September 29, 2013
Brief Scorecard: Rajasthan Royals 121 for 1 (Rahane 62*, Samson 50*) beat Perth Scorchers 120 (Cooper 4-18) by nine wickets
James Faulkner gave Rajasthan Royals a strong start with a wicket in the third over after they chose to bowl
September 29, 2013
Brief Scorecard: Rajasthan Royals 121 for 1 (Rahane 62*, Samson 50*) beat Perth Scorchers 120 (Cooper 4-18) by nine wickets
James Faulkner gave Rajasthan Royals a strong start with a wicket in the third over after they chose to bowl
JAIPUR: Rajasthan Royals eased to a nine-wicket win over Perth Scorchers in the CLT20 championship, thus making in into the semifinals. A four-wicket haul by Kevon Cooper helped Royals restrict Perth Scorchers to 120.
The hosts made light of the modest target, reaching it in 16.3 overs. Ajinkya Rahane led the chase with 62 not out while Sanju Samson got an unbeaten 50.
Perth Scorchers, languishing at the bottom of the group, were desperate for a turn in form and fortune.
Put into bat after losing the toss, the Scorchers openers Liam Davis and Ashton Agar began in right earnest even as left-arm spinner Ashok Menaria bowled a tight first over.
Vikramjeet Malik, however, seemed off-colour at the other end. Malik, who helped RR script a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the opening encounter of the event, proved costly as he conceded 22 runs in two overs.
Menaria conceded 11 runs in as many. Royals, however, did not have to wait too long for their first wicket as opener Davis offered a simple catch to Cooper at deep square-leg off James Faulkner. That was the third over of the match and the host team had the early advantage.
Ashton Agar was the next one to depart, holing out to Vikramjeet Malik off Shane Watson. After that, wickets fell at regular interval leaving the Scorchers struggling.
Big hits were the need of the hour but the Australian side failed to get them in the face of some tight bowling and agile fielding by the hosts.
Whatever enterprise they had completely evaporated as they started losing wickets one after another and were gasping for breath at 80 for six in the 11th over. Adam Voges held out some resistance, but that wasn't enough.
Courtesy: PTI
