 Pathan powers Rajasthan Royals to IPL triumph
2nd Jun 2008 01:00 IST
Agencies
Warne replaced Watson with Pathan after five overs, in which 39 runs were scored, and the move paid off immediately when Sivaramakrishnan pulled a short ball for Ravindra Jadeja to bring off a fine front-diving catch at mid-on.
Warne rung in quick bowling changes to unsettle the second wicket duo of Patel and fellow left-hander Raina, who had powered their team to a nine-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab with an unbeaten century stand.
The 50 of the innings was raised in the seventh over and then Patel, after pulling off Pathan for his fifth four, departed. He edged an attempted off-glide to wicket keeper Kamran Akmal who juggled with the ball before completing the catch.
In-form Raina, who made 54 not out against Deccan Chargers in his team's last preliminary phase tie and followed it up with 55 not out against Punjab, continued his good run by stroking the ball well. He was hardly troubled by the spinners and pulled the great Warne for a six.
Albie Morkel (16) also pulled Warne disdainfully for a six into the stands in the 12th over after the first 10 had yielded 75 runs. The South African all-rounder also swung Pathan over mid-wicket for his second six before he got out in the same over, 13th of the innings.
In trying to repeat the shot he ballooned a catch to stumper Akmal who took a tumble over Kaif, who also went for the ball, while managing to hold on to the sphere to provide Pathan his third wicket.
The 100 came up in 80 balls after which Raina swung Siddharth Trivedi, bowling his second spell, for a six.
Later skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (29 not out in 17 balls) lofted Warne, bowling his last over, over the straight field for another six to take Chennai Super Kings to 117/3 with five overs remaining.
Raina fell in trying to clear the long off area and was caught just inside the rope by Jadeja after which Dhoni and Chamara Kapugedara added 20 runs before the latter holed out to the deep off Tanvir in the last over.
Dhoni, who hit a straight second six in Tanvir's last over, and Subramaniam Badrinath (6) remained unbeaten at the end of the innings.
Rajasthan were without opener Graeme Smith and made two changes to the side which won the semifinal against Delhi Daredevils while Chennai retained the side that won them the semi final against Kings XI Punjab. |
