Finally Pune Win After 11 Defeat

Pune: Pune Warriors snapped their losing streak with a thumping seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Thursday.

Australian Aaron Finch cracked a belligerent 64 and Robin Uthappa smashed a quick-silver 32 to help the Warriors get over their top-order woes and chase down Royals' competitive total of 145/5 comfortably.

It was Pune's first win in 12 games, their previous success coming against Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla last April. For the Royals, it was their first defeat in three games.

Uthappa and Finch, coming in for the injured Marlon Samuels, provided the rollicking start that the Warriors had been missing.

Finch, Australia's domestic one-day player of the year, smashed Sreesanth and debutant left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh over the ropes off successive overs.

Uthappa then plundered 20 runs from the Kerala seamer's second over, which comprised a four off a no-ball and a six from free hit. The fifty came from 23 balls. By the time Uthappa was dismissed, the partnership had swelled to 58 in less than five overs.

With the equation reduced to less than run-a-ball, Finch switched to cruise mode. When Faulkner finally saw his back in the 17th over, Finch - with six fours and three sixes during his 53-ball knock - had put the result beyond doubt.

Earlier, Rahul Dravid produced another age-defying knock, but the Royals couldn't capitalize on the solid start and their total didn't prove enough.

Earlier,  Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bat.

Rajasthan replaced injured Shane Watson, Shaun Tait and Rahul Shukla with James Faulkner, Harmeet Singh and Kushal Perera.

On the other hand Pune will have the service of Yuvraj Singh and Aaron Finch who replaced Marlon Samuels and Manish Pandey respectively.

While Rajasthan Royals are upbeat with victories in both their matches while Pune Warriors are desperate for their maiden win.

Teams:

Pune Warriors: Robin Uthappa (wk), Aaron Finch, Yuvraj Singh, Tirumalsetti Suman, Ross Taylor, Abhishek Nayar, Angelo Mathews (captain), Mitchell Marsh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Ashok Dinda

Rajasthan Royals: Ajinkya Rahane, Kushal Janith Perera, Rahul Dravid (captain), Brad Hodge, James Faulkner, Stuart Binny, Dishant Yagnik (wk), Kevon Cooper, Siddharth Trivedi, S Sreesanth, Harmeet Singh

Brief scores
Rajasthan Royals 145 for 5 (Dravid 54, Rahul Sharma 2-16)
Pune Warriors 148 for 3 (Finch 64, Faulkner 2-17)
Result Pune Warriors won by seven wickets
Points Pune Warriors 2, Rajasthan Royals 0
MOM Aaron Finch (Pune Warriors)