Praveen's Hattrick floors Rajasthan

The first hat-trick of IPL 2010, the lowest score of the edition and it was clear only one team had showed up for the RCB vs RR match today: the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The hosts’ bowling attack completely took charge of the proceedings right from the start and the visiting team never even appeared to be in the game. Add to the mix, the first hat-trick of IPL 2010 and the Rajasthan Royals were completely outplayed on the night. Pacer Praveen Kumar took the first hat-trick of IPL 2010, and the seventh overall in the competition’s history. The medium-pacer mixed it up well to get the wickets of IPL debutants Damien Martyn, Sumit Narwal and Paras Dogra.

The Rajasthan innings was already in disarray when Praveen started his third over and the 17th over of the innings. They were tottering at 81 for 4 when Martyn hit Praveen’s first ball for a four on the on-side. He came back with a yorker that uprooted Martyn’s (19) middle stump. In came Narwal, Kumar bowled a short-pitch delivery and the debutant top-edged it and was gulped down by Manish Pandey down at fine leg. Paras Dogra (3), who has been a revelation till now, became part of IPL history losing his middle stump and becoming the UP lad’s hat-trick victim. He finished his spell with figures of 4-18-0-3.

Rajasthan’s abject surrender on a pitch that saw two scores of over 200 runs just a couple of days ago was a testimony to the RCB’s disciplined bowling. Kumar was not the only hero of the day, with his skipper Anil Kumble also taking three wickets and having exceptional figures of having given away a mere nine runs from his 3.5 overs with three scalps to boot, including RR opener Michael Lumb and his counterpart Shane Warne.

Yusuf Pathan, after that thundering century against Mumbai Indians, has failed to rescue his team on two occasions. This time around, he scored 26 off 24 balls with two towering sixes that had the crowds hoping that he would repeat his record-breaking knock. The task was monumental and ultimately, impossible.

The Bangalore batsmen came out to complete the last rites of the night getting the required 93 runs without any discomfort. The Bangalore openers reached the target in the 11th over.

Manish Pandey and Jacques Kallis had no hiccups along the way. Kallis, who is leading the race to the Orange Cap, consolidated his position on top with a cool 44* (34b, 7x4). Manish came good, remaining unbeaten at 42 runs off 30 balls.

This was the biggest win of IPL 2010 and will see RCB go to the top of the points table. Rajasthan Royals are now languishing at the bottom of the table.