
Rajasthan Royals cantered to a seven-wicket Indian Premier League win over Pune Warriors with almost four overs to spare.
Australian pair Shaun Tait and Shane Watson were the key figures as the Royals gave their net run rate a timely boost.
Pune made a pedestrian start to their innings and Tait ended a 5.4-over opening stand of 30 when he removed Saurav Ganguly for 14.
Only Anustup Majumdar, with 30 from 20 balls, managed to push the scoring rate along as the home side limped to 125 for six, Tait taking three for 13 in his four overs.
Watson joined Rahul Dravid at the wicket inside two overs after Ajinkya Rahane fell for a duck, and the all-rounder put Pune's slow-scoring efforts to shame by blasting 90 not out from 51 balls with 10 fours and four sixes.
Dravid and Ashok Menaria were dismissed but Watson was joined by Owais Shah (4no) to see the Royals over the line.
Kings XI Punjab kept their play-off hopes going with a 25-run win over whipping boys Deccan Chargers.
Mandeep Singh set the tone as he clubbed 75 in 48 balls at the top of the Kings XI order, seeing them to a total of 170 for five.
Deccan replied with 145 for eight, with opener Daniel Harris' 30 their top score.
Apart from Singh's innings, which contained eight fours and three sixes, there were four other double-figure contributions in Punjab's score - with David Miller's 28 not out the highest.
Praveen Kumar sent down a superb four overs to ensure Deccan's response did not get going, removing Shikhar Dawan with his fifth ball and closing with figures of two for 15.
David Hussey then ended any hopes of a late surge, bowling his only over for two runs and claiming the key wickets of Harris and Cameron White.
 



