April 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1429

JAIPUR, April 22: All-rounder Shane Watson smashed a blistering unbeaten 76 to steer an inexperienced Rajasthan Royals to a six-wicket victory over a star-studded Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League match at Sawai Man Singh Stadium on Monday night.

Coming in at the fall of Yusuf Pathan when his team was tottering at 19 for 2 in the third over in chase of 167 for a win, Watson plundered five sixes in his 49-ball whirlwind innings to help his side bounce back after their comprehensive nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Delhi Daredevils in their first match.

The Australian fittingly hit the winning runs, a four off Shantakumran Sreesanth, to raise 168 for four for his team with 11 balls to spare.

He changed the complexion of the game after his side began on a disastrous note with opener Mohammad Kaif dismissed by Sreesanth’s first ball and second over of the innings and next man in Yusuf Pathan felling cheaply for just seven to Brett Lee.

Young Ravindra Jadeja contributed a valuable 25-ball 36 with the help of five boundaries and a six.

Watson shared two crucial partnerships, first a 39-ball 51 with fellow Australian Darren Lehmann (17) for the fourth wicket and the unseparated 36-ball 69 with Jadeja.

Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who took field within hours of landing in India, played a cameo of 15 from 10 balls which included a huge six off Lee, before perishing to Hopes. For the Punjab side, Lee, Sreesanth, Hopes and Irfan Pathan claimed a wicket each.

Earlier, Royals captain Shane Warne produced a superb spell of three for 19 to restrict the Punjab side to 166 for eight.

The Australian spin legend’s act of leading from the front overshadowed a chancy but strokeful half century by his opposite number Yuvraj Singh (57) who won the toss and decided to bat first. The visitors would have been in a worse position had Yuvraj not been dropped twice when he was on 15 and 27, the first time off Warne and the second off Siddarth Trivedi.

Warne, however, removed Yuvraj, who was caught and bowled while trying to sweep the retired spin legend. Yuvraj struck 27 fours and three huge sixes in his 34-ball innings.—Agencies