Published: Apr 29, 2013, 07:25 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 29, 2013, 07:25 PM (IST)
Shane Watson scored 41 off 31 deliveries as Rajasthan Royals won by four wickets against the Royal Challengers Bangalore © IANS
By Prakash Govindasreenivasan
Jaipur: Apr 29, 2013
A magnificant knock of 63 from 41 balls by the 18-year-old Sanju Samson and some powerful hitting from Shane Watson and Brad Hodge towards the end of the innings inspired Rajasthan Royals to a four-wicket over the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Doing so, Rajasthan maintained their unbeaten form at home and sit pretty at third spot in the points table.
The in-form Watson was at the helm of affairs yet again as he played another pivotal role in Rajasthan’s victory. Watson showed traces of his form from the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2012 as he guided his side to yet another win.
But the day belonged to young Samson, who took the attack to the Bangalore bowlers with great panache. Such was his impact that Watson was left to play the role of a second fiddle in their 68-run partnership for the third wicket.
Chasing 172, the home side lost Ajinkya Rahane in the third over when a leading edge flew straight to RP Singh at fine-leg off Ravi Rampaul. Rajasthan skipper Rahul Dravid, who has had a few decent performances in the season so far, was also sent back early.
Samson, who was sent ahead of Watson at No 3, justified the experiment. The gamble to promote the youngster from Kerala up the order paid off as he exuded great confidence and led the charge in a steep chase.
In his knock of 63, Samson played a few classy shots through cover and over midwicket. He carressed one through covers to bring up his half-century in the 13th over. Samson’s knock was a slideshow of some of the best cricketing strokes, with the first cross-batted shot from his blade leading to his wicket.
The Bangalore bowlers leaked a lot of runs in the middle and just couldn’t pick enough wickets to try and force a shift in momentum.
Watson (41) was dismissed in the 18th over and Bangalore tried to pull off a miracle with two more wickets in the final over. The home side needed three runs off the last two deliveries when Stuart Binny read a slower delivery from Vinay Kumar and pulled it over mid-wicket to cross the line with one ball to spare.
Read first-innings report here.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bangalore 171 for 6 in 20 overs (Chris Gayle 34, Virat Kohli 32; Shane Watson 3 for 22) lost to Rajasthan Royals 173 for 6 in 19.5 overs (Sanju Samson 63, Shane Watson 41; Ravi Rampaul 2 for 28) by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: Sanju Samson
