Composed Raut steers Rajasthan to victory

Lee Carseldine top-scored with 39 and Abhishek Raut hit an unbeaten 36 to steer the Rajasthan Royals to a three-wicket win over the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.

"We showed a lot of character today," said Rajasthan captain Shane Warne. "There is a good spirit in our camp. There is no reason now why we can't go all the way to the semis."

Carseldine, a 33-year-old Australian left hander, hit six boundaries in 32 balls in Rajasthan's 142-7, dominating a crucial third wicket partnership that produced 51 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (12 off 17 balls). The pair steadied the innings after Rajasthan lost both its openers - Graeme Smith and Swapnil Asnoskar - for ducks in the first over.

Smith was dismissed with the second ball of the match, caught in the deep by Shoaib Ahmed off Fidel Edwards. Asnodkar followed next ball, a mix-up with Carseldine resulting in a run out.

Herschelle Gibbs then took a fine catch at point off Rudra Pratap Singh in the second over to dismiss Naman Ojha, also for a duck, to leave Rajasthan in deep trouble on 3-3.

Carseldine and Jadeja were both dismissed in the 10th over. Jadeja was first to go, lofting Venugopal Rao to Dwayne Smith at long on. Four balls later Carseldine was adjudged lbw to Rao.

The 22-year-old Indian, Raut, and Rajasthan captain Shane Warne (21 off 17 balls) then revived the chase with a 36-run sixth wicket stand.

Warne departed when he skied a fuller Pragyan Ojha delivery to Deccan captain Adam Gilchrist in the 15th over.
This brought Man-of-the-Match Yusuf Pathan to the crease, and he proceeded to score 24 runs off just 14 balls at number eight before getting a leading edge to Gibbs at point off fast bowler Rudra Singh to leave Rajasthan on 131-7.
Needing 2 runs to win off the final over, Raut and Shane Harwood (3 not out) took Rajasthan home in a nail-biting finish which saw Deccan miss two run-outs.

Gilchrist conceded that his team fielded poorly at the end.

"Both teams had a chance to win it and unfortunately we lost due to a lapse in concentration maybe," Gilchrist said.
Earlier, Tirumalsetti Suman scored 41 not out as Deccan Chargers reached 141-5.

The 25-year-old Indian hit two boundaries and a six in 30 balls, sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 59 with Rohit Sharma (38 off 32 balls).

Shane Harwood, a 35-year-old Australian fast bowler making his IPL debut for Rajasthan, took 2-25.
Gilchrist smashed five fours and two sixes in 35 balls to score 39 at the top of the order.