Rajasthan Royals overpowers the Hyderabad Deccan Chargers

A healthy opening partnership laid the foundation

Yusuf Pathan plundered a rapid half-century to lift Rajasthan Royals to the top of the IPL table with an eight-wicket win over Deccan Chargers.

Yusuf struck 68 from just 37 balls in an opening-wicket partnership of 109 with Graeme Smith as the Royals cruised to their 141-run victory target with four overs to spare.

Shane Warne - whose aggressive hitting late in the day earned the Royals victory in the first IPL match between the sides - this time did the damage with the ball, claiming two wickets and a run out.

Earlier, Opener Adam Gilchrist cracked nine fours and a six on his way to 61, but his departure prompted a capitulation as Deccan posted 140 for eight.

Gilchrist, leading in the team for the second time in the absence of an injured V.V.S. Laxman, had done much of the hard work for Chargers to start off at over seven an over.

But Royals, which did not find a place for Dimitri Mascarenhas, took control of the first session after Scott Styris gifted his wicket to off spinner Yusuf Pathan.

Deccan started the tournament as favourite but has lost six of eight games and its semi-finals chances look slim.

In contrast, the underdog Rajasthan has surprised most after initially being rated the worst team in the competition.

The scores:

Deccan Chargers: A. Gilchrist c Rawat b Trivedi 61, H. Gibbs c Rawat b Patel 19, S. Styris c Warne b Pathan 13, R. Sharma run out 5, S. Afridi c Patel b Warne 1, S. Bangar c Rawat b Watson 3, R. Teja lbw b Warne 6, V. Rao (not out) 23, R.P. Singh run out 2, P. Ojha (not out) 1, Extras (lb-4, nb-1,w-1) 6; Total (for eight in 20 overs) 140.

Fall of wkts: 1-61, 2-88, 3-97, 4-100, 5-105, 6-105, 7-126, 8-130.

Rajasthan Royals bowling: Tanvir 4-0-39-0, Watson 3-0-22-1, Patel 4-0-28-1, Warne 4-0-20-2, Pathan 2-0-19-1, Trivedi 3-0-8-1.

Rajasthan Royals: G. Smith c Ojha b R.P. Singh 40, Y. Pathan c Gibbs b Ojha 68, M. Kaif (not out) 17, S. Watson (not out) 5, Extras (b-1, w-10) 11; Total (for two in 16 overs) 141.

Fall of wkts: 1-109, 2-133

Deccan Chargers b owling: Vijaykumar 1-0-10-0, R.P. Singh 4-0-24-1, Styris 2-0-14-0, Ojha 4-0-47-1, Afridi 2-0-10-0, Bangar 2-0-20-0, Rao 1-0-15-0.