Rajasthan Royals started their season with a victory over last years finalists, Kings XI Punjab in a game which stood out for its fielding brilliance from the Royals. James Faulkner continued from where he left off, with a brilliant all round performance to bag his 2nd consecutive MoM award after his exploits in the World Cup final.George Bailey has already admitted the error in tinkering with the batting order with Punjab losing by 26 runs.
Sanju Samson looked like being the star of the day, with a diving catch to his right to dismiss Virender Sehwag of the very first ball of Punjab's chase and followed it up with two brilliant run outs, first his counterpart Wriddhiman Saha and then Murali Vijay, who was looking quite dangerous in the Punjab chase. Tim Southee first took a terrific catch to dismiss star player Glenn Maxwell but then came, what is arguably the best catch in IPL history. George Bailey looked to have got enough distance as the ball flew towards the long on region, but Southee plucked it out of thin air and flicked it over to Karun Nair who took a brilliant one handed reflex catch. Teamwork is not something you associate with a game like cricket, but this was surely one of the highest order.ESPN described it as "The catch that will break the Internet".
It didn't look so rosy for Rajasthan earlier on though, as they lost skipper Shane Watson to injury. With Steve Smith deputising, his Aussie team mate Bailey won the toss and sent in RR to bat on a greenish pitch which promised much assistance to the faster bowlers.It certainly did as Sandeep Sharma started off with a maiden over. Rahane was dismissed in the very next over as he fell to Anureet Singh who had a great day on the field finishing with figure of 3/23. Steven Smith was looking comfortable as he played his natural game in spite of wickets falling at the other end.Smith fell for a brisk 33 who was joined in the pavillion soon after by Stuart Binny, RR looked in trouble at 75/5 but were rescued by a brilliant partnership between Indian rookie Deepak Hooda and James Faulkner.The Baroda Ranji team player who played at the U-19 World cup last year, was making his IPL debut, but showed no nerves as he made 30 in just half the number of balls. Faulkner provided the finish as he hammered Mitchell Johnson in the penultimate over of the match to setup a target of 163 runs.
The Kings' chase got off to the worst possible start, with Virender Sehwag caught behind of the opening ball. Murali Vijay made a quick start as Punjab raced away to 32 in the 3rd over. But Saha paid the price for not keeping his eye on the ball as he ventured out of the crease, but Samson gathered the ball and hit the stumps with a direct hit. Glenn Maxwell while chasing is a completely different proposition to the one while setting up a score.He failed to knock off that reputation once again, as he was dismissed by Faulkner. Axar Patel came in to bat at no 5,with the likes of Miller and Bailey yet to come. It was a decision that pretty much cost Punjab the match. Vijay slowed down after his initial onslaught and with Patel also not hitting well, pressure mounted and was run out by Samson, attempting a risky single. David Miller came in and was hitting the bowl well but the number of balls consumed by Patel meant it was too much pressure.Miller and Bailey both fell in their twenties, and though Bailey can count himself very unlucky with the nature of his dismissal, it was already a bit too late to rescue.
Sanju Samson looked like being the star of the day, with a diving catch to his right to dismiss Virender Sehwag of the very first ball of Punjab's chase and followed it up with two brilliant run outs, first his counterpart Wriddhiman Saha and then Murali Vijay, who was looking quite dangerous in the Punjab chase. Tim Southee first took a terrific catch to dismiss star player Glenn Maxwell but then came, what is arguably the best catch in IPL history. George Bailey looked to have got enough distance as the ball flew towards the long on region, but Southee plucked it out of thin air and flicked it over to Karun Nair who took a brilliant one handed reflex catch. Teamwork is not something you associate with a game like cricket, but this was surely one of the highest order.ESPN described it as "The catch that will break the Internet".
It didn't look so rosy for Rajasthan earlier on though, as they lost skipper Shane Watson to injury. With Steve Smith deputising, his Aussie team mate Bailey won the toss and sent in RR to bat on a greenish pitch which promised much assistance to the faster bowlers.It certainly did as Sandeep Sharma started off with a maiden over. Rahane was dismissed in the very next over as he fell to Anureet Singh who had a great day on the field finishing with figure of 3/23. Steven Smith was looking comfortable as he played his natural game in spite of wickets falling at the other end.Smith fell for a brisk 33 who was joined in the pavillion soon after by Stuart Binny, RR looked in trouble at 75/5 but were rescued by a brilliant partnership between Indian rookie Deepak Hooda and James Faulkner.The Baroda Ranji team player who played at the U-19 World cup last year, was making his IPL debut, but showed no nerves as he made 30 in just half the number of balls. Faulkner provided the finish as he hammered Mitchell Johnson in the penultimate over of the match to setup a target of 163 runs.
The Kings' chase got off to the worst possible start, with Virender Sehwag caught behind of the opening ball. Murali Vijay made a quick start as Punjab raced away to 32 in the 3rd over. But Saha paid the price for not keeping his eye on the ball as he ventured out of the crease, but Samson gathered the ball and hit the stumps with a direct hit. Glenn Maxwell while chasing is a completely different proposition to the one while setting up a score.He failed to knock off that reputation once again, as he was dismissed by Faulkner. Axar Patel came in to bat at no 5,with the likes of Miller and Bailey yet to come. It was a decision that pretty much cost Punjab the match. Vijay slowed down after his initial onslaught and with Patel also not hitting well, pressure mounted and was run out by Samson, attempting a risky single. David Miller came in and was hitting the bowl well but the number of balls consumed by Patel meant it was too much pressure.Miller and Bailey both fell in their twenties, and though Bailey can count himself very unlucky with the nature of his dismissal, it was already a bit too late to rescue.
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