Maintaining the momentum Rajasthan Royals booked their berth in the semifinals of the Indian Premier League by almost knocking out of Kolkata Knight Riders from the championship with a six-wicket drubbing for their ninth victory in 11 matches at the Eden Gardens here Tuesday. After putting Kolkata into bat a disciplined bowling performance saw the hosts being restricted to 147-8. Kolkata lost wickets at regular intervals and despite Ganguly and Das who tried their best to rally the team, they failed to set a challenging total in such a crucial match. With five wins from 12 matches and with just two games left Kolkata is in a spot. Rajasthan clicked again as team. After Smith gave a decent start Yousuf Pathan, who is shaping into a dangerous Twenty20 player counter-attacked and made 48 from just 18 balls to complete the formalities. Kolkata Knight Riders 147 for 8 (Ganguly 32, Das 31, Butt 24, Tanvir 3-26, M. Patel 2-22, Y. Pathan 1-14). Rajasthan Royals 150 for 4 (Y. Pathan 48*, Kaif 34*, G. Smith 24, Watson 19, U. Gul 2-30). Player of the Match: Y. Pathan. Wednesday's matches: Mumbai Indians vs. Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings vs. Bangalore Royal Challengers. Vaughan backs Monty England captain Michael Vaughan is backing Monty Panesar to produce more bowling heroics at Old Trafford when the second Test against New Zealand starts at the Manchester ground on Friday. Left-arm spinner Panesar has enjoyed his last two Test appearances on a pitch now known for its pace and bounce as well as turn - an enticing prospect for both slow bowlers and genuine quicks. Last year, against the West Indies, his Test-best match return of 10 wickets for 187 runs helped England to a 60-run win. And in 2006 his second innings return of five for 72, allied to five for 55 from now out-of-favor fast bowler Stephen Harmison, saw England to a crushing innings and 120-run victory against Pakistan. Panesar was far less influential in the drawn first Test against New Zealand at Lord's concluded here Monday. He took one for 30, albeit the prize scalp of Brendon McCullum for 97 in the first innings, and one for 56 in 24 economical overs as the tourists, led by centurion Jacob Oram, batted their way to safety. But anything Panesar can do, rival left-arm Daniel Vettori can do too.
