Ross Taylor hit 47 not out to guide Rajasthan Royals to a six-wicket victory over Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League on Sunday with three balls to spare.
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings pulled off a 19-run win over Deccan Chargers in Chennai.
New Zealander Taylor smashed four boundaries and two sixes and put on 52 for the unbroken fifth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (15 not out) to help Royals win their third successive match in the Twenty20 tournament.
Former champions Royals finished at 144-4 after restricting Warriors, who lost their sixth straight match in the 10-team league, to 143-7 in 20 overs.
"Fantastic win for us," Royals captain Shane Warne said. "We have a good environment in our team, not a tight leash but a very open leash and it helps the youngsters."
Robin Uthappa (35) and Manish Pandey (30) got Warriors off to a good start after the visitors were put in to bat. But the misfiring middle-order wobbled once Warne dismissed Uthappa caught behind while attempting to reverse-sweep the leg-spinner.
Yuvraj Singh was run out for 7 and pacer Siddharth Trivedi grabbed two wickets to apply the brakes on Warriors.
In reply, leg-spinner Rahul Sharma caught and bowled Rahul Dravid for 18 and trapped Johan Botha leg before wicket for 12 as Royals stumbled to to 59-3 in 10.1 overs.
But Taylor turned it around, first putting on 33 for the fourth wicket with Ashok Menaria (29) and easing the pressure with 16 off left-arm spinner Murali Kartik that included two fours and a six.
"It is good to come to a new franchise and get a Man of the Match in a win," said Taylor, who previously played for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Suresh Raina hit 59 and Australian Michael Hussey scored 46 to guide Super Kings to a challenging 165-5 in 20 overs after the hosts chose to bat.
In reply, Chargers raced to 71 in seven overs thanks to a 30-ball 56 with six fours and four sixes by Sunny Sohal.
But Super Kings hit back with pacers Albie Morkel (3-38) and Doug Bollinger (2-26) striking crucial blows to restrict Chargers to 146-8 in 20 overs.
Raina hit six fours and two sixes and Morkel smashed three successive sixes off Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma in the penultimate over as Super Kings put on 69 from the last five overs.
Sohal's 50 came off just 24 balls but Chargers failed to build on the good start.
Sohal was bowled by Shadab Jakati while attempting to reverse sweep the left-arm spinner. Bollinger bowled Kumar Sangakkara for 15 and Morkel, who was man of the match, sent back Cameron White (13) and South African JP Duminy (17) in quick succession to limit Chargers.
"Albie really finished the game well today. Lots of teams put emphasis in the last six (overs), we look to capitalize on the last 4-5 overs," said Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who hit 21 at the finish.
Super Kings have won all four of their home matches this season.
On Monday, Mumbai Indians meet Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils take on Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
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Scores:
Rajasthan Royals 144-4 in 19.3 overs (Ross Taylor 47 not out, Rahul Sharma 3-13) def. Pune Warriors 143-7 in 20 overs (Robin Uthappa 35, Siddharth Trivedi 2-28).
Chennai Super Kings 165-5 in 20 overs (Suresh Raina 59, Michael Hussey 46, Pragyan Ojha 3-26) def. Deccan Chargers 146-8 in 20 overs (Sunny Sohal 56, Albie Morkel 3-38, Doug Bollinger 2-26, Shadab Jakati 2-23).
Source: news.yahoo.com
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