Rajasthan posts easy win! Put into bat, Delhi started well by scoring 12 runs with Gambhir scoring 11 of that including two fours. Mascarenhas playing his first match, opened the bowling attack for Rajasthan.
Sehwag couldn't find his rhythm and Gambhir, managed to get few fours. At the end of 5 overs, Delhi were 39 for no loss with Sehwag on 16 and Gambhir on 21.
Sehwag got out in the 6th over, last ball of power play caught at point by Kaif off Watson for 17 off 20 balls. Dhawan did not use the opportunity and got out in the next over last ball. He sacrificed his wicket going for a run that is not needed. Bowler Patel picks the ball and easily run out him.
Gambhir got out in the 10th over, bowled by a slower one. Giving himself room trying to hit Trivedi over over, misses the line and loses his stump. He was out for 31 off 23 balls with 4 fours.
End of 13 overs, Delhi Daredevils were 89 for 3. Dinesh Karthik and de Villiers tried to build the innings, but de Villiers was caught by Warne off Mascarenhas for 20. He struck again in the same over sending Karthik for 13, caught behind.
A Mishra was bowled by Trivedi for 4 in the 16th over. At the end of 17 overs, Delhi were 109 for 6.
Dilshan opened up the scoring by hitting a four and a six off Trivedi in the 18th over. But it was Maharoof, who gave a chance to Delhi to get to some decent runs in teh scoreboard.
Warne bowling the 19th over, would have expected to bundle the innings by taking the remaining wickets. Sure that he was shocked and surprised after his over. He was hit for four sixes in that over by Maharoof.
First ball was a single by Dilshan and Maharoof got the strike. A one-handed six over long-ff. The ball was pitched short, outside side the off stump, Maharoof came few steps forward and hit it and as a follow through released the right hand. The ball cleared the fence.
Third ball was hit over long on and Kaif runs towards his right and takes a brilliant catch, but couldn't balance and slides in the ground on the boundary rope. Brilliant catch, but misses the balance, SIX.
Fourth ball was two runs, scoops over backward point.
Fifth ball was a full toss, over mid wicket for a huge six.
Last ball was connected as a full toss and hit it over midwicket for another huge six. Four sixes and 27 runs in that over to take Delhi to 149 for 6.
Maharoof hit a four in the 2nd ball of the last over and got out caught by Patel at deep cover. He scored a quick fire 39 off 16 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes.
Last over added 7 to the total and Delhi ended their innings at 156 for 7. Without that 27 runs in the last over, sure that Delhi would have ended between 135 and 145.
Watson picked 2 wickets giving away 21 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
McGrath started the bowling for Delhi, as usual. Smith was dropped on 0, the first ball he faced by Mishra at deep square leg. It was a full length delivery pitched on the pads, Smith chips it upwards toward square leg and Mishra spilled a sitter.
End of 3 overs, Rajasthan were 11 for no loss, going slow. Fourth over gave break through for Delhi. Brilliantly fielding by de Villers at mid off sent dangerous batsman Yousuf Pathan back to pavilion. Pathan out for 8 off 13 balls.
The poor calling and understanding between Smith and Kaif helped Delhi to send Kaif run out for 1. It was the call of Smith after he pulled the ball to midwicket. He started for the run, but Kaif was looking at Sehwag who was fielding. Smith was half-way through and the ball was sent to wicket keeper Karthik and Kaif had to sacrifice his wicket.
End of 6 overs, Rajasthan Royals were going very slow at 21 for 2. It was Watson, who initiated the attack with a six of Mahesh over square leg and a four in the last ball. The score was 33 for 2, adding 11 runs in that over.
The eight over added 10 to the total and Rajasthan were improving in the run rate--43 for 2 in 8 overs. The 9th over was a good one for Rajasthan again.
Mahesh sent two continous no balls to give free hit to Watson, but he didn't utilize it properly. He hit him for a six in the first ball putting pressure on him. The next ball was a no ball and sent to four. Free hit was missed and two byes were run. Still free hit and two runs were scored. Last ball was once again a four at mid wicket. This over added 22 to the total and Sehwag was losing his grip in the match. End of over 9, Rajasthan were 65 for 2.
