A half century from Ajinkya Rahane and an excellent bowling performance, helped the Rajasthan Royals secure a nail-biting four-wicket win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in a low-scoring second game in Abu Dhabi.
Chasing just 134 for victory, the Royals made heavy work of their reply, losing Abhishek Nayar in just the third ball of their innings before Sanju Samson and captain Shane Watson departed before the end of the seventh over.
When Watson departed for just three having edged Ishant Sharma behind, the Royals had just 31 runs on the board.
Rahane and Stuart Binny then put on 75 for the fourth wicket, but their measly run rate meant the match remained in the balance.
In the end Rahane’s contribution, plus a 48 from Binny, put Rajasthan in a position to win it, and needing eight runs off the final over, the latter took a single before James Faulkner hammered two fours to seal victory.
Dale Steyn, who had claimed Nair’s scalp, threatened to derail their charge returning in the penultimate over to add Rajat Bathia to his list of victims. But he also gave up nine runs and the 133 posted by Sunrisers proved too paltry.
Watson had earlier won the toss for the Royals and put the Sunrisers in to bat. The decision paid dividends as Aaron Finch was removed with just the fifth ball of the game, as he hit Dhawal Kulkarni straight to Kane Richardson.
David Warner and captain Shikhar Dhawan steadied the ship somewhat, putting on 75 for the second wicket, but they found those runs hard to come by.
When Dhawan was dismissed, Richardson taking his second catch of the day off Bhatia, the Sunrisers were 77 for two after 11.3 overs.
Waner would follow him, to the same combination of catcher and bowler, less than two overs later, and although wickets fell regularly, there was something of a revival as they made it to 133 for six from their 20 overs
