ROYELL DELIGHT
Rajasthan pulls off a sensational win over Chennai
ABU DHABI: Rajasthan Royals turned on the style in a must-win match with a dominant seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in a high-scoring match in the IPL here on Saturday.
The win helped Rajasthan keep its hopes of qualifying for playoffs alive as it reached 10 points with two games remaining. Chennai, meanwhile, is still sitting pretty at the top with 18 points from 12 games. Rajasthan’s Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the two standout performers scoring half-centuries to help their team to an emphatic win. Dube remained unbeaten on 64 (42b, 4x4, 4x6) and Jaiswal scored 50 (21b, 6x4, 3x6)
Faced with a mountain to climb, Rajasthan’s two left-handed openers in Evin Lewis and Jaiswal went all guns blazing from the outset targeting Sam Curran and Josh Hazlewood. Jaiswal was in a punishing mood and was particularly harsh on Hazlewood slamming boundaries at will. Lewis was not to be left behind and the West Indian unleashed a few delectable shots from his repertoire in a brief but entertaining knock of 27 (12b, 2x4, 2x6).
Just when he was looking good to kick on, Shardul Thakur removed him in the last over of the powerplay. One wicket led to another and fast bowler KM Asif got rid of the dangerous Jaiswal off his first ball. Such was the ferocity of Rajasthan batters that both Curran and Hazlewood conceded in excess of 50 runs from their quota of four overs.
Earlier, Indian cricket’s GenNext star Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his red-hot form with a magnificent century as Chennai scored 189 for 4. Gaikwad struck as many as nine fours and five sixes in his 60-ball 101 not out to make a mockery of Royals’ bowling attack. Some of his shots in the off-side region would be remembered for times to come.
Ravindra Jadeja (32 not out off 15 balls) scythed through the Royals attack at the back-end as CSK added 55 runs in only 3.4 overs. In fact, in the final over, Jadeja faced four deliveries, leaving Gaikwad with two deliveries and he pulled Mustafizur Rahman off the final delivery to complete the coveted landmark.
For the Royals, leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia (3/39 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler but his joy of getting three scalps was spoilt by Gaikwad with two back-to-back sixes -one over long-off and other into the sightscreen. The sixes over mid-wicket off left-arm seamers Akash Singh and Mustafizur were delightful as they landed at least 20 yards behind the ropes into the grass banks.
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 189/4 in 20 overs (R Gaikwad 101 not out, R Tewatia 3/39) lost to Rajasthan Royals 190/3 in 17.3 overs (S Dube 64 not out, Y Jaiswal 50)