IPL: Royals outplay Knight Riders at home

Jaipur, April 8 (IANS) Rajasthan Royals put up an all-round performance to beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 22 runs in the India Premier League here Sunday for their second successive win in the tournament.

Cameos from Ashok Menaria (40) and Brad Hodge (44) pushed Royals to 164 for five and then they limited Knight Riders to 142 all out with medium pacer Kevon Cooper (3/28) being the pick of the bowlers once again. Manoj Tiwary's spirited knock of 59 went in vain as the visitors slumped to their second defeat in as many games.

Royals, a team devoid of big names, emerged better than the fancied Knight Riders, who were off to a disastrous start in their run-chase and kept on losing wickets at crucial junctures. It was also their second win in a row at home.

They lost the big three Jacques Kallis (5), Brendon McCullum (2) and skipper Gautam Gambhir in 2.1 overs. Medium pacer Amit Singh (2-30) had Kallis and Gambhir caught while left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan (2-23) had the New Zealand wicketkeeper plumb in front.

Debabrata Das' departure made it 24 for 5, getting Tiwary and the explosive Yusuf Pathan (15) together at the crease.

They shared a 44-run stand off 28 balls and their stay was the only time when it looked Knight Riders getting near to the Royals' score.

Pathan was caught by Hodge at deep square leg in the 11th over as he top-edged one off Siddharth Trivedi (2-25), leaving the away team at 66 for five.

Breet Lee (25) hit some lusty blows towards the end but it wasn't enough with the asking rate going beyond 15.

Earlier, Royals did well to cross 150 after losing Dravid (26) and Anjikya Rahane (0) inside seven overs.

Hodge and Menaria forged a 64-run partnership off 45 balls, making the difference in the end.