(REUTERS) – Shaun Marsh struck a stroke-filled half-century as Kings XI Punjab trounced a sloppy Rajasthan Royals by 48 runs for their third successive victory in the Indian Premier League yesterday.
Former Australia opener Geoff Marsh’s son Shaun blasted 71 after Paul Valthaty (46) and Adam Gilchrist (28) had a blistering start to power the Punjab side to a mammoth 195-7.
Left with a mountain to climb, Shane Warne and his Rajasthan colleagues could manage only 147-7 and the resistance offered by Ashok Menaria (34) and Stuart Binny (30) was not enough to avert their fourth defeat in six matches.
Warne was left to rue his decision to field first and could only watch helplessly as deliveries with which Siddharth Trivedi bowled Gilchrist and Shaun Tait (3-22) had Valthaty caught in the slips were both declared no-balls.
Valthaty was also dropped twice in his innings, which allowed the in-form Indian to partner Gilchrist and score at nearly 17 runs per over before Australian all-rounder Shane Watson cut short his compatriot’s stay in the fifth over.
Marsh then joined the run-feast and hit six fours and three sixes before giving a return catch to Watson to exit after a 42-ball blitz.