The 10th over bowled by Sangwan also costly. He gave 15 runs including a four by Smith and later a six by Watson. Rajasthan were 80 for 2 in 10 overs. The last 5 overs added 59 runs. 77 required of 60 balls.
11th over provided break through when Smith try to slog it over mid wicket, but the ball took the edge and went high in the air. Mahesh ran from mid on and took the catch just few inches away from the ground. Probably, catch of the tournament.
Smith was out for 24 off 27 balls with 3 fours. Jadeja was bowled by Mishra for 6. The two crucial wickets helped Delhi to come back to the game just for few minutes. The 12th and 13th over were tight overs and added just 7 to the total.
Watson back to business again. He hit a four and a six off Mishra. End of 15 overs, Rajasthan, eyeing the victory were 120 for 4, requiring 37 from 31 balls.
Masceranhas hit a six off Sehwag and got out in the next ball. Playing across for a slog over mid wicket, misses the line and ball hits the stump. Shane Warne hit a four of the first ball he faced and then the last ball was a six by Watson to finish the over with 138 for 5. 19 required off 24 balls.
McGrath was brought back, but not successful in taking the wicket. He gave away 6 runs. 13 needed from 18 balls. 6 runs were scored in the 18 over.
7 from 12 balls. Maharoof bowled Warne off the first ball and in the next ball, Watson was run out. Patel digs the yorker and starts for a run, but sent back by Watson. The ball misses the stump and they start for a run on the over throw. But, the ball was picked and thrown at the keepers and the bails were removed. The leg umpire did not give out, but Sehwag insisted that he refer the third umpire. The TV replay showed him out and Watson was not happy. It is against the rules to force the umpire to ask for third umpire. It is like going against the umpires decision and not respecting it. We have to wait and see what happens to Sehwag for this decision.
The umpire was suspended for a match when the umpire referred the third umpire after Ganguly forced him to do so on susupicion of not taking a clean catch by Smith.
No runs were scored in the next two balls, 5th ball was a single and last ball went for a boundary by Patel. it was a good shot dividing cover and mid off.
Last over, 2 runs to win. Mahesh to Rawat, low full toss on the off stump, took the outside edge and runs towards third man boundary. Though Karthik stretched himself to stop it, he could not stop the winning runs.
Rajasthan stays top of the table, thanks to Watson in this match for his wonderful 74 off 40 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes. He reached his 50 in 32 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes.
Match 33
Venue: Jaipur
Date: May 11, 2008
Teams: Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils
Captains: Shane Warne and Virendra Sehwag
Toss: Rajasthan Royals and decided to field first
Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 3 wickets with 5 balls remaining
Man of the Match: Shane Watson off Rajasthan Royals (Australia)
Points: Rajasthan Royals-2; Delhi Daredevils-0
Score:
Delhi Daredevils 156 for 7 in 20 overs (G Gambhir 31, V Sehwag 17, S Dhawan 3, AB de Villiers 20, KD Karthik 13, TM Dilshan 18 not out, A Mishra 4, MF Maharoof 39, VY Mahesh 0 not out, Extras-11 (b 1, lb 6, wide 4), AD Mascarenhas 4-0-29-2, SR Watson 4-0-21-2, MM Patel 4-0-24-0, SK Trivedi 4-0-28-2, SK Warne 4-0-47-0) lost to Rajasthan Royals 159 for 7 in 19.1 overs (YK Pathan 8, GC Smith 24, M Kaif 1, SR Watson 74, RA Jadeja 6, AD Mascarenhas 9, SK Warne 11, NK Patel 4 not out, M Rawat 5 not out, Extras-17 (b 2, lb 7, wide 5, nb 3), GD McGrath 4-0-12-0, MH Maharoof 4-0-22-1, P Sangwan 4-0-33-0, VY Mahesh 2.1-0-35-0, A Mishra 3-0-27-2, V Sehwag 2-0-21-1)
