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WEEKLY
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| Rajasthan maul abject Bangalore |
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Sunday, May 18, 2008
JAIPUR: Bangalore Royal Challengers’ woeful IPL campaign plunged new depths on Saturday as they slumped to a 65-run drubbing at the hands of Rajasthan Royals, who are virtually assured a place in the semifinals with their eighth win in ten games.
Swapnil Asnodkar and Graeme Smith were the protagonists for Rajasthan, putting together 109 in a mere 12.2 overs — the second first-wicket century stand for the team — before Shane Watson applied the finishing touches with a 28-ball 46.
They finally settled for 197, which was far too many for a batting line-up, which is completely lacking in form and confidence. The first three wickets went down within 14 deliveries, and though Rahul Dravid struck a defiant 36-ball 75, the result was never in doubt.
Asnodkar got a 50, but it was one of the most unconvincing half-centuries of the tournament, as he got the benefit of an lbw shout, and then edged twice over the wicketkeeper off Jacques Kallis.
Those early exchanges swung the momentum Rajasthan’s way, and they ensured they never let it go. Anil Kumble finally got his first wicket of the tournament, but Asnodkar’s departure only brought in the even more destructive Watson, who quickly made his presence felt with a couple of superb pull shots.
Bangalore’s run-chase was a non-starter. The out-of-sorts J Arunkumar holed out to mid-off in the first over. Misbah’s disappointing tournament continued — he has now scored 32 runs in four innings — as he hopelessly miscued a pull to mid-on, and when Virat Kohli chopped on onto his stumps off the impressive Sohail Tanvir, Bangalore’s total read a shambolic 5 for 3.
Kallis scored a disappointing 20 from 29 balls before Shane Warne plucked off a stunning caught-and-bowled low to his right when Zaheer Khan clubbed one straight back to him.
The only show of resistance came from Dravid, whose unbeaten 75 was a strong message to the rest of his batsmen. That knock lifted Bangalore to a somewhat respectable total, but it was hardly enough to stop Rajasthan, who have now won all six games at home.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
