CLT20: Rajasthan Royals end Otago Volts' 15-match unbeaten streak

Brad Hodge stole the show with a stunning half-century

Riding on a stunning half-century from Brad Hodge and an impressive exhibition of pace bowling from the fast bowler Rahul Shukla, Rajasthan Royals ended the 15-match unbeaten streak of Otago Volts by defeating them by four wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Put into bat first, Volts were jolted early in their innings by a spectacular opening burst from Indian pacer Rahul Shukla. The fourth over of the match, bowled by Shukla, saw the dismissals of three Volts’ batsmen.

Hamish Rutherford was the first to go, beaten in pace by an inswinger to see his stumps disturbed. Brendon McCullum was trapped LBW to a ball that swung in while captain Derek de Boorder, caught in two minds against a short ball, gave a return catch to the bowler himself. They were dented further as Shane Watson accounted for Neil Broom in the very next over to leave them reeling at 21/4 at the end of 4.3 overs.

However, Ryan ten Doeschate and Jimmy Neesham stemmed the fall of wickets by putting together a 53-run partnership in 47 deliveries to revive the innings. Despite the fall of both those wickets in quick successions, cameos from Nathan McCullum and Ian Butler ensured that Volts had set a decent target of 140 for Rajasthan Royals.

Pravin Tambe had yet another good outing, picking up the most important wicket of Ten Doeschate with a ball that held its line and conceding only 17 runs in his 4 overs.

In reply, Royals were off to a steady start. The Rahul Dravid led team were 67 for 1 in 9.2 overs and with only 73 needed of the last 63 deliveries, it looked like they would ease their way past the Kiwi outfit. But Neesham and Wagner picked up three quick wickets between them, including that of Shane Watson, to derail the chase and leave them in a spot of bother with the score at 72/4 in 12.1 overs.

Brad Hodge had different ideas though as he came out all guns blazing and in partnership with Ajinkya Rahane (52 off 48), smashed 44 runs in 4.5 overs to turn the tides and deliver an astounding win to continue their unbeaten run in the tournament. Hodge, unbeaten on 52 off just 23 balls, sealed the victory with a boundary of the first ball of the last over.