Fortress Jaipur stands firm as Royals beat KKR

Jaipur: Specialist Manoj Tiwary scored a half-century but that wasn’t enough as Rajasthan Royals coasted to a comfortable 22-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in an Indian Premier League match, here today. Rajasthan registered their second win of the tournament today after thrashing Kings XI Punjab by 31 runs in their opener at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here. [caption id=“attachment_269478” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Menaria settled the Royals in the middle order. AFP”]  [/caption] Tiwary scored 59 off 49 balls with seven fours but could never force the issue as he ran out of partners till Brett Lee smashed a quickfire 25 off 11 balls with two fours and two sixes. Cooper cleaned up Lee but by then the match was as good as over. With the likes Jacques Kallis (5), Brendon McCullum (2), Gautam Gambhir (0), Yusuf Pathan (15) again failed with the willow as Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise flattered to deceive as it has been the case in the four previous seasons. Rajasthan bowlers maintained a disciplined line with Caribbean seamer Kevon Cooper being the pick of the bowlers with three for 28. Medium-pacers Amit Singh, Siddharth Trivedi and Mumbai left-arm spinner Ankit Chavan chipped in with two wickets apiece. Earlier, Australia’s T20 specialist Brad Hodge and local boy Ashok Menaria scored some quick runs to help Rajasthan Royals post a competitive total of 164 for five. Hodge hit a 29-ball 44 laced with two sixes and three fours while Menaria came up with 30-ball 40 that included one six and four boundaries after KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir elected to field in searing heat. Owais Shah provided the late burst with a cameo of 11-ball 23, comprising of a six and couple of fours that helped Rajasthan cross the 150-run mark. Chasing a stiff target, Kolkata got off to a worst start as they lost four quick wickets inside six overs with just 25 runs on the board. PTI