Warner's run out changed the game: Dravid

New Delhi, April 6 (IANS):

Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid Saturday said David Warner’s run out swung the tide of the match in their favour.

The Royals narrowly edged past the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League match beating them by five runs at the Ferozeshah Kotla here.

“The match changed with Warner’s run out. Brad Hodge was exceptional on the field today,” Dravid told reporters here. Dravid commended pacers Kevon Cooper and Rahul Shukla for a brilliant performance in the last two overs.

Delhi required 17 off 12 balls but Shukla gave just eight runs in the penultimate over while Cooper gave just three and picked up two wickets.

“It was a brilliant performance by Kevon Cooper and Rahul Shukla. If Shukla hadn’t bowled so well in the penultimate over it would have been difficult for Kevon to restrict. Kevon was just great in the last over. It’s very difficult to bowl to guys like Andre Russell and Irfan Pathan in the end but he was just great,” he said.

“We have some depth in our team this year. We want to mix and match our team and when Shane Watson comes back we will be even stronger,” he added.

But for Dravid his injury midway through the match took a little shine off the victory. The Royals captain hobbled off the pitch after cramping up and, then, injuring his calf.

“Severe bout of cramps, little disappointing I wasn’t there with the boys in the end. I will see how I feel tomorrow and then take a decision. Hopefully, I will be fit for the next match. I am very happy with our performance. They always needed 8-9 runs every over. The team never hung their heads and fought well till the end. Fielding is a department we can improve. We dropped two catches today so that was a bit worrying.”