Pune Warriors batting first after winning the toss only managed 125 for 6 from their 20 overs at Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium. The Royals reached their target of 126 losing just 3 wickets and with 22 balls to spare.

Rajasthan Royals win against Pune Warriors makes points table interesting

Shane Watson smashed an unbeaten 90 from 51 balls, the knock included four sixes and 10 fours.

Pune Warriors put up a dull batting show to end up with a weak total of 125 for 6 against Rajasthan Royals. There was never any momentum in the Pune Warriors’ innings and the top score came from Anustup Majumdar who made 30 from 20 balls with a four and 2 sixes.Shaun Tait was very difficult to score off for Pune Warriors. The express fast bowler conceded only 13 runs in his 4 overs while taking three wickets.

Shaun Tait set it up and Shane Watson finished the job in clinical fashion. Rajasthan Royals delivered a seven-wicket drubbing to a low on morale Pune Warriors and moved to fourth in the points table. Warriors looking to reverse a five-match losing streak, struggled against restrictive Royals bowling to post 125, but lacked the firepower to cause a scare. After an impressive start to the tournament, they limped out of the race for the playoffs.

Royals conceded just five fours – the least in a completed innings this season – and were spearheaded by Tait, who took 3 for 13. Unlike Royals, who duly opened with the aggressive Watson, Warriors saved their power hitters for the middle order. Sourav Ganguly promoted himself to open after, curiously, coming in at No.7 against Kolkata Knight Riders. It was a questionable move having Ganguly and Michael Clarke right at the top, given that they aren’t the quickest scorers in the line-up. What followed was a sluggish opening passage, in which the Powerplay overs had 14 dots.

The loss was Pune’s eighth in 12 matches and thus ended any theoritical chance whatsoever of making it to the knock-out stages. Royals now have 12 points and the convincing win have got them upto fourth place with a healthy net run rate of +0.265. Australian all-rounder Shane Watson hit a blistering unbeaten 90 as Rajasthan Royals thrashed Pune Warriors by seven wickets in a thoroughly one-sided IPL contest to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stage alive. With this win, RR has made the points table interesting with possibly five teams fighting for third and fourth position. This is just the start of round robin, now everyday till playoffs, table will change.

Tags: Cricket, IPL, Points Table, Pune Warriors, PWI, Rajasthan Royals, RR, Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium