JAIPUR: In the end, Rajasthan Royals had it easy despite the imposing 179 set by Pune Warriors on Sunday. Rahul Dravid's team won by five wickets and a ball to spare to ensure they moved to fourth position, leapfrogging Sunrisers Hyderabad, on dint of a better run rate.
Chennai Super Kings lead the table on 18 points, while four others - Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, Royals and Hyderabad -- are currently on 14 points each.
Royals began their reply in right earnest. Promoting himself up the order, Dravid (58, 40b, 9x4, 1x6) and Ajinkya Rahane (67, 48b, 6x4, 2x6) put on 98 for the opening wicket in just 12 overs. Later, Stuart Binny killed off the game with a 13-ball 32.
Royals' answer with the bat compensated for their lacklustre bowling. Earlier, they seemed to be learning things the hard way. At a juncture, when winning all the three home games are a must for the Royals, Dravid & Co. looked helpless against the inspired Warriors who put up an impressive 178/4 on Sunday.
With their backs against the wall, all Pune needed was a good start, and it was Robin Uthappa's 54 that helped them get off to a flier. Building a 97-run partnership with captain Aaron Finch (45), Uthappa put the visitors on the frontfoot.
Playing his natural game right from the start, Uthappa completed his half-century in 48 balls, helping the Warriors put the pressure back on the opponents. Picking up fourteen off Shane Watson's first over, he proved that he was in no mood to relent. Then, when captain Finch went for the big-hits, Uthappa played the role of a sheet-anchor.
For a bottom-placed team, it's important to show resilience, and the Finch-Uthappa pair looked to be doing just that. But it wasn't enough.
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