Ross Taylor powers Rajasthan to victory

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JAIPUR: Ross Taylor hit a crucial 47 not out to steer Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling six-wicket win over Pune Warriors in an Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

The New Zealander cracked two sixes and four boundaries in his 35-ball knock as Shane Warne’s Rajasthan achieved a 144-run target with three balls to spare for their fifth victory in nine matches of the Twenty20 tournament.

Rajasthan, who now top the 10-team league table with 11 points, were struggling at 92-4 before Taylor and Ajinkya Rahane (15 not out) guided their team home with an unfinished 52-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Leg-spinner Rahul Sharma put Rajasthan under pressure when he took three of the first four wickets, including those of Rahul Dravid (18) and South African Johan Botha (12).

But Taylor, dropped on 31 by compatriot Nathan McCullum in the deep, shattered Pune’s hopes with his big-hitting.

Pune were earlier comfortably placed at 66-1 after eight overs following impressive knocks from Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey before losing their way. Uthappa top-scored with a 21-ball 35 and Pandey made 30 off 31 balls.

Uthappa, who hit leg-spinner Warne for four boundaries but also survived three confident leg-before appeals, eventually fell to the same bowler when he was caught by wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik while attempting a reverse-sweep.

Pune’s chances of posting a competitive total after being put in to bat receded when they lost two wickets in the 13th over.

Skipper Yuvraj Singh (seven) was run out backing up while Pandey was caught at deep mid-wicket by Taylor off seamer Siddharth Trivedi, who emerged the most successful bowler with 2-28.

Earlier, Virender Sehwag smashed a 47-ball 80 on a difficult pitch to set up Delhi Daredevils’ 38-run win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala in an Indian Premier League match on Saturday.