Watson’s impressive performance over the Challengers …

An impressive all-round performance from Shane Watson saw the Rajasthan Royals continue their fine Indian Premier League form with a seven-wicket victory over the Bangalore Royal Challengers.

Watson took 2-20 off his four overs as the Royal Challengers were restricted to 8-135 in Bangalore, before smashing an unbeaten 61 from 41 balls to lead his side home with 17 balls to spare.

The frugal Royals were seen by many as Indian Premier League underdogs after spending roughly half as much as the other franchises at the pre-season auction but, having won three of their first four matches, they are in an excellent position to push for a semi-final place.

After Watson's compatriot and captain Shane Warne won the toss, the all-rounder was on the money straight away, removing Bangalore openers Rahul Dravid and Shivnarine Chanderpaul courtesy of catches from Ravindra Jadeja.

Ross Taylor was the star performer for the Royal Challengers, smashing 44 off 20 balls, before becoming the first of Munaf Patel's two wickets.

But Jacques Kallis, Virat Kohli and Mark Boucher failed to follow suit as the middle order capitulated.

Shane Warne (1-23) bowled a rare maiden, before some late runs from Praveen Kumar (34 off 30) helped Bangalore recover from 6-78.

Although Kumar removed Mahesh Rawat early on, Rajasthan's reply always looked likely to be successful.

Yusuf Pathan plundered 21 off 12 before falling to Zaheer Khan, leaving Graeme Smith and Watson together.

They compiled a stand of 104, the highlight of which was a Kumar over which was taken for 26 - five fours and a maximum - by a rampant Watson.

Smith eventually fell for 49, caught at long on by Anil Kumble off the bowling of Sunil Joshi, but Watson saw the Royals home.

The win takes Rajasthan second in the table while Bangalore are sixth after one win and two defeats.

Bangalore Royal Challengers
Chanderpaul c Jadeja b Watson 2 (9)
Dravid c Jadeja b Watson 0 (1)
Taylor c Smith b Patel 44 (20)
Kallis c Patel b Trivedi 11 (10)
Kohli c Rawat b Patel 13 (14)
Boucher c Rawat b Warne 4 (10)
P Kumar run out (Rawat/Watson) 34 (30)
Joshi run out (Tanvir/Rawat) 3 (8)
Khan not out 17 (18)
R Kumar not out 1 (1)
Extras 6 (lb 2 w 3, nb 1)
Total 135 (8 wickets; 20.0 overs)

FoW: 1-1 (Dravid, 0.2 ov), 2-16 (Chanderpaul, 2.2 ov), 3-59 (Kallis, 6.3 ov), 4-65 (Taylor, 7.2 ov), 5-77 (Kohli, 9.4 ov), 6-78 (Boucher, 11.4 ov), 7-90 (Joshi, 13.6 ov), 8-131 (Kumar, 19.2 ov)

Bowling
Watson 4-0-20-2 (1nb)
Tanvir 4-0-31-0 (1w)
Patel 3-0-20-2
Trivedi 4-0-29-1 (2w)
Warne 4-1-23-1
Pathan 1-0-10-0

Rajasthan Royals innings
Smith c Kumble b Joshi 49 (42)
Rawat c Boucher b Kumar 0 (2)
Pathan c Boucher Khan 21 (12)
Watson not out 61 (41)
Kaif not out 4 (6)
Extras 3 (lb 1, w 2)
Total 138 (3 wickets; 17.1 overs)

FoW: 1-1 (Rawat, 0.4 ov), 2-26 (Pathan, 3.2 ov), 3-130 (Smith, 15.6 ov)

Bowling
Kumar 3-0-42-1
Khan 4-0-24-1
Vinay Kumar 2-0-15-0 (1w)
Kumble 4-0-22-0 (1w)
Kallis 1-0-7-0
Joshi 3.1-0-27-1