Royals drub Daredevils, enter IPL final

Mumbai: Riding on a brilliant all-round display by Shane Watson, the ruthless Rajasthan Royals drubbed Delhi Daredevils by 105 runs in a lop-sided semi-final to storm into the final of the Indian Premier League at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday night.


Watson powered his way to a 29-ball 52 with three sixes and four fours in his team's challenging total of 192-9 after league table toppers Rajasthan Royals were asked to take first strike by Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag.


Later, Watson ripped out the top-order of Delhi with a triple strike to account for the top three Delhi batsmen Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan cheaply to reduce them to 24-3.


Delhi never recovered from this early body blows and lost wickets at regular intervals while the asking rate kept climbing before they were shot out for a paltry 87 in 16.1 overs.


Rajasthan Royals now await the winners of the second semi-final, to be played at the same venue on Saturday between King's XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings, in the final to be played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on June 1.