Punjab 145-6 (20 ov)
Rajasthan 147-2 (19 ov)
Toss Rajasthan, chose to field
Punjab S Marsh 77, Gilchrist 42; Cooper 3-23; Watson 1-19, Chandila 1-24
Rajasthan Rahane 49 n.o, Samson 47 n.o, Watson 31; B Sharma 1-21
Man of the match Kevin Cooper (Rajasthan)
Rajasthan Royals beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets to keep their campaign in the Indian Premier League on track for the play-offs stage.
Hosts Punjab's chances of progressing took a serious hit after Royals captain Rahul Dravid read the sluggish wicket in Mohali right and opted to field after winning the toss. Royals limited Punjab to 146 and negotiated the target with ease.
The Punjab batsmen came up short again despite 77 runs from Shaun Marsh and Adam Gilchrist's knock of 42. The innings collapsed once their 102-run partnership for the second wicket ended. Kevin Cooper took both the prized wickets to finish with three for 23.
In contrast, the Royals batting was a consistent top-order effort, anchored by Ajinkya Rahane (59 not out) after Dravid left early.
If Rahane and Shane Watson (31) put up 50 run-partnership in 40 balls, Watson's departure made it no different as Sanju Samson joined Rahane and their first 50 runs came in 39 deliveries.
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