Diary of Smiling Dolphin

Life is boring without 20-20

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:15:45 +0530

I miss the 20-20 a lot. It was a great three hours entertainment. BCCI should have more 20-20s and less of ODIs.
It is good to see some of Rajasthan Royal Players, Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan, make it to the national sides. I have a feeling with the way Dhoni is using Yusuf Pathan that Dhoni is setting Yusuf for failure.

You can see the difference between the team intensity in the ODIs and 20-20s.

Rajasthan Royals are the IPL Champions

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:47:33 +0530

Despite its share of controversies and the heady mix of glamour and
cricket, the Indian Premier League's first edition would be best
remembered for the triumph of the underdog wherein a retired spin
legend inspired the cheapest franchisee of the event to an unexpected
title win.
Shane Warne, considered by many as the best captain
never to lead Australia, led a pack of unheralded players to a Rs 4.8
crore prize cheque, thus rounding off 44 days of a soap opera that had
everything -- from drama to emotion -- for prime-time viewers.

Rajasthan Royals grabbed victory in a very exciting final.

Indian won the 20-20 final as an underdog with lot of new team members. Rajasthan Royals also do the same.

Does the 20-20 favor the underdog?

Rajasthan Royal storm into the semi finals

Sat, 31 May 2008 08:39:59 +0530

Shane Watson did the star turn as Rajasthan Royals stormed into the final of the Indian Premier League, beating Delhi Daredevils by 105 runs in the first semi-final at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Friday night.

The
Australia all-rounder first hit a breezy 52 as the Royals put up a
challenging 192 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs and then destroyed the
Delhi top order.

In a triple strike he had the top three Delhi batsmen -- Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan -- dismissed cheaply.

Reduced
to 24 for 3, Delhi never recovered and lost wickets at regular
intervals. Watson finished with figures of 3 for 10 in three overs as
Delhi Daredevils were dismissed for a paltry 87 in 16.2 overs.

Rajasthan Royals have proved that they are not a flash in the pan.

Congratulations!!!

Preity Bowls Over Rajasthan Royals

Thu, 29 May 2008 11:12:11 +0530

Kings XI Punjab beat Rajasthan Royals by 41 runs in the last league match of the Indian Premier League at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday. The win, Punjab's 10th in
14 matches, had no effect whatsoever on the league standings though.
Rajasthan, despite suffering what was their third loss in 14 matches,
finished on top of the table with 22 points, two ahead of second-placed
Punjab.
It was a good strategy on Warne's part to rest important players for the match. Rajasthan Royals have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Rajasthan Royal Vs. Mumbai Indians

Tue, 27 May 2008 19:14:56 +0530

The semi-final hopes of the Mumbai Indians suffered a jolt with the table-toppers Rajasthan Royals scoring a spectacular last ball win in their Indian Premier League match in Jaipur on Monday.

The
home team, needing 15 to win in the final over, got two off the final
delivery to cruise home by five wickets and also preserved their
unbeaten record at home.

The
win was Rajasthan 11th in 13 matches and moved their points tally to 22
while it was Mumbai's seventh defeat in 13 matches, their third
straight.

Rajasthan Royal Vs. Chennai Super Kings

Sun, 25 May 2008 14:34:22 +0530

Rajasthan Royals' Graeme Smith hits a six during the IPL T20 match against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on Saturday.
The hosts lost the plot towards the close to suffer a 10-run defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals in their crucial match.

Rajasthan is one of few teams where experience and youth are complementing each others. I feel that is the main reason for its success.

Rajasthan Royals were the team expected to finish last and suprisingly for all is at the top of the list. King's XI Punjab is a one man story Shaun Marsh. Rajasthan Royals have proved themselves to be a complete team.

Wish them all the best. Hope they top the table.

Rajasthan Royals do it again

Wed, 21 May 2008 05:20:13 +0530

Rajasthan Royals beat Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in their Indian Premier League match at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday. The Knight Riders are knocked out of reckoning for the semi-finals.

Rajasthan Royals Vs. Royal Challengers

Sun, 18 May 2008 06:49:18 +0530

Royal Challengers Bangalore continued their
pathetic show in the IPL as they plunged to a humiliating 65-run defeat
against Rajasthan Royals at Swai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur on Saturday.

Chasing a challenging 198 to win, the visitors could manage just 132, largely built around skipper Rahul Dravid's brilliant unbeaten 75-run knock.

Earlier, hosts Rajasthan Royals piled up 197 at the cost of just one wicket, thanks to a brilliant batting by their top-order.

Fine half-centuries by openers Graeme Smith (75 not out) and Swapnil Asnodkar (50) propelled hosts to the challenging total.

Shane
Watson also played a handy unbeaten knock of 46 after the opening duo
of Smith and Asnodkar put on 109 for the opening wicket, having sent in
to bat.

Rajasthan Royals Vs. Delhi Daredevils

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:52:49 +0530

Rajasthan Royals' Shane Watson hits a shot en route to scoring 74, his third half-century in the competition. The Australian, whose 40-ball knock included four fours and five sixes, was named man-of-the-match for his efforts (he also took two wickets).
Rajasthan Royals won the match and are one more step closer to getting a place in the semi finals.

Rajasthan Royals Vs. Deccan Chargers

Sat, 10 May 2008 14:30:49 +0530

A breezy 68 off only
37 deliveries by Yusuf Pathan saw Rajasthan Royals make short work of
Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League match at the Sawai
Mansingh Staduim in Jaipur on Friday night.

Chasing a paltry 141 for victory, the home team hit up the runs in 16 overs, finishing on 141 for the loss of two wickets.

The victory gave Rajasthan Royals their sixth victory in eight matches and put them on top of the table, with 12 points.

For the Hyderabad side, it was their sixth defeat in eight matches.