IPL 20-20 Cricket

Shane Watson came up with a superb half-century to make sure that Jaipur chase down the modest target of 157 successfully and register a thrilling three-wicket victory over Delhi here during their IPL match.

Watson, who also took 2-21, scored an all-important 74 off 40-balls with the help of five boundaries and five sixes, though got life from two dropped catches but he made sure that his luck get his team the required results with five balls to spare.

In fact, Graeme Smith (24) also survived dropped chances to put on a crucial 71-run partnership for the third wicket with Watson.

Jaipur, who were already leading the points table, took one more step towards booking a berth in the semifinals of this IPL  tournament when its bowlers, earlier, came up with a devastating spell to keep Delhi batsman under control almost throughout  the innings, after the host skipper Shane Warne put the opponents in to bat.

And although, some late smashing by Fervez Maharoof changed the complexion of the game and helped Delhi post a competitive total of 156-7 in their alloted 20 overs which made the game go down to the wires in the end.

Jaipur's chase was jolted by two early run outs in the form of Yusuf Pathan and Mohammad Kaif. But Smith and Watson consolidate the innings, by adopting a cautious approach as they slowly moved towards the target bringing up just 33 runs in 7 overs.

But once the duo got settled, they started to fire all guns with Watson leading the attack. And in no time, the Australian helped his team recover the lost ground.

Smith, though soon lost his wicket when Yo Mahesh ran across from long-on to take a stunning catch just inches from the turf off the bowling of Amit Mishra. But that did not stop Watson at the other end.

Delhi, on the other hand, kept their hopes alive by taking wickets at regular intervals. Ultimately, they made it a close affair, when Jaipur needed just 7 runs off the 9 balls.

And at this point in time, Jaipur got the big scare when Watson was rightly given a run out by the third umpire in the  penultimate over, although, not before another controversy marred it.