Its a gross mistake to underestimate Warne's teamThe two Shane’s have done it for the Rajasthan Royals. They have dragged their team’s fortunes back from the edge by leading the way in the victory over Kings XI Punjab on their home ground in the Pink City on Monday.
After they had been outclassed by the Delhi Daredevils and routed by nine wickets at the Kotla on Sunday, there were concerns that the Royals would be one of the also-rans of the inaugural event. After all, they had only one genuine superstar in Shane Warne.
But Monday’s display has altered all such perceptions and they have stormed back to contention. Thursday sees them face the Deccan Chargers at Hyderabad and this too promises to be a fascinating contest.
It is obvious that their home ground of the Sawai Man Singh stadium suits Warne and his looping leggies. After nearly a week of matches, he remains along with Kolkata’s Murali Kartik the only bowler to capture three wickets in an innings.
Even in the opening loss to Delhi it was young left-hander Ravindra Jadeja who top-scored with 29 at better than a run a ball.
On Monday he was unbeaten on a fluent 36 as his stand of 69 for the unbroken fifth wicket took the side home with nearly two overs to spare.
Though it was Watson who claimed the Man of the Match award for his electrifying 76 not out, the locals would have been delighted that one of their own lads has been showing such promise.
The teenager was a success in the Under-19 World Cup and at Jaipur on Monday he displayed a fine array of strokes in dealing with a pretty formidable bowling line-up consisting of Brett Lee, Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan.
On one side was the teenage talent, on the other the veteran master tossing up his leg breaks and googlies with all the guile and mastery of old.
It has been 16 months since Warne retired from international cricket. But the way he foxed James Hopes, Kumar Sangakkara and Yuvraj Singh, it was as if he had never taken a break at all.
Warne was the sentimental favourite for the Man of the Match award. But it was the ‘other Shane’—another blond cricketer from Australia!—who took it home for his match-winning knock to hand the Kings their second successive defeat.
Warne made a point of thanking the support staff for their contribution, including psychologist Jeremy Snape. The off spinner has represented England in ODIs, but these days is putting his sports psychology degree to obvious good use.
Warne himself has put in the hard miles and is taking the IPL very seriously. “Over the past week, I’ve spent every spare minute in the nets. I’ve done lots and lots of bowling.”
It certainly showed. When he came on to bowl, Punjab were well placed at 54 for one from just six overs.
When he took himself off after a three-over spell, the score-board read 84 for 4 after 11 overs and it took just three balls for him to lure Sangakkara, one of the world’s leading batsmen into giving a return catch. Hopes and Yuvraj were to soon follow.
The Chargers have proved to be the biggest disappointment so far. On Sunday they were trapped on a diabolical track at the Eden Gardens. But there was no excuse at being crushed by nine wickets by the Daredevils on their own ground on Tuesday.
Further, the Royals will be strengthened by the arrival of South African skipper Graeme Smith and Pakistan’s Younis Khan.
The contest within the contest? Look out for Warne v VVS Laxman. Should be a treat.
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AuthorTopic: IPL 2008 - Match 9 : Charger vs Royals : Match Thread (Read 5883 times)
