IPL 6: RR vs PWI - The Quick Flicks

It is crystal clear that the best teams in the IPL stick to the tried and tested formula of playing to their strengths and winning games at home. Today, in a game of fluctuating fortunes, where the pendulum swung back and forth, Rajasthan Royals eked out a famous win against Pune Warriors India.

Snapshots from today’s game:

Puzzling tactics by RR’s think-tank

In this year’s IPL, Dravid and his band of boys haven’t been restricted by cluttering conventions of regular thought. But the think-tank’s rigid adherence to open the bowling with a slow bowler has been hard to fathom. It is clear that opposition teams have worked out Chandila, as they play him as a slow bowler who doesn’t impart turn. To make it worse for Dravid, the seamers bowled like they had billion dollars in the bank.

Uthappa’s blitzkrieg

Once in a blue-moon, Uthappa, seems to play an innings of real note. Up against RR, he stamped his class with a scintillating knock of 54. He was quick to assess the pitch, and modify the way he plays accordingly. He played a mixture of well-timed strokes, interfused with improvised, power-packed shots. The essence of his batting can be best exemplified by how he took on Watson’s testing short delivery with a rasping pull shot. PWI needed a spark of brilliance, and they finally got one from the enigmatic Uthappa. The way Finch and Uthappa played, it left the boisterous home crowd and Rajasthan’s players in a state of demoralized daze.

Dravid and Rahane – Opening partnership of style and substance

Dravid and Rahane gave a fitting reply to PWI’s opening pair with a blistering stand of 98 runs. You don’t associate the quintessential Test match batsman, Dravid – known for standing tall like a lonesome atlas among the ruins – with T20 cricket. But the true perfectionist played an eye-catching knock against PWI.

It wasn’t always the vintage Dravid on show. Dravid, known for rock solid technique and copybook strokes, tried to play even across the line. In between though, we still saw Dravid play some pristine drives. If he continues to play in the same vein in the matches to come, we can start to call him the hyper-modern version of Dravid. His opening partner, Rahane, gave him very good support and when required, injected the much needed acceleration. The fearless and impressive Stuart Binny put finishing touches to what was a well-measured chase.

PWI’s bowlers continue to flounder under pressure

Just when everyone thought that PWI had a great chance to checkmate RR, their bowlers yet again flattered to deceive, and made a mess of defending a good score on the board. They made the right choice by plumping for Parnell, as he brings a bit of variety into the attack. But they are in dire need of an experienced tall pacer who can hit the deck and attack the stumps. At present, their pace attack is made up of skiddy bowlers. Good batsmen in T20 cricket will continue to line them up, and rip open their mundane pace attack. If Finn is available for the next auction, they should look at buying the tall English quick.

Poor PWI, as they don’t seem to know how to win a game of cricket. On the other hand, unless they do a royale mess up, RR should qualify for the play-offs.