by the Rajasthan Royals. The Knight Riders team was all out for 151 runs in 19.1 overs.
Skipper Sourav Ganguly was the top run-getter for his team as he scored 51 followed by David Hussey who scored 42 runs off 30 balls.
The trio of Shane Watson, Sohail Tanvir and Siddharth Trivedi was effective in halting the opposition’s innings as each of them claimed two wickets a-piece.
Three Kolkata batsmen returned to the pavilion due to some poor running between the wickets which proved harmful for the visitors.
In today’s tie, Salman Butt replaced New Zealander Brendon McCullum as an opener but did not get any time to settle down as he was claimed by fellow Pakistani Tanvir in the second over at a score of just seven runs.
Jaipur team’s skipper Shane Warne clinched the wicket of Ajit Agarkar who played at number three today. Agarkar’s short stint of 20 runs included two sixes and a boundary.
Ganguly kept on batting for a while but as more wickets went down the soaring required run rate taxed the southpaw. Brad Hodge, who replaced Ricky Ponting, was run out too after scoring a single run.
After Ganguly’s departure, the pressure was on David Hussey to accelerate the innings from a score of 119 but despite his good show, no apt partnership came to his team’s rescue and the batting line-up faltered completely at 151.
For Rajasthan Royals, Swapnil Asnodkar and Yusuf Pathan scored fifties steering the score to 196 for seven. Asnodkar’s 60 off 34 balls included ten boundaries and one six whereas Pathan scored 55 off 33 balls with the help of six boundaries and two sixes.
Young pace sensation Ishant Sharma proved fatal for Graeme Smith as he bowled out the Proteas captain in the second over at two. Agarkar claimed Mohammed Kaif’s wicket whereas Shane Watson was trapped leg before wicket by Umar Gul.
The knocks of Asnodkar and Yusuf salvaged the day for the Jaipur team. Also, Ravinder Jadeja's speedy 33 off 19 balls proved fruitful for the Royals.
Earlier, Shane Warne had won the toss and elected to bat.
The Rajasthan Royals team has got two more points with the victory gaining them the top position in the standings alongside the Chennai team.