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Rajasthan Royals thrashed Kings XI Punjab by 31 runs in their Indian Premier League match at Mohali on Wednesday to continue their resurgence after a tepid start in the tournament.
Chasing a mammoth 184 to win, the home side could manage only 152 with five balls left from their stipulated quota of overs.
It was the second straight win for Rajasthan - following their win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday - following three straight defeats to begin with.
The result also helped them move out of the bottom of the table up to the fourth spot.
It was Rajasthan's third win over Punjab in five IPL matches.
As regards Punjab, it was back to square one.
A suprise win against Chennai Super Kings, following three straight defeats, remained only a distant memory after being consigned to defeat again.
From 107 for two in the 11th over, the home team went downhill, the last eight wickets falling for just 45 runs.
Shaun Tait was the most successful bowler for Rajasthan Royals with figures of three for 22.
Chasing a formidable target, Kings XI Punjab got off to superb start.
Captain Kumar Sangakkara made 29 off just 13 balls to ensure his side were not bogged down by the opposition's big total early on.
The Sri Lankan began his onslaught with a couple of boundaries in the third over (off Munaf) before going ballistic in the fourth over bowled by Shaun Tait.
Sangakkara took 14 off four deliveries, including three boundaries, before the Australian had his revenge having the Sri Lankan caught by Fazal at third man.
However, Manvinder Bisla (35) ensured Punjab maintained the momentum by smashing 18 runs in the fifth over (by Munaf), including three boundaries and a maximum.
The sixth over, Shane Warne's first, cost Rajasthan another 17, with Bisla hitting a boundary first and following it up with a maximum.
And as the field restrictions eased, the home team had raced to 76 for one - the highest score in the first six overs in the IPL.
However, as he became more and more aggressive Bisla forgot to instill caution into his batting, eventually falling into the trap set by Warne.
The wily veteran invited the marauder to slog him and the batsman did precisely that, hitting straight to Shaun Tait at deep midwicket.
Bisla's 18-ball 35 was an entertaining one, with four hits to the fence and two over it.
In came Yuvraj Singh (15) and he soon got into his stride, smashing Warne for a huge six.
The former Punjab captain was fortunate when Lumb put him down (when on 14) off Siddharth Trivedi.
However, two balls later his luck ran out, Fazal catching him at mid-on and Trivedi finally getting the wicket he should have got earlier.
Munaf accounted for Ravi Bopara (25) soon after - caught by Trivedi at mid-on - and Irfan Pathan (1) was run out by brilliant piece of fielding by Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Rajasthan was back in the game.
And when Yusuf trapped Mohammad Kaif (8), who had been given a reprieve by umpire Tarapore of what seemed a straightforward leg before appeal off Voges, plumb in front all seemed over.
However, umpire Tarapore came to Punjab's rescue again, negating Warne's appeal after he had rapped Piyush Chawla's pads.
The incident led to a commentator opining, "Rajasthan have got no help from that end."
But Yusuf had Chawla (8) caught by Tait at midwicket, Rajasthan were rejuvenated.
And the ecstasy increased when Tait had Juan Theron (2) vcaught by Munaf at mid-off.
Mahela Jayawardene (23) smashed a maximum over fine leg off Trivedi before hitting straight to Jhunjhunwala at long-on.
And Tait came back to rattle Srivastava's stumps with a yorker to end the proceedings on a positive note for the champions in the inaugural edition.
Earlier, the visitors managed 183 for four in their stipulated 20 overs.
Rajasthan got off to a good start despite losing an early wicket.
Michael Lumb (41), their South African recruit, began proceedings by desptaching Irfan Pathan twice to the fence in the opening over.
Naman Ojha (13) joined the proceedings by hitting a couple of boundary off Sreesanth in the next over.
Both batsmen helped themselves to a boundary apiece in the third over bowled by Shalabh Srivastava. However, it was their extravagance that cost them a wicket.
Sreesanth, in his second over, had Ojha caught by Srivastava at mid-on.
However, Lumb did ease pressure a bit by smashing a couple of boundaries in the next over by Srivastava.
And as Juan Theron was introduced into the attack in the seventh over, Lumb welcomed his compatriot by smashing him past point to the fence.
But the introduction of spin, in the form of Piyush Chawla, gave the home team their second breakthrough.
Lumb, going for a sweep off the first ball, was fortunate to survive a loud appeal.
However, he wasn't as fortunate in the second, Sangakkara doing some good work behind the stumps.
Lumb's 30-ball knock was inclusive of seven hits to the fence but inability to read spin and his lack of patience cost him his wicket.
In came Yusuf Pathan (28) and he announced his arrival by smashing Srivastava to the square-leg fence.
Two balls later, in what was probably a display of fraternal feelings, Irfan dropped an opportunity offered by Yusuf at long-off.
At the first strategic time-out (after nine overs), Rajasthan had made 77 for two.
In the first over after resumption, Faiz Fazal (45) lofted Chawla over the midwicket for the first maximum of the Rajasthan innings.
There was a period of slumber in the next three overs before Yusuf smashed a six (over long-on) off Srivastava and hit straight to Yuvraj in the next ball.
The third wicket partnership yielded Rajasthan 51 runs off just 34 balls.
Adam Voges (29) announced his arrival with a couple of boundaries off Yuvraj.
The Australian and Fazal put on 60 runs off just 37 balls in a crucial fourth-wicket partnership before the latter was unnecessarily run out in the final over.
Voges made a whirlwind 24-ball 45 and remained unbetaen, in the process ensuring Rajasthan a competitive total.
The Australian's knock was inclusive of five hits to the fence and a huge one over it.
Earlier, Punjab captain Kumar Sangakkara captain called correctly and opted to field first on conditions that seemed conducive for the same.
"We want to put them under pressure early on," reasoned Sangakkara.
His opposite number, Shane Warne, seemed to concur with the Sri Lankan's decision.
"We would have bowled fast too," admitted Warne, adding, "The first six overs will be quite tricky."
Teams:
Kings XI Punjab: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Ravi Bopara, Mahela Jayawardene, Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Manvinder Bisla, Irfan Pathan, Piyush Chawla, S Sreesanth, Shalabh Srivastava, Juan Theron.
Rajasthan Royals: Shane Warne (captain), Naman Ojha, Michael Lumb, Faiz Fazal, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Paras Dogra, Yusuf Pathan, Adam Voges, Shaun Tait, Munaf Patel, Siddharth Trivedi.