IPL 2020, RR vs CSK Highlights: Rajasthan won their first match of the season on Tuesday.IPL 2020, RR vs CSK Highlights: Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 16 runs in Sharjah on Tuesday as the Steve Smith-led side successfully defended their first innings total of 216/7.
Inviting RR to bat first backfired on CSK as Smith’s team posted a massive total owing to a 121-run partnership between the skipper and Sanju Samson (74). Jofra Archer