Shane Warne leads Rajasthan Royals to opening IPL win

The 41-year-old takes two wickets in the Royals' opening eight-wicket win against the Deccan Chargers.

HYDERABAD // Shane Warne took two wickets in a mesmeric four-over spell as Rajasthan Royals beat Deccan Chargers by eight wickets on the second day of the IPL.

Royals pacemen Amit Singh and Siddharth Trivedi took three wickets each to restrict Chargers to 137 for eight after choosing to bowl first.

South African all-rounder Johan Botha, batting at No 3, carved out a 47-ball 67 not out with eight fours and a six to guide former champions Royals to 141 for two with seven deliveries remaining.

Chargers are yet to register a win at home in the annual competition.

Warne proved at the age of 41, he is still a canny operator. The leg-spinner not only finished with figures of two for 41, but his bowling changes kept Chargers on the back foot and his decision to move Botha up the order also proved inspired.

Singh provided a crucial breakthrough when he dismissed the aggressive Shikhar Dhawan (24) after the left-hander had helped Chargers make a breezy 40-run start.

Man-of-the-match Trivedi dismissed Kumar Sangakkara (0) and Bharat Chipli (6) in quick succession to put the brakes on Chargers before Warne dismissed Ishank Jaggi (25) and the dangerous JP Duminy (14) to further peg back the Chargers.

South African Twenty20 skipper Botha put on 52 for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (28) before the Indian batsman fell to the South African quick Dale Steyn, who took both the wickets to fall in the innings.

Botha then put on 58 for the unbroken third wicket with New Zealander Ross Taylor (21), bringing up the victory with a six and a boundary off Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha after taking eight runs off the bowler's first three deliveries.