Challengers lose new skipper Pietersen

IPL Live: Rajasthan Royals’ Dmitri Mascarenhas struck in his first over to dismiss Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor of Royal Challengers in the second match of the IPL in Cape Town.

Royal Challengers, who finished seventh last year, started their second season under a new captain Kevin Pietersen.

Pieytersen won the toss and elected to bat first against the defending champions but Warne’s side showed no complacency and struck early on.

England all-rounder and T20 specialist Mascarenhas first dismissed the in-form Jesse Ryder with an in-swinger. The Kiwi batsman came forward to play the delivery that was pitched outside the off-stump but the ball came in and took an edge of Ryder’s bat before flying into the hands of wicketkeeper Rawat.

Mascarenhas struck again with the next delivery, only to remove Ryder’s compatriot Ross Taylor for a nought. He tossed the ball on the off that swung in. Ryder wanted to steer it towards the fine leg but missed it completely and the ball crashed into his stumps.

Royal Challengers: Robin Uthappa, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Kevin Pietersen, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Akhil, Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Dale Steyn, Anil Kumble.

Rajasthan Royals: Graeme Smith, Swapnil Asnodkar, Niraj Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Dmitri Mascarenhas, Rawat, Tyron Henderson, Yusuf Pathan, Shane Warne, Kamran Khan, Munaf Patel.

Credits: NDTV Cricket