Marsh fifty spurs Punjab to thumping win over Rajasthan

MOHALI, India,  (Reuters) – Shaun Marsh struck a  stroke-filled half century as Kings XI Punjab trounced a sloppy  Rajasthan Royals by 48 runs for their third successive victory  in the Indian Premier League yesterday.

Former Australia opener Geoff Marsh’s son Shaun blasted 71  after Paul Valthaty (46) and Adam Gilchrist (28) had a  blistering start to power the Punjab side to a mammoth 195-7.

Left with a mountain to climb, Shane Warne and his Rajasthan  colleagues could only manage 147-7 and the resistance offered by  Ashok Menaria (34) and Stuart Binny (30) was not enough to avert  their fourth defeat in six matches.

Shaun Marsh

Warne was left to rue his decision to field first and could  only watch helplessly as deliveries with which Siddharth Trivedi  bowled Gilchrist and Shaun Tait (3-22) had Valthaty caught in  the slips were both declared no-balls.

Valthaty was also dropped twice in his innings, which  allowed the in-form Indian to partner Gilchrist and score at  nearly 17-runs-per-over before Australian all-rounder Shane  Watson cut short his compatriot’s stay in the fifth over.

Marsh then joined the run-feast and hit six fours and three  sixes before giving a return catch to Watson to exit after a  42-ball blitz.