RR do the double over MS Dhoni's CSK, go top again in IPL 2023
Jaiswal's 43-ball 77 inspired the home team to a comfortable win over Chennai.
After consecutive defeats, Rajasthan Royals returned to winning ways and the top of the Indian Premier League points table with a 32-run victory against Chennai Super Kings on Thursday.
Riding on a classy 43-ball 77 by Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order and fireworks by Dhruv Jurel (34 off 15) and Devdutt Padikkal (27* off 13) towards the end, RR finished with 202/5 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium – the highest-ever IPL total in Jaipur – after opting to bat first.
Despite Shivam Dube’s 33-ball 52, CSK could never get on top in the chase and were restricted to 170/6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co slipped to second position as RR completed the double over them this season.
Jaiswal was in sublime touch from the get-go. He hit three of the first four balls of the match, by Akash Singh, for fours, before smacking three fours and a six in the second over by the left-arm pacer. En route to his third half-century of the season, the left-hander showed once again why he’s one of the most exciting Indian prospects.
Rajasthan motored along to 85/0 in eight overs, even as Jos Buttler had a comparatively off night with the bat (27 off 21). England’s star opener perished in the ninth over before Tushar Deshpande removed Jaiswal and skipper Sanju Samson (17 off 17) in the 14th. To make matters worse for RR, Shimron Hetmyer also fell cheaply (8 off 10) soon after.
Chennai had a good phase from the 14th to 17th overs and conceded just 28 runs. But RR fought back strongly by smashing 49 runs in the last three overs thanks to Jurel and Padikkal.
Maheesh Theekshana (1/24) bowled with great skill and control but his Sri Lankan compatriot Matheesha Pathirana was expensive with figures of 0/48.
In reply, CSK got their lowest powerplay total (42/1) this season as Sandeep Sharma, in particular, did brilliantly to concede just eight runs in two overs. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his impressive run and got a 29-ball 47, but was dismissed by Adam Zampa in the 10th over.
A big moment in the contest came in the 11th over when R Ashwin removed the in-form Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu in a span of three deliveries. Reduced to 73/4, CSK needed a partnership and they got one in quick time thanks to Shivam Dube and Moeen Ali (23 off 12).
Dube went on to get his third consecutive half-century and struck four sixes in his knock to give CSK a semblance of hope. Eventually, though, the target proved to be too big as RR bowled with discipline and conceded just 45 runs in the last five overs. Dube and Ravindra Jadeja (23* off 15) put on a 46-run partnership for the sixth wicket but it wasn’t nearly enough.
Sharma may have returned wicketless but bowled a high class spell of 0/24, while Zampa was the pick of the bowlers with 3/22.
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