CLT20: As it happened - Rajasthan Royals beat Perth Scorchers to enter semifinals

Rajasthan Royals beat Australian side Perth Scorchers by 9 wickets in a Group A tie of the Champions League Twenty20 in Jaipur. Catch all the match highlights here: (Scorecard | Commentary)

 

KEVON COOPER is the Man of the Match!

 

That is it, Rajasthan into semis with resounding win! It was quick as Rajasthan Royals' Sanju Samson and Ajinkya Rahane made short work of the target to take their team into the semifinals. Rahane scored 62* off 53 while Samson too completed a fifty off 42 balls. Rajasthan reached 121 in 16.3 overs and won comfortably with 21 balls remaining.

 

Fifty for Ajinkya Rahane, came up with a beautiful six over cover! It has been a typical knock by the talented batsman from Mumbai. Rajasthan need 15 from 5 overs now.

 

23:01(IST): All hunky dory for Rajasthan as Perth look done and dusted in Jaipur. Rahane (47 off 43) too opens up with some finely timed shots. Samson on 43 off 37, Rajasthan require 23 from 6 overs.

22:45(IST): Rajasthan going great guns with Samson and Rahane. The youngster from Kerala on 37 off 27 and Rahane on 23 off 23. Rajasthan 65/1 after 9 overs, need 56 from 11 overs.

22:26 (IST): Rajasthan Royals have recovered well after losing Rahul Dravid in the first over. Both Ajinkya Rajane and Sanju Samson looking in good touch. Rajasthan Royals 33/1 (5 overs), need 88 runs more to beat Perth Scorchers 119.

22:09 (IST): WICKET! Big blow for Rajasthan Royals as Rahul Dravid is dismissed in the first over. Dravid looks to flick Jason Behrendorff but misses line completely and loses his middle stump. Rajasthan Royals 1/1 (0.4 overs) against Perth Scorchers 119.

21:50 (IST): Kevon Cooper bags four wickets to help Rajasthan Royals bowl out Perth Scorchers for 119 in 20 overs. James Faulkner and Pravin Tambe pick up two wickets each. Adam Voges top scored for Perth with 27 while Liam Davis scored 18.

21:36 (IST): WICKET! Kevon Cooper has picked up four wickets so far. He was on a hat-trick as he removed Joe Mennie and Ashton Turner on consecutive deliveries. Perth Scorcher 97/9 (17.2 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

21:22 (IST): WICKET! Another one bites the dust and this time it's Joel Paris, who departs after scoring just two runs. James Faulkner bowls a full and straight delivery to remove the middle stump of Paris. Perth Scorcher 85/7 (14 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

21:17 (IST): WICKET! Pravin Tambe bags his second. Tom Triffitt plays it straight back to bowler. The 41-year-old dives forward to take a low catch. Perth Scorcher 80/6 (12.3 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

21:12 (IST): WICKET! Kevon Cooper removes two batsmen in his first over. First he gets rid of Hilton Cartwright (5) leg before wicket and two ball later removes in-form Adam Voges (27), who is caught by James Faulkner at long on. Perth Scorcher 77/5 (11.4 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

21:01 (IST): WICKET! Simon Katich departs for 12. Katich goes down the track against Pravin Tambe but misses line completely and keeper Sanju Samson does the rest. Perth Scorcher 62/3 (8.5 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:57 (IST): Perth Scorchers are scoring over seven runs an over. Royals have used as amny as five bowlers. Perth Scorcher 61/2 (8 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:41 (IST): WICKET! Shane Watson strikes. Ashton Agar has to depart. Agar chases a widish delivery by Watson and slices it straight to Vikramjeet Malik at third man. Perth Scorcher 29/2 (4.1 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:33 (IST): WICKET! James Faulkner on target straight away. Liam Davis looks to pull a short-pitched delivery but ends but top edging it to Kevon Cooper at deep square leg. Perth Scorcher 18/1 (2.3 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:27 (IST): Rahul Dravid gives the new ball to Ashok Menaria. Liam Davis and Ashton Agar are the two Perth openers. Perth Scorchers 1/0 (1 overs) against Rajasthan Royals.

20:20 (IST): Teams-

Perth Scorchers: Liam Davis, Ashton Agar, Simon Katich (captain), Adam Voges, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Turner, Tom Triffitt (wicketkeeper), Joel Paris, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Beer, Joe Mennie

Rajasthan Royals: Rahul Dravid (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shane Watson, Stuart Binny, Brad Hodge, Ashok Menaria, James Faulkner, Kevon Cooper, Vikramjeet Malik, Pravin Tambe

19:55 (IST): TOSS! Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid opts to field after winning the toss against Perth Scorchers in Jaipur.

PREVIEW

Perth Scorchers will look to end Rajasthan Royals' unbeaten streak at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium to stay alive in the tournament, a feat several formidable sides have failed to accomplish in 2013. Rajasthan have won all ten matches in Jaipur across IPL VI and the CLT20.

Over the course of IPL VI, Rajasthan were an immovable object at home, and sometimes through Shane Watson's explosive skills, they were an unstoppable force too. A temporary derailment due to the spot-fixing scandal notwithstanding, they did well enough to finish third and gain direct entry into the Champions League Twenty20 2013.

A win for Rajasthan would solidify their position at the top of Group A and guarantee them a semifinal spot. However, Rajasthan would be aiming for more than just qualification, since the team that tops Group A would play their semifinal in Jaipur.

SQUADS

Rajasthan Royals: Rahul Dravid (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ashok Menaria, Dishant Yagnik, Vikramjeet Malik, Harmeet Singh, Rahul Shukla, Pravin Tambe, Shane Watson, Brad Hodge, James Faulkner, Kevon Cooper, Shaun Tait.

Perth Scorchers: Simon Katich (captain), Ashton Agar, Michael Beer, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Burt Cockley, Liam Davis, Brad Hogg, Joe Mennie, Marcus North, Joel Paris, Tom Triffitt (wicketkeeper), Ashton Turner, Adam Voges, Sam Whiteman.