Royals top points table after delivering Deccan their third defeat in IPL

Rajasthan Royals defeated Deccan Chargers by five wickets to top the points table, reports The Times of India.

The Royals walked into the match as favorites but found it tough as they had to chase a mammoth total of 196 runs. The hosts however, displayed some good batting as they chased down the target in the last over with two balls to spare. By winning the match Royals avoided what would have been an upset for them.


Earlier in the day, Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat first. Deccan was coming into the match on the back of two losses and was desperate to change that. Both the openers from Deccan started well and put a solid opening partnership, reports The Indian Express.

Deccan only lost two wickets and all their top order batsmen contributed. (44), Sangakkara (52), Dan Christian (29*) and JP Duminy (58*) took the score close to 200 mark.


When Rajasthan batsmen walked in to bat, they would have known that the target that their opponents have set is not an easy one and they will have to play out of their skin to win the match and that is exactly what they did.

The Hindu report says, that some powerful hitting by the Australian Brad Hodge, helped Rajasthan maintain their winning streak at their home ground. Rajasthan got a good start from their captain Rahul Dravid and the orange cap holder, Ajinkya Rahane.


Brad Hodge who was adjudged the man of the match was the player who turned the tide in Rajasthan’s favor. The veteran from Australia started playing shots from the moment he got on to crease and followed a simple policy of making room and try to hit ball as hard as possible, reports Hindustan Times.

The policy did wonders as he hit four consecutive boundaries of Dale Steyn, one of the best fast bowlers in the world.