Sport | Cricket
Rajasthan Royals thrash Bangalore Royal Challengers
Rajasthan Royals thrashed Bangalore Royal Challengers by 65 runs in the Indian Premier League match here on Saturday.
- Image Credit:
Jaipur : Rajasthan Royals continued their winning spree and became the first team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to enter the semifinals as they thrashed bottom placed Bangalore Royal Challengers by 65 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Saturday.
Chasing an imposing target of 198, Royal Challengers made 132 for the loss of nine wickets at the end of 20 overs.
Rahul Dravid's decision to bowl first backfired as the Rajasthan Royals openers tore apart the Royal Challengers bowling attack.
The century opening stand between Graeme Smith (75 not out) and Swapnil Asnodkar (50) put the match beyond the Challengers as the hosts made 197 for one in 20 overs. Shane Watson was not out on 46.
With the temperature soaring to 48 degrees Celsius, the Royal Challengers were always going have a tough time while fielding and the wayward bowling by their bowlers did no good either.
Smith was in full force as he cut, drove and pulled with elegance, spanking the bowlers to all parts of the ground. In contrast, Asnodkar's half-century was an unconvincing knock. He slashed, missed and edged repeatedly over the wicketkeeper and slips. He was lucky to get a life early on in the innings after umpire Suresh Shastri turned down a lbw appeal in Praveen Kumar's first over. The replays suggested the ball would have crashed into leg stump.
Share this article
Popular in Sport

-
Golf
Realistic hope
Briton, on verge of turning 29, is among the fancied four for title
Sport Editor's choice
-
Westwood in control
Englishman grabs two-shot lead as Harrington pays price for double-bogey on Earth course
-
Stojakovic leads Hornets to victory
New Orleans, under new coach Bower, hand Phoenix their third loss of the season
-
Harrington: Hit and miss
Harrington drops lead after a double bogey on the 18th, shares second spot with six others in Dubai World Championship


