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Johannesburg - A fine unbeaten 63 by Ajinkya Rahane provided the backbone for the Rajasthan Royals as they completed a comprehensive nine-wicket drubbing of Delhi Daredevils in their Indian Premier League clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Tuesday, reports the supersport.com website.
The young Indian batsman faced 45 balls in the middle, batting mainly with composure and poise alongside legendary partner Rahul Dravid (53 off 48 deliveries), with the hosts easing past the 155 victory target with 13 balls to spare.
The two openers shared a 108-run opening stand, before Shane Watson (28 off 14) added the finishing touches to secure a one-sided win.
Full scorecard
Earlier, Ben Rohrer struck a career-best 63 not out off 39 balls to lift the visitors after a poor start against their high-flying hosts.
Mahela Jayawardene (34 off 31) was also among the runs, but there was no major assault from any of the Delhi batsmen.
They lost one of their key men early, James Faulkner claiming the big wicket of Virender Sehwag (11) in just the second over with a slower ball.
Watson (1-21) accounted for debutant Muralidharen Gautam (2), who edged his third ball behind to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson.
Delhi gained some momentum in the fifth over as Jayawardene and David Warner (13) tucked into Shaun Tait, who conceded 17 runs in an expensive six balls.
But that brief impetus came to an abrupt end after the latter was beaten by a Stuart Binny (1-3) bouncer and ended up looping to Sachin Baby at short cover - the fielder taking a fine one-handed catch low to the ground.
It was 47 for three at that stage, with the 50 coming up in the ninth over as Delhi continued to struggle.
Jayawardene struck the first six of the innings in the 12th over by beautifully lifting Siddharth Trivedi inside-out over mid-off, before falling two balls later when he clipped the same bowler straight to Dravid at midwicket.
Rohrer and Kedar Jadhav (23 off 21) then began to slowly rebuild with the 100 raised in the 15th over.
The pair lacked explosiveness, but still managed to manoeuvre the ball around enough to put on 50 in 36 balls with the former also reaching his maiden IPL 50 in as many deliveries.
They shared a crucial unbroken 76-run stand leaving their bowlers with something to defend.
But the reply from Dravid and Rahane was measured all the way through their century opening stand.
Apart from one minor blemish when the latter was put down on four by Pawan Negi fielding at cover off a frustrated-looking Morne Morkel, there was little for the visitors to take heart from.
Rajasthan soared past 50 in the seventh over, an over after the most expensive one of the first 10, which went for 13.
The hosts reached the halfway stage on 77 for none, before the 100 was raised three overs later, the same stroke taking Dravid to his half century in 45 balls.
Delhi finally had their breakthrough in over number 14 when the retired India batsman appeared to be searching for a first six of the innings, only to pick out Ajit Agarkar at long-on off Siddarth Kaul.
But Rahane, who went to his 50 in 37 deliveries, continued on his way, and buoyed by the arrival of Watson, the Royals’ tempo was raised towards the end.
Both batsmen struck the expensive Morkel for sixes in a 17-run 17th over, before the home side cruised home with more than two overs to spare.
The young Indian batsman faced 45 balls in the middle, batting mainly with composure and poise alongside legendary partner Rahul Dravid (53 off 48 deliveries), with the hosts easing past the 155 victory target with 13 balls to spare.
The two openers shared a 108-run opening stand, before Shane Watson (28 off 14) added the finishing touches to secure a one-sided win.
Full scorecard
Earlier, Ben Rohrer struck a career-best 63 not out off 39 balls to lift the visitors after a poor start against their high-flying hosts.
Mahela Jayawardene (34 off 31) was also among the runs, but there was no major assault from any of the Delhi batsmen.
They lost one of their key men early, James Faulkner claiming the big wicket of Virender Sehwag (11) in just the second over with a slower ball.
Watson (1-21) accounted for debutant Muralidharen Gautam (2), who edged his third ball behind to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson.
Delhi gained some momentum in the fifth over as Jayawardene and David Warner (13) tucked into Shaun Tait, who conceded 17 runs in an expensive six balls.
But that brief impetus came to an abrupt end after the latter was beaten by a Stuart Binny (1-3) bouncer and ended up looping to Sachin Baby at short cover - the fielder taking a fine one-handed catch low to the ground.
It was 47 for three at that stage, with the 50 coming up in the ninth over as Delhi continued to struggle.
Jayawardene struck the first six of the innings in the 12th over by beautifully lifting Siddharth Trivedi inside-out over mid-off, before falling two balls later when he clipped the same bowler straight to Dravid at midwicket.
Rohrer and Kedar Jadhav (23 off 21) then began to slowly rebuild with the 100 raised in the 15th over.
The pair lacked explosiveness, but still managed to manoeuvre the ball around enough to put on 50 in 36 balls with the former also reaching his maiden IPL 50 in as many deliveries.
They shared a crucial unbroken 76-run stand leaving their bowlers with something to defend.
But the reply from Dravid and Rahane was measured all the way through their century opening stand.
Apart from one minor blemish when the latter was put down on four by Pawan Negi fielding at cover off a frustrated-looking Morne Morkel, there was little for the visitors to take heart from.
Rajasthan soared past 50 in the seventh over, an over after the most expensive one of the first 10, which went for 13.
The hosts reached the halfway stage on 77 for none, before the 100 was raised three overs later, the same stroke taking Dravid to his half century in 45 balls.
Delhi finally had their breakthrough in over number 14 when the retired India batsman appeared to be searching for a first six of the innings, only to pick out Ajit Agarkar at long-on off Siddarth Kaul.
But Rahane, who went to his 50 in 37 deliveries, continued on his way, and buoyed by the arrival of Watson, the Royals’ tempo was raised towards the end.
Both batsmen struck the expensive Morkel for sixes in a 17-run 17th over, before the home side cruised home with more than two overs to spare.
