Chargers restrict Rajasthan Royals to lowest total

Hyderabad, May 18 (IANS) An impressive bowling performance by Deccan Chargers restricted Rajasthan Royals to 126 for eight in their Indian Premier league (IPl) match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here Friday night.

Dale Steyn's two for 14, Amit Mishra's two for 20 and a fine display by other bowlers reduced the visitors to the lowest score this season in a game which Rajasthan must win to remain in hunt for a place in the play-offs.

Electing to bat after winning the toss on what looked to be a good batting track, Rajasthan's top-order collapsed before disciplined bowling attack of the home team.

Barring captain Rahul Dravid (39 off 26) and Owais Shah (28 off 32), who showed some resistance, none of the batsmen could withstand the fiery spells by Steyn, Mishra and Gony (one for 26). Veer Pratap Singh also chipped in with two for 31.

It was a poor batting display by Rajasthan, who appeared to be under pressure of a must-win situation.

Putting up a good show for the first time on their home ground, the Chargers' bowlers did not allow Rajasthan batsmen to score freely.

The 35-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Shah and Ashok Menaria (20 off 17) was the only highlight of the Rajasthan innings. Dravid's knock of 39 off 26 balls was studded with five fours out of the total 10 boundaries in the innings.

The visitors also failed to capitalize on three dropped catches and some sloppy fielding by Chargers, who were led by Cameron White as Kumar Sangakkara opted out after a rather poor season with the bat.

Rajasthan had a disastrous start with Rahane departing in the second over as Steyn had him caught in the slip by Dhawan. Steyn conceded only two runs in his first over and claimed the prized wicket. The opener was dropped by wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel on the very second ball of Duminy's first over but did not last long.

Watson survived narrowly in the fifth over when Dhawan could not hold on to a diving catch off Gony at mid-on. It was Dravid who survived the next delivery as Ashish Reddy attempted a difficult over-head catch. In the same over, the Australian smashed a six over long-on, the first six of the innings.

Amit Mishra gave his team a key breakthrough as he cleaned up Watson for 13 (1x4, 1x6) on his very first delivery which spinned away to hit the off-stump. Mishra in his next over deceived Binny (7) to another beauty which uprooted the stumps. At 54 for three in 8.4 overs, the visitors were struggling.

Playing the captain's knock, Dravid held on to the other end. However, in an attempt to give some momentum to the scoring, he was caught by Chris lynn off Gony near the boundary line.

At half way mark, Rajasthan were 60 for three and the 100 came only in the 17th over.