Royals’ win give MI outside chance

Rajasthan Royals kept their home run intact, and also gifted themselves a ‘bonus’ of playing their semi-final tie at their favourite venue, edging out Otago by four wickets in their crucial Champions League Group A match here on Tuesday. Rajasthan topped the group with an all-win record, while Otago will have to wait for the Mumbai Indians-Perth Scorchers tie on Wednesday to know their fate, despite a fighting performance here on the day. Pacer Rahul Shukla personified Royals’ ability of throwing up unsung heroes, bowling a dream spell to help restrict Otago to 139/7, while Brad Hodge (52 not out, 23 balls, 5x4, 3x6) and Ajinkya Rahane (52, 48 balls, 4x7) ensured they finished on top with contrasting knocks under trying conditions. The hosts chased down the tricky target in 19.1 overs. From a healthy 43/0 in six overs, the Royals crawled to 80/4 before Hodge joined in. Their 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket kept them on course before Hodge made sure the hosts cross the rope, staying unbeaten. Earlier, Shukla turned up the heat, as Rajasthan Royals restricted Otago to 139/7. Playing his second game in the tournament, Shukla bowled a fruitful first over that set the tone for the game. Shukla had figures of 3/24, with his first over’s figures reading 1-1-0-3. For Otago, James Neesham (32, 25 balls, 4x4, 1x6) yet again stood up to the challenge scoring at a quick rate to take the score to respectability. Neesham took the attack route to break through the situation, and he along with Ryan ten Doeschate (26, 27, 3x4) collected 53 off 47 balls for the fifth wicket. Earlier, Otago began steadily at 15/0 in three overs. But after Royals skipper Rahul Dravid tossed the ball to Shukla, the pacer responded beautifully changing the situation in one over. Opener Hamish Rutherford was castled on the very first ball, while skipper Brendon McCullum and Derek de Boorder were next to go, as the scorecard read a sorry 20/3 in 3.5 overs. Some late hitting from Nathan McCullum (28 not out) and Ian Butler (25) guided them to a 139/7. SCORECARD Otagao Volts: N. Broom c Samson b Watson 11, H. Rutherford b Shukla 5, B. McCullum lbw b Shukla 0, DC de Boorder c & b Shukla 0, R. ten Doeschate lbw b Tambe 26, J. Neesham c Watson b Cooper 32, N. McCullum (not out) 28, I. Butler b Cooper 25, N. Wagner (not out) 5, Extras: (lb 5, w 2) 7, Total (for 7 wkts) 139. FoW: 1-16, 2-20, 3-20, 4-21, 5-74, 6-81, 7-120. Bowling: Menaria 1-0-9-0, Faulkner 4-0-28-0, Watson 3-0-24-1 (w1), Shukla 4-1-23-3, Cooper 4-0-33-2 (w1), Tambe 4-0-17-1. Rajasthan Royals: R. Dravid c NL McCullum b Beard 10, A. Rahane c Broom b Neesham 52, S. Samson b Neesham 5, S. Watson c de Boorder b Neesham 2, S. Binny c McCullum b Wagner 1, B. Hodge (not out) 52, J.P. Faulkner b Wagner 2, K. Cooper (not out) 8. Extras (lb 1, w 9) 10. Total (for 6 wkts, in 19.1 overs) 142. FoW: 1-49, 2-67, 3-71, 4-72, 5-116, 6-130. Bowling: Butler 3.1-0-37-0 (3w), McMillan 4-0-26-0 (1w), Wagner 4-0-33-2, Beard 4-0-23-1 (1w), Neesham 4-0-22-3.