Paceman Rahul Shukla rocked the rival top-order by taking three wickets in five balls as Rajasthan Royals restricted Otago Volts to a modest 139 for 7 in their Group A Champions League T20 match here today.
Generating good pace and bowling a good line, Shukla finished with three for 23 but was instrumental in restricting the visitors to a manageable total.
The saving grace of the Otago innings was a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket between James Neesham (32) and Ryan ten Doeschate (26) which gave a little respectability to visitors.
Down the order Nathan McCullum (28) and Ian Butler (25) added some useful runs.
For the hosts, apart from Shukla, Kevon Cooper (2/33) took two wickets while Pravin Tambe (1/17) and Shane Watson (1/24) scalped one batsman each.
Otago Volts, high on confidence with a 15-match winning spree, made a sedate start through Neil Broom (11) and Hashim Rutherford (5) who added 16 runs in three overs.
Shukla, who was included in place of Vikramjeet Malik, was called on to bowl fourth over of the innings. The move turned out to be a master stroke as in his first over as he rattled rival camp with three quick wickets.
He removed Hamish Rutherford (11) with his first ball, skipper McCullum (0) with third and Derrek de Boorder (0) on fifth ball.
Shane Watson further added to the woes of Otago by scalping Broom, who had hit a fine ton against Lions, to reduce the visitors to 21 for in fifth over.
Neesham (32) and ten Doeschate steadied the innings with a partnership of 53 runs off 47 balls for the fifth wicket.
Left-handed Neesham, who had hit a brisk 25 ball 52 in his previous innings against Perth Scorchers, holed out to Watson at long on off Cooper.
Nathan and Butler then added 39 quick runs for the side.
