Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor’s blitzkrieg ensured that the Rajasthan thumped the Pune Warriors to a six wicket win on Saturday. It meant that Rajasthan now lead the points table with 11 points though Mumbai Indians have two games and Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super have one game with them.

Rahul Sharma’s maiden over with the wicket of Ashok Menaria when the Rajasthan Royals required 52 off 6 overs almost won it for Pune before Murali Karthik lost plot to allow Taylor to score 17 runs which included two massive sixes off the ones which were dropped short. Taylor was dropped by McCullum when he was on 31 and he ensured that the mistake was so costly that it cost them the game. Taylor smashed four boundaries and two sixes in his 35-ball unbeaten knock and shared 52 runs with Ajinkya Rahane (15 not out) for the unseparated fifth wicket to chase down the target of 144 with three balls to spare. This win meant that the Rajasthan Royals have won 15 of their 19 matches they had played at Sawai Man Singh Stadium in the IPL so far.

Earlier Pune Warriors who were looking good when Pandey (this time opening the innings) and Ryder started off. Ryder scored a quick 12 ball 18 but was getting predictable as he danced down too often only to get stumped off Botha in the third over. Uthappa was sent in at three this time and he showed why when he kept dominating an ordinary Warne. However he switched ends and Uthappa exemplified the move by attempting an ambitious reverse sweep only to get caught b Yagnik.

The Pune warriors then lost plot as they kept loosing wickets at regular intervals as it lost both its captain Yuvraj Singh, who was backing up too much and paid the price, and a settled Manish Pandey who miscued a slog to Taylor. They were eventually restricted to 144 for 7 in 20 overs.

Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson both failed to capitalize on the starts as the former got out in the fifth over to the one that swung away, off Alfonso Thomas. Rahul Dravid squandered the start he got when he went for an ambitious pull and ended up hitting it straight back to the bowler. The consistent Botha (12 off 18) didn’t have much to offer this time as he was another victim who got out playing a reverse sweep.

Tags: Cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, IPL 2011, IPL 4, Pune Warriors India, PWI, Rajasthan Royals, Ross Taylor, RR