Sun, 01 Apr 2011 - IP Rajasthan vs IP Pune, IPL 2011, 38th Match - Bulletin

Taylor sets up thrilling Rajasthan win

Kiwi star batsman Ross Taylor finally scored a substantial knock this season to take his side to a thrilling six wicket victory over Pune. Taylor’s late batting blitz 35-ball 47 was helped by Pune fielders who dropped him once and misfiled at crucial junctures to squander a comfortable position to the home team. Poor fielding and catching made Rahul Sharma’s terrific spell of leg spin to go in a waste as young took three important wickets to have Rajasthan on mat for major part of their run chase.

In pursuit of 144 that always looked competitive total on a turning track at Jaipur, home team openers Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson started the chase in an aggressive fashion with former looking in nice touch. However, Alfonso Thomas gave Pune their first joy when he had Watson caught behind off a beautiful out-swinger and Sharma got into act in eight over forcing Dravid to hit one back in the air to him. Dravid was dropped twice during his 20-ball knock but couldn’t make it big.

Sharma then removed Botha and give Pune upper hand in the game. A lull during the batting effort was broken by talented Ashok Menaria hitting a six each in 13th and 14th over. Sharma again came to Pune rescue removing Menaria thanks to a terrific catch in the deep by Thomas.

With top batsmen in the hut and required run rate creeping all the time, Rajasthan’s fortuned rested on Taylor’s shoulders and Kiwi didn’t disappoint. And, 16th over proved to be productive with Taylor looting 17 runs off hapless Murali Karthik bringing run rate to the manageable equation.

Thomas bowled a good 17th over and had Taylor dropped as well and it was Ajinkya Rahane who chipped in with a crucial boundary in next over. Rajasthan closed in when Taylor hit a six off Jerome Taylor and last over proved to be as formality with Rahane hitting second for a four.

Pune wilted under Taylor assault giving away easy runs in the out-filed and Nathan Mcullum dropping the catch proving to be a turning point.

Contrary to their past performances in which they lost too many wickets in first six overs, Pune started their batting effort well. More importantly they got their batting order right promoted Manish Pandey to open the innings and Robin Uthappa to number three. The duo obliged to take visitors to 70 inside nine runs and their second wicket partnership was instrumental in taking Pune to 143.

On a slow turning track, Shane decided to open the bowling with the spinners on both end and Jesse Ryder wasted no time racing to a pretty 12- ball 18. Off-spinner though had a last laugh having burly left hander stumped out and in came Uthappa to have all Karnataka partnership at the crease.

Uthappa (35 off 21) was the aggressor of the two taking attack to the Rajasthan camp through his typical improvised strokes. His mine-battle with Shane Warne was one of the highlights of the match. Warne brought himself to bowl sixth over and Uthappa was ready for the contest. First ball was reverse swept for four, second one, Warne zipped in a slider to hit Uthhapa’s pads but umpire Shavir Tarapore turned the appeal down, third and fourth ball went for boundaries and for next two deliveries Warne magic was evident. He outfoxed batsmen to rap him on the pads on both the occasions and Shavir didn’t agree with Warne’s vociferous appeals with latter muttering to show his frustration. Warne’s next over from where Simon Taufel was umpiring had drama with Uthappa deciding to dominate spin wizard reverse sweeping him first fall for four but Warne showed who the real boss was next ball forcing an error off batsmen to have caught by the wicketkeeper.

Uthappa dismissal slowed run rate down and triggered a mini-collapse in the middle with skipper Yuvraj Singh run-out in a freakish manner when left hander was backing too far at non-striker’s end as bowler deflected a Manish drive to stumps. Manish slow innings of 30 runs ended in same over (13th) to throw a good start away.

Pune were forced to go into rebuilding mode with no boundary scored off 38 deliveries. Experienced Mithun Manhas (24 off 19) and Nathan McCullum did hit some boundaries in the last two overs to take visitors to a competitive total.