Hodge all praises for captain Rahul Dravid – Cricket News Update
Following their second consecutive win in the IPL5, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Dravid-c2229 for his efficient captaincy.
“He [Dravid] has been very good and motivating his players and also the dressing room atmosphere is very cordial,” said Hodge.
Considered one of the more unremarkable teams in the IPL5, the Rajasthan Royals had failed to register any impressive performances after they were crowned the winners of the IPL 2008 under the captaincy of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shane-Keith-Warne-c89672. However, they went into the fifth season
under the leadership of Rahul Dravid (who announced his retirement from the national squad earlier this year), and have won both of the two matches they have played so far.
After registering a 31-run win against the Kings XI http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Punjab-c833 in their first match, the Royals went on to defeat their next opponents, the Kolkata Knight Riders, by 22 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 8.
Despite having lost the toss, the Royals got off to a strong start after recovering quickly from an early setback – the loss of Ajinkya Rahane’s wicket on duck in the second over. Dravid (26) and wicketkeeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shreevats-Goswami-c2518 (23) both registered respectable
scores, after which http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashok-c46345 Menaria (40) teamed up with Hodge for a 64-run partnership. The 37-year-old Aussie went on to win Player of the Match for his brilliant 44 off 29.
“We had planned to cope with their strong batting line up by introducing spin and medium pace and that helped us to a comfortable victory,” Hodge observed. “It wasn't that the visitors could not adjust to the pace of the wicket but we bowled and batted well
according to the nature of the wicket.”
Following their innings, which saw the Royals posting a respectable total of 164, the Knight Riders found themselves unable to keep up with their opponents’ bowling attack. The first two wickets fell, one after the other, in the second over, as medium-pacer
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ankeet-Chavan-c1051.
Owing to the Royals’ ruthless bowling attack, the Knight Riders found themselves unable to keep up, and were cut off at 142 by the end of 20 overs.
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