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IPL PHOTOS: Nair stars in Royals' clinical chase
A brilliant 50-ball 73 from opener Karun Nair helped Rajasthan Royals seal an impressive chase against Delhi Daredevils in the IPL match in Delhi on Saturday.
Courtesy Nair’s knock, Royals chased down the target of 153 in 18.3 overs, losing just three wickets.
Sanju Samson too contributed with a vital 28-ball 34.
Earlier, Kedhar Jhadav and JP Duminy’s late flourish enabled Delhi cross the 150-run mark, even as they succumbed to the bowling duo of James Faulkner and Pravin Tambe, who finished with identical figures of 2-26 from their four overs.
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Delhi off to positive start
Delhi openers Murali Vijay and Quinton de Kock got the team off to a positive start. De Kock started the innings with a boundary off Stuart Binny.
Vijay, at the other end, hit a half-volley and creamed one through the off-side for a boundary.
De Kock then smoked Shane Watson for a six as Delhi's opening stand looked good.
However, Faulkner provided the breakthrough, dismissing Vijay off the first ball of his spell.
Vijay looked to play one on the rise and was caught at mid-off by Shane Watson for 13.
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Tambe's twin strikes cripple Delhi
De Kock continued to be aggressive against the Royals bowlers as he took advantage of the loose balls from Pravin Tambe.
He first lashed on one from the bowler and creamed it for a boundary through the covers.
He then repeated the stroke for a consecutive boundary in the over.
Rajat Bhatia was introduced at the other end and he should have had Kevin Pietersen walking back after he was found short of his crease courtesy the brilliance from Sanju Samson.
However, umpire Sanjay Hazare decided not to refer the appeal and replays showed that KP was way short.
But Royals did not suffer much as Tambe had KP caught at long-on, after he miscued one to Steven Smith, for 14.
Tambe then had de Kock walking back after the batsman hit one straight back to the bowler.
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Jhadav, Duminy use the long handle to good effect
Delhi struggled for momentum in the middle overs and lost their way.
Royals too kept things tight as boundaries were hard to come by.
Dinesh Karthik tried his best, but was undone by a short delivery from Faulkner.
But Karthik’s wicket helped Delhi get some momentum as Kedar Jhadav and Duminy upped the ante in the final overs.
Jhadav made his intentions clear with a huge six off Faulkner in the same over.
Duminy then latched onto Dhawal Kulkarni and Kane Richardson with boundaries off consecutive overs.
Delhi got the much-needed big over as Jhadav and Duminy plundered 18 runs. Although Duminy was caught brilliantly Bhatia at the boundary, Jhadav hit a six and boundary as Delhi crossed the 150-run mark.
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Parnell snaps Rahane early
Rajasthan's run chase started off on a promising note as Ajinkya Rahane and Karun Nair hit boundaries off Mohammad Shami.
Wayne Parnell, who was brought into the attack, struck in his opening over, dismissing Rahane for 12.
Parnell should thank Murali Vijay for the wicket as it was his brilliance in the field that made it possible.
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Nair, Samson steady Rajasthan innings
Nair got the dashing Sanju Samson for company and the duo added 51 runs for the second wicket.
Samson nonchalantly smoked Parnell into the stands.
Nair continued to impress as he gave himself a bit of room and inside-out hit leg-spinner Rahul Sharma.
However, Samson perished playing one shot too many as he got greedy after hitting Shabaz Nadeem for a six and boundary.
Samson, looking to hit Nadeem out of the park, chipped down the track and was stumped by Karthik for 34.
Rajat Bhatia, promoted up the order, used the long handle to good effect.
Nair soon completed his half-century with a brace off Undakat. Her finished the game off with a boundary off the same bowler.