The winner of IPL season first, Rajasthan Royals, has performed as they want to, the match played against Kings XI Punjab will surely boost the hopes of Rajasthan Royals to keep their hopes alive in the Indian Premier League [IPL 2012].

Rajasthan Royals beat Kings XI Punjab by 43 runs in the DLF IPL 2012 match Played at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh 5 May 2012 – day/night (20-over match).

The Kings XI Punjab team still played the match without their regular skipper Adam Gilchrist.

Earlier, RR Skipper Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat first, but lost early wicket of Rahane on just 7 runs on the board. But, coming to bat at number three, Australian all-rounder Shane Watson sparked the Mohali stadium with his performance.

Shane Watson played superb 36 runs knock from just 17 balls with 4 fours and two sixes. Skipper Rahul Dravid also played 46 runs knock with eight fours. Rajasthan made 177 runs in their limited 20 overs of play.

Batting second, Kings XI Punjab never looked in control as they lost wickets at regular interval, Mandeep Singh was the first to go, Saini did not last long at the center.

Marsh and Hussy tried to control but Hussy lost his wicket, Azar Mahmood did some fire work with his bat, but that was not good enough for his team. Azar Mahmood made 24 runs from run a ball with 2 fours and one six.

Shane Watson played the lead role to destroy KXIP, he played all-round performance in the 48th match IPL 2012 match. He took 2 wickets giving away 22 runs in 4 overs.

He was adjusted as the Man-Of-The-Match.

Rahul Dravid said, “Tait added some spice to our attack, created some element of doubt in the batsmen. Conditions made us go for the five changes, good performance to get to 177. We have lost a couple of close games, but that is the nature of the competition, we need to play well.”

David Hussey said, “It was a par score, but we played badly with both, the bat and the ball. Playing better away from home, we did not turn up tonight, need to regroup quickly and get to Hyderabad.”

MOM Shane Watson said, “The wicket was something similar to what we get at home, pace and bounce helped me a lot and I enjoyed bowling here. Owe a lot to IPL, love coming to IPL, different characters Warne and Rahul, Rahul’s a bit understated in every aspect of life.”

Scoreboard

Rajasthan Royals: R. Dravid c Awana b Harris 46 (39b, 8×4), A. Rahane c Saini b Harris 5 (6b, 1×4), S. Watson c Harris b Chawla 36 (17b, 4×4, 2×6), A. Menaria c Gurkeerat b Chawla 34 (27b, 1×4, 2×6), B. Hodge c Marsh b Harris 36 (23b, 2×4, 2×6), J. Botha (not out) 14 (8b, 2×4), S. Binny c Marsh b Harris 0 (1b); Extras (lb-2, nb-1, w-3): 6; Total (for six wkts. in 20 overs): 177.

Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Rahane), 2-76 (Watson), 3-117 (Dravid), 4-133 (Menaria), 5-176 (Hodge), 6-177 (Binny).

Kings XI Punjab bowling: Praveen 4-0-32-0, Harris 4-0-34-4, Awana 4-0-34-0, Mahmood 4-0-37-0, Chawla 4-0-38-2.

Kings XI Punjab: S. Marsh b Botha 34 (27b, 5×4, 1×6), Mandeep c Trivedi b Watson 7 (6b, 1×6), N. Saini c & b Tait 2 (9b), D. Hussey c Hodge b Trivedi 8 (6b, 2×4), A. Mahmood b Binny 24 (24b, 2×4, 1×6), Gurkeerat c & b Botha 23 (24b, 2×4), A. Nayar (not out) 9 (8b), P. Chawla b Watson 5 (4b, 1×4), R. Harris c Botha b Tait 3 (5b), Praveen (not out) 7 (8b, 1×4); Extras (lb-5, nb-1, w-6): 12; Total (for eight wkts. in 20 overs): 134.

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Mandeep), 2-29 (Saini), 3-55 (Hussey), 4-59 (Marsh), 5-95 (Mahmood), 6-112 (Gurkeerat), 7-120 (Chawla), 8-123 (Harris).

Rajasthan Royals bowling: Ankeet 3-0-32-0, Watson 4-1-22-2, Tait 4-0-18-2, Botha 4-0-21-2, Trivedi 4-0-28-1, Binny 1-0-8-1.