A masterful death bowling effort, and Ajinkya Rahane's third straight fifty, helped consolidate Rajasthan Royals' place in the top four, as they beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets in Mohali. Kevon Cooper was the primary architect of Kings XI's slow-down towards the end of their innings, as his measured slower deliveries exploited the slow nature of the Mohali surface, and swept away much of the momentum Shaun Marsh and Adam Gilchrist had secured in a 102-run stand. Having arrived at the 14th over at 100 for 1, Kings XI could only stumble to 145 for 6 in their 20 overs, having not hit a boundary in the last four overs of their innings.Cooper's first victim was Gilchrist, who reinstated himself in the side after three matches. He had batted securely for 42 from 32, and helped Marsh overcome an indifferent start, until he offered Cooper a return catch off an offcutter that took longer to arrive than he had anticipated. Cooper returned in the 17th over, proving difficult to get away, and should have had Marsh out then, had Rahul Dravid held on to a catch running back from cover. Cooper got both Marsh and David Miller next over though, again off slower balls, as both men perished attempting heaves across the line. Cooper finished with 3 wickets for 23 from his four overs. Rajasthan Royals 147 for 2 (Rahane 59*, Samson 47*) beat Kings XI Punjab 145 for 6 (Marsh 77, Cooper 3-23) by 8 wickets
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