Sun, 24 Apr 2011 - IP Rajasthan vs IP Kochi, IPL 2011, 28th Match - Bulletin

Rajasthan comeback with stunning win

After bowled displayed a terrific performance bundling out Kochi for meager 109, Rajasthan batsmen made a short work of the low total to script a lop-sided eight wicket comeback win at home ground.

Most of the work was done by openers with Shane Watson missing a half century by a run and getting out with only five runs needed for the win. Watson and his partner Rahul Dravid started the chase in a bright mode with stylish Dravid proving out to be an aggressive partner getting away with trademark crisp strokes.

Kochi looked no competition in the field as Rajasthan completed the run chase convincingly with nearly six overs left. The win would add to confidence of the home team who hadn’t had victory in last of their four games.

Dravid who run out but not before hitting a classy 37-ball 44 including four boundaries and a six and ending any chances of Kochi comeback by combing with Watson to put aggressive 71 runs for the first wicket.

Watson was finally among the runs this season cracking an attacking 49 off 40 deliveries hitting four boundaries and two sixes which should make Rajasthan more dangerous in upcoming matches.

Earlier, Kochi folded to a paltry 109 as Rajasthan bowled in good areas with their captain, Shane Warne leading the way with figures of 3 for 19 runs. The spin wizard put in one of his best bowling performances this year while he troubled the Kochi batsmen with his trademark dip and spin.

Although ‘Orange Shirts’ started nicely after being put in by Warne, the run-out of Laxman in the fourth over started the collapse and wickets started to fall one after another. Only Parthiv Patel and Ravindra Jadega with scores of 32 and 22 respectively tried to resist before becoming victims of Warne’s magic. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who opened with Laxman in absence of dashing Brendon McCullum missing the game due to pre-match injury, was unlucky as ball ricocheted off his thigh pad to hit his leg stump.

Warne added to Kochi’s miseries by having his countryman Brad Hodge clean bowled off a slider when batsman tried to force one off backfoot.

It was a case both Rajasthan bowling well and Kochi batsmen playing some reckless shots to display worst batting display in the IPL this season. Barring 48-run partnership for fifth wicket between Patel and Jadeja, there was complete domination of ball over bat with last seven wickets combusting for only 19 runs. The collapse was triggered in 16th over bowled by Warne as he had both left handers on successive deliveries virtually ending the Kochi’s challenge.Siddharth Trivedi also bowled his heart out and cleaned up the tail taking wicket Raiphi Gomez, Thissara Perrera and Vinay Kumar with Kochi scoring only nine runs in that fatal period.

Rajasthan bowlers were backed up by a determined fielding unit as Rajasthan were brilliant in field taking some sharp catches and saving some important runs to keep pressure on Kochi right throughout the innings.