Rajasthan closes in on playoffs with win over Kings XI Punjab

MOHALI: Kevon Cooper scalped three vital wickets before Ajinkya Rahane scored an unbeaten half century as Rajasthan Royals moved closer to sealing a place in the IPL 6 play-offs after emphatically brushing aside Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets at the PCA Stadium yesterday.
By virtue of this win, Rajasthan have moved to the second position in the team standings with 18 points from 13 games behind table toppers Chennai Super Kings (20 points).
Opting to field, Cooper picked up the wickets of Adam Gilchrist (42), Shaun Marsh (77) and danger man David Miller giving away just 23 runs off his four overs to help Rajasthan restrict Kings XI to 145 for six.
The visitors then rode on Rahane’s unbeaten 59 and useful contributions from Sanju Samson (47 not out) and Shane Watson (31) to chase down the target with an over to spare.
Rajasthan lost skipper Rahul Dravid early when he fell to left-arm spinner Bipul Sharma.
Rahane and Watson then shared a 65-run partnership for the second wicket, which came off 50 balls to set the platform for their chase.
Just when the duo would run away with the match, Piyush Chawla broke throught Watson’s defense.
The Australian all-rounder laced his 25-ball innings with three boundaries and one huge hit over the fence.
But that was all Kings XI could manage as Rahane and Samson played sensibly thereafter and mixed caution with aggression to guide Rajasthan home without any further damage.
While Rahane struck three fours and as many sixes during his knock, young Samson’s knock came off just 33 balls with the help of five hits to the fence and one over it.
Earlier, Rajasthan bowlers maintained discipline despite an attractive half-century by Marsh and an equally useful contribution from Gilchrist, to restrict Kings XI Punjab inside the 150-run mark.