Rajasthan Royals emerged out of their two loss streak with a six wicket win over Kings XI Punjab at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. RR were led by their bowlers who bowled out KXIP for just 124, before Ajinkya Rahane and IPL debutant, Sanju Samson helped them ease past the finish line. Chasing a small target of 125, RR started aggressively as Shane Watson smashed three successive boundaries off Ryan Harris in the 2nd over. He followed it with two more including a beautiful drive straight down the ground in the fourth over off Harris. Watson (32) continued his assault with two consecutive boundaries off Parvinder Awana before the bowler had him caught by Mandeep Singh to give KXIP their first breakthrough.

Praveen Kumar had Rahul Dravid (9) and Stuart Binny (0) caught behind in the span of four deliveries to help KXIP force their way into the match. Some tight bowling by KXIP piled on the pressure and Piyush Chawla struck the body blow trapping Brad Hodge (15) leg before. Samson was given a reprieve on 4 when Harris put him down at slip and he made the most of it.  R needed 5 runs off the final over. Samson (27*) and Rahane (34*) who put on an undefeated partnership of 47 runs saw the team home with 4 balls remaining. Earlier, RR won the toss and elected to field.

They were rewarded immediately as S Sreesanth struck twice in his first over dismissing Adam Gilchrist (0) caught at mid-off before having Mandeep Singh (2) caught down at third man. It only got worse for KXIP as they lost Manan Vohra (3) run out by James Faulkner to send KXIP reeling at 10 for 3 in 3.3 overs. The slide continued as Gurkeerat Singh Mann (10) fell, caught behind off Siddharth Trived and Rajagopal Sathish (11), just as he started to string a partnership together with David Hussey, edged Faulkner to the wicket-keeper.

Trivedi struck again dismissing Hussey (41) who held the KXIP innings together as Dravid at mid-off held onto the catch on the second attempt. Kevon Cooper then struck sending back Chawla (7) and then bowing Mahmood (23) in his next over to reduce KXIP to 104 for 8. Kumar (15) who hit a six and two boundaries was run out. KXIP were finally bowled out for 124. Man-of-the-Match: James Faulkner Brief Scores: Kings XI Punjab 124 all out (David Hussey 41, S Sreesanth 2-20) lost to Rajasthan Royals 126 for 4 (Ajinkya Rahane 34*, Praveen Kumar 2-10).