Royals inch closer to playoffs

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Rajasthan Royals corrected a long-standing aberration in their otherwise fine IPL-6 record, chalking up only their second away win in the year’s tournament with a clinical eight-wicket result over the Kings XI Punjab at the PCA Stadium here on Thursday.
Needing 146, the Royals coasted home off the final delivery of 19th over, Ajinkya Rahane finishing unbeaten on 59 (49b, 3x4, 3x6) and Sanju Vishwanadh on 47 (33b, 5x4, 1x6).
Form batsman Rahane led the way with his third half-century in as many games as the Royals added the Kings XI scalp to that of the Delhi Daredevils they had hunted as far back as on April 6 at the Kotla.
The outcome gave the Jaipur side 18 points from 13 games, and all but ensured that they will be in the playoffs for the first time since their title run under Shane Warne in 2008. It also boosted their net run rate, a factor that could come into play in determining the final league standings in 10 days time.
Rajasthan began their chase badly, losing skipper Rahul Dravid in the second over itself, but Rahane authored stands worth 66 for the second wicket with Shane Watson (31, 25b, 3x4, 1x6) and of 76 unbeaten from 56 deliveries for the third with Vishwanadh that were enough to spark delighted smiles in the team dugout.
Earlier, Gilchrist’s return could not quite provide the spark the Kings XI so desperately needed in these series of must-win games despite his best score of the season as they were throttled into submission by a Royals attack that made good use of the unusually slow-paced pitch, managing 145/6 after being asked to bat first.
The off-colour Kings XI skipper, who took a four-game break to let David Hussey take over the reins, just could not get his timing going, but still managed to scratch and scramble his way to a season-high 42 (32b, 6x4) while helping Shaun Marsh put on a much needed 102 for the second wicket.
Had it not been for this association, Punjab may have well ended their 20 overs in dire straits as no other batsman was even able to reach double figures.
With the PCA Stadium track not providing its usual pace and carry, batsmen were forced into innovating, with largely disastrous results. While Gilly was ill at ease almost right through his stay, Marsh was solidity and purpose personified.
Having walked in on just the third ball of the day after Mandeep Singh played the ball back to lanky maverick spinner Ajit Chandila, Marsh took time to get going. Once he got his eye in though, the left-hander unfurled a pleasing array of shots that he had tailored to the needs of the pitch.
The two Australians brought up the 50 of the innings in the seventh over and kept an even tempo in the scoring by reaching the three-figure mark (78b) in the 13th. By that time, Gilchrist had improved on his 27 against Kolkata, and Marsh had reached yet another half-century in Kings XI colours.
Both incidentally fell to Kevin Cooper, Gilchrist caught and bowled by the Trinidadian in the 14th over and Marsh bowled in the 19th. In between, Cooper had seen off danger man David Hussey while Watson removed Hussey which meant that the wheels had come off the innings.
The last five overs saw just 37 runs scored with three wickets going down, a tribute to the discipline of the Rajasthan bowlers for whom Cooper shone with figures of 3/23.