Warne spins web around Deccan

Warne spins web around Deccan Chargers to lead the Rajasthan Royals to a dramatic two-run victory

Match Report: Match-36: Deccan Chargers vs Rajasthan Royals, Vidarbha Cricket Asscociation Stadium, Nagpur, 5th April 2010.

Nagpur, April 5: Legendary leg spinner Shane Warne (4/21) spun a web around the Deccan Chargers to lead his team the Rajasthan Royals to a stunning and dramatic two-run victory in the final over in Match 36 at the IPL 2010 in Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, here on Monday night.

Deccan Chargers, who were in driver’s seat, messed up the chase to be all out for 157 in 19.5 overs to slump to their sixth defeat. But it was Warne’s day who changed the script with a magical spell to give Rajasthan Royals to their fifth win from ten matches. The win helped the Rajasthan Royals leap frog into fourth place on the leader board with 10 points. Rohit Sharma, who played a controlled innnings, was last man out for a fabulous 43-ball 73 (8x4, 2x6) as the Rajasthan Royals successful defended their modest score of 159. The last over hero being the wily Sidharth Trivedi.

Rajasthan Royals debutant pace bowler Aditya Dole made a great start to his IPL career by scalping the wickets of openers VVS Laxman (6) and left-hander Gilchrist (34). Laxman pulled the short ball to be caught at square leg. Gilchrist slammed three fours and three sixes off 17 balls before he too went the Laxman way.

Andrew Symonds disappointed again. He struggled for 20 balls before he top edged Siddharth Trivedi’s short ball to be caught at extra cover for 15. Leg spinner Warne revived hopes for Rajasthan Royals as he dismissed left-hander Anirudh Singh (9) and West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith (4) in successive overs. The cool Rohit Sharma though batted bravely to complete 1,000 runs in IPL and his half-century in the match (33 balls). The magical Warne made further inroads into the Deccan Chargers camp by sending back Azhar Bilakhia and Harris to finish with his career-best Twenty20 figures of 4-0-21-4.

RP Singh gave a dream start to Deccan Chargers, as the left-arm pace bowler, who was back in the team, struck with the first delivery. Rajasthan Royals left-hander Michael Lumb (15) pulled it straight into Ryan Harris’ hands at deep mid-wicket. Four balls later, RP Singh sent back the dangerous Naman Ojha (1), who was again caught by Harris at extra cover. Singh had two wickets in his first over.

Australian opener Shane Watson (58; 36b, 3x4, 3x6) and left-hander Faiz Fazal (36 off 29 balls; 4x4, 1x6) steadied the Rajasthan Royals boat with a 77-run third wicket stand in 8.3 overs. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha captured his 13th wicket of the tournament by removing Fazal, who holed it out to deep mid-wicket.

Deccan Chargers had done their homework. Skipper Adam Gilchrist brought in fast bowler Harris on arrival of Yusuf Pathan and the move clicked. Harris dug in short and Pathan (5) glided the ball to backward point where VVS Laxman made no mistake with the catch. Rajasthan Royals were 103/4 in 12.4 overs. Watson continued his rich form with the bat. He reached his 50 (29 balls, 2x4, 3x6) with a six off Ojha, which flew dangerously past Andrew Symonds at long-off. Harmeet Singh dismissed Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and AS Raut in 16th over to reduce Rajasthan Royals to 130/6. Coming back for his second spell, RP Singh bagged his third wicket by having the big-hitting Watson caught at deep square-leg and Rajasthan Royals lost their way to slip to 159 in 20 overs.

Deccan Chargers made some important changes. Herschelle Gibbs was dropped to make way for the West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Smith. T Suman also made his way for Azhar Bilakhia while left-arm seamer RP Singh made a comeback into the playing XI. Rajasthan Royals brought in Morne Morkel and Siddharth Trivedi.