JAIPUR, May 10: Rajasthan Royals strolled to the top of the Indian Premier League table on Friday night with an eight-wicket win over Deccan Chargers, who offered little resistance in a match that was effectively decided in the first innings (partly reported in Saturday’s edition).

Deccan Chargers posted a below-par 140 and looked listless as Rajasthan’s efficient batting chased the target with four overs to spare at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

After their batsmen collapsed in spectacular fashion following Adam Gilchrist’s dismissal for 61, Deccan’s fielders, perhaps hindered by the dust storm blowing across the stadium, failed to save runs and apply any pressure on Rajasthan.

Deccan have now lost six matches out of eight and, with six games to play, their chances of making the semi-finals look dim.

It all looked very different at the start when Gilchrist was attacking the bowling.

But once he was gone, Deccan Chargers lost six wickets for 43 runs.

Deccan appeared uninspired by their low score and their lack of confidence may have worked to Rajasthan’s advantage as Graeme Smith and Yusuf Pathan edged and slogged their way to a 109-run opening stand.

Yusuf lifted a good-length delivery off Scott Styris for six just after he was nearly stumped by Gilchrist. He then targeted Pragyan Ojha, hitting him for 17 runs in one over where he pulled a short ball for six, slog-swept to mid-off for four and then had a two converted to four after Rohit Sharma touched the boundary rope with his foot while fielding the ball.

There was little answer to the attack. Gilchrist spent a lot of time talking to his bowlers — six were used in the first 10 overs — and fielders but nothing seemed to work. Their spirit — or lack of it — was best summed up in the life given to Yusuf at 30. He top-edged a delivery from Afridi to midwicket and D.P. Vijaykumar ran uncertainly towards it and slowed down just as the ball fell in front of him. Deccan now lie just above the Bangalore Royal Challengers at the bottom of the points table and winning this game would have eased a little pressure in their bid to avoid elimination. They now face three tough games — two at home, against the resurgent Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians and one in Delhi against the Daredevils.

Summarised scores:

DECCAN CHARGERS 140-8 in 20 overs (Adam Gilchrist 61, Venugopal Rao 23; Shane Warne 2-20); RAJASTHAN ROYALS 141-2 in 16 overs (Yusuf Pathan 68, Graeme Smith 37).—Agencies