As away wins become more and more crucial in the Indian Premier League 2013, Rajasthan Royals picked up two points on the road in Mohali by beating Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets.
An unbroken 75-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane, unbeaten on 62, and Sanju Sansom, who made 43, saw the Royals home after Kings XI had posted 145 for six batting first.
In a tournament that has already seen some blistering centuries and some stunning finishes, David Miller scripted one of the most remarkable of each to see Kings XI Punjab to a six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Mohali.
Set 191 to win after half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Chris Gayle, Kings XI needed 94 in 40 balls but thanks to Miller hammering 101 not out in 38 deliveries, got home with two overs to spare.
Four weeks into the 2013 Indian Premier League and the knock-outs' picture is beginning to take shape. If you compare it with 2012, it isn't a close run thing.
At this stage last season, there were seven teams vying for four spots. A year later, things have evolved a little bit more, with only five teams in the fray now and a sixth with an outside chance.
Suresh Raina scored his maiden Indian Premier League century as Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab by 15 runs to further extend their lead at the top of the table to six points.
Raina's unbeaten 100 in 53 balls set up Chennai's score of 186 for four and although Kings XI gave the two-time champions a fright or two in reply, they eventually closed on 171 for six.
Rohit Sharma was at his fluent best as Mumbai Indians continued their Indian Premier League 2013 revival by recording a four-run win over Kings XI Punjab.
After Kings XI were bowled out for 170 in pursuit of 175 to win, it meant they followed up a brace of wins with a brace of defeats, a trend they will seek to reverse as soon as possible.
Reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders won their first Indian Premier League 2013 match in four as Manvinder Bisla anchored a six-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab.
Bisla was unbeaten on 51 as they overhauled Kings XI's score of 149 for six with 10 balls to spare, hauling themselves up to within two points of their defeated opponents with eight matches played.
Ideally this headline should read as 'Royal Challengers Bangalore Lay Down The Marker', having taken an early lead in the Indian Premier League 2013. Despite Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals pushing towards the top, Virat Kohli's side has stayed at the top consistently. Chetan Narula rounds up the latest IPL 2013 action as we approach the halfway stage.
Kings XI Punjab beat Delhi Daredevils by five wickets at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, confirming that their victory in the last match against Mumbai Indians was certainly no fluke.
Kings XI now have eight points from seven games and are steadily climbing up the Indian Premier League 2013 table. Delhi meanwhile are back where they started, at the bottom end, with two points only.
In a game of high hitting, Kings XI Punjab beat Pune Warriors by seven wickets at Mohali. This win lifts Kings XI to fifth in the table, just above Mumbai Indians, both teams having six points from six games. Pune Warriors are second from last, with four points from seven games, and now will have to watch their backs as Delhi Daredevils got off the mark earlier in the day.
Sunrisers Hyderabad moved back to the top of the Indian Premier League 2013 table as Thisara Perera blasted three sixes in the 19th over to secure a five-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab.
Kings XI were making a spirited defence of their score of 127 for five but their hopes evaporated as Perera ruthlessly punished a series of length balls bowled by Azhar Mahmood to win the game with seven balls to spare.
Kings XI Punjab registered their second win of the Indian Premier League 2013 by defeating reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders by four runs.
They moved up to fifth place in the table as a result of holding on at the end, as Kolkata slipped to sixth places after suffering their third loss.
In their latest series of Indian Premier League 2013 podcasts, John Pennington and Chetan Narula discuss a number of topics, ranging from Delhi Daredevils' struggles to the form of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
Two weekends in the 2013 Indian Premier League have come and gone, almost as a wind. The cricket on show has been enticing, at times a little slow and at other times the supposed entertainment took over.
The one assured aspect that came out on top though, and will continue to do so, is the ebb and flow of different teams as fortunes will change daily. Chetan Narula runs the rule over the start of the 2013 tournament.
Rajasthan Royals put up a clinical show on their way to a six-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab at Jaipur.
It was a close-run thing in the end, but Rajasthan never truly lost control and cemented their place at third place in the Indian Premier League points table, with six from four games.
Chennai Super Kings proved that you can't keep a good team down, or not for long anyway, by beating Kings XI Punjab by 10 wickets to get off the mark in the Indian Premier League 2013 in Mohali.
Kings XI Punjab started well but then faded badly to be bowled out for 138 and in reply Chennai closed on 139 without loss in 17.2 overs.
Cricket World TV looks back at the opening week of the Indian Premier League 2013 - IPL 2013 - IPL 6 in India, which at the time of recording saw four times level on two points at the top of the table.
After seven matches of the 2013 Indian Premier League, John Pennington and Chetan Narula discuss the start of the tournament, which has seen outsiders Sunrisers Hyderabad hit the top of the table.
Kings XI Punjab made a winning start to the Indian Premier League 2013 with a crushing eight-wicket win over Pune Warriors, who have now not won in 11 IPL matches.
They could only post a pathetic 99 for nine after winning the toss and choosing to bat and Kings XI raced to victory in 12.2 overs.
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) will combine for the sixth successive year to ensure that the 2013 IPL tournament is played in the right spirit.
The sixth edition of the IPL starts today, when 2012 winners, Kolkata Knight Riders, host Delhi Daredevils at Eden Gardens.
A number of Indian Premier League 2013 matches have been rescheduled to avoid clashes with assembly elections in Karnataka.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka players are set to be given the go-ahead to play in the tournament but will not feature in any matches in Chennai.
Australians Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson and James Faulkner were among the big winners as the auction for IPL 2013 took place in Chennai. Maxwell fetched the biggest amount of the day when he was sold for $1 million (five times his base price) to Mumbai Indians. Faulkner and Richardson also fetched more than expected, with the former selling for $400,000 to Rajasthan Royals and Richardson going to Pune Warriors for an incredible $700,000.
The auction for the sixth season of the Indian Premier League will be held on 3rd February in Chennai, according to reports and social media posts.
IPL Chief Executive Officer Sundar Raman tweeted the following: "Pepsi IPL auction will be held on 3rd Feb in Chennai starting 11am IST."
179 players have had their contracts extended as the nine Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises confirmed their initial squads for the 2013 season.
The franchises were permitted to extend contracts with their players under the same financial terms as 2012, something which the Hyderabad franchise - now owned by Sun TV - opted to with 20 of the Deccan Chargers players.
A cricket podcast from Cricket World as John Pennington and Chetan Narula look back on recent matches in the Indian Premier League 2012 - IPL 5 - IPL 2012 and ahead to the final week of action.
They reflect on the final group games, which confirmed Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings as the four teams who will battle it out for overall glory.
