The highlight of Rajasthan innings after choosing to bat first was the 94-run stand for the second wicket between Watson (58) and opener Rahane (61) after captain Rahul Dravid (21) departed early.
Watson threatened to take Rajasthan to a much bigger total with a flurry of boundaries in his 31-ball knock before he was out in the 15th over. He hit six fours and four sixes in his innings.
Rahane, on the other hand, was less adventurous and more intent to preserve his wicket before being out in the final over. He hit seven fours in his 47-ball knock.
Rajasthan were 126 for two at the end of 15th over but they lost way towards the end as they could add just 44 runs in the last five overs with Brad Hodge (14) out in the 19th over.
For Pune, Ashish Nehra was the most successful bowler with figures of three for 23 while Angelo Mathews got one wicket for 29 runs.
Rajasthan, who need to win all of their remaining matches to keep their hopes of making it to the play-offs alive, began on a sedate note with captain Dravid and Rahane not taking too many risks. Not many boundaries came in the first powerplay.
Dravid was the first one to go in the fifth over with Pune wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa effecting a superb catch. Dravid wanted to launch an Ashish Nehra delivery but got an outside edge and Uthappa dived to his right to take a low one-handed catch.
