Cooper shines as Rajasthan win to go third in IPL

AHMEDABAD, India (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Kevon Cooper turned in an enterprising performance with bat and ball to help lift Rajasthan Royals to a 62-run win over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League here yesterday. Sent in, Royals mustered 201 for six off their 20 overs with the right-handed Cooper blasting 32 from 16 balls. In reply, Delhi were restricted to 139 for nine from their 20 overs, with Cooper producing a stingy spell, sending down three overs for just 19 runs and taking one wicket. The victory was Rajasthan’s seventh of the campaign and it kept them in touch with the leaders, in third on 14 points. Playing at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Ajinkya Rahane top-scored with 64 from 50 balls and put on 44 for the first wicket with Karun Nair (19), and a further 49 for the second wicket with Cooper. Usually a lower order batsman, but promoted to number three for this game, the 25-year-old Cooper blasted two fours and three sixes, as Rajasthan found momentum up front. He announced his attentions off the second ball he faced, smashing left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem for a straight six and followed up in the bowler’s next over by clearing long-off with another big hit. Cooper also clobbered JP Duminy for a straight six but in attempting another big stroke off the next ball, holed out to cover in the 11th over. Sanju Samson then hit 40 from 25 balls, to sustain the momentum for Rajasthan. When Delhi batted, they crashed to 58 for five in the tenth over and only Manoj Tiwary, with 61 not out, showed any enterprise.