Warne, Trivedi Leads Rajasthan to Emphatic Win

Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals took a decisive step towards resurrecting their IPL campaign with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday.

Coming into the game after three losses from last four matches, skipper Shane Warne, who put Tuskers in after winning the toss, starred with the ball as the visitors were dismissed for just 109.

The 41-year-old combined well with Johan Botha, who replaced Shaun Tait after recovering from a finger injury, to finish with 3-16 from his four overs. Paceman Siddharth Trivedi made short work of the middle-order with 3-19.

The total was never going to prove a challenging one and Royals just needed 14.1 overs to overhaul the target. Shane Watson 49 (40b, 4x4, 2x6) and Rahul Dravid 44 (37b, 4x4, 1x6) led the way with 71-run opening stand.

Dravid and Watson were dismissed eventually, but Botha, along with Ross Taylor, completed the chase successfully. None of the bowlers could make an impression as top-order tore into their attack. Ravindra Jadeja was the lone wicket-taker for Tuskers.

Royals are now second on the points table, behind Mumbai Indians, while the loss pushed Tuskers down to fifth from third spot.

Earlier, at one stage 88 for 3 after 15 overs, though, they decided they needed to push for more runs, especially considering it was the expected dew that had made Rajasthan field first on this pitch. Jadeja came down to Warne, who bowled the straighter one and got a thick edge along the ground. Two balls later Jadeja tried the slog sweep, but this one bounced at him, taking the top edge. Back-pedalling, Warne completed the catch around mid-on. Parthiv lost his head next ball, trying the reverse-sweep, and was stumped off a slider.

Rajasthan Royals will now take on Mumbai Indians on Friday.

Brief scores
Kochi Tuskers Kerala 109 (Patel 32, Warne 3-16, Trivedi 3-19)
Rajasthan Royals 111 for 2 (Watson 49, Dravid 44)
Results Rajasthan Royals won by eight wickets
MOM Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)
Points Rajasthan Royals 2, Kochi Tuskers Kerala 0