Watson plunders Punjab

Shane Watson led the way with 76 not out © Getty Images

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A calm batting performance from Shane Watson led the Rajasthan Royals to a six-wicket win over the Kings XI Punjab - their first in the Indian Premier League.

The Royals were hammered by the Delhi Daredevils in their opening fixture, but three wickets from coach and captain Shane Warne set the tone on Monday as the Kings XI posted 166 for eight.

Fellow Australian Watson then took control in the Royals’ reply, striking an unbeaten 76 to lead his side to 168 for four.

Karan Goel (26 from 21 balls) proved the main aggressor early for the Kings XI, striking Munaf Patel for six twice before the India bowler gained revenge with a yorker which removed his off stump.

That brought Kumar Sangakkara (20 from eight) to the crease and he immediately let rip, plundering three fours and a six from his first four deliveries faced, but fell when Warne accepted a simple return catch.

Mahela Jayawardene fell quickly and James Hopes (16 from 16) became Warne’s second victim.

Punjab were 73 for four at that point, but some clean hitting from captain Yuvraj Singh (57 from 34) put them back on track.

Warne (3-19) accounted for Yuvraj, and Siddharth Trivedi picked up a couple of late wickets, but Piyush Chawla’s unbeaten cameo of 24 from 11 balls took the Kings XI to 166 for eight.

The Royals’ reply did not get off to the best of starts as they slipped to 48 for three.

But Australian pair Watson and Darren Lehmann steadied the ship.

Lehmann (17 from 16) was trapped lbw by Irfan Pathan, but man of the match Watson continued with support from 19-year-old Ravindra Jadeja.

Watson struck five maximums in his 49-ball innings, supported by Jadeja (36 from 25) in an unbroken partnership of 69 which saw them home with 11 balls to spare.

The result leaves Kings XI Punjab at the bottom of the embryonic IPL table, having lost their opening two fixtures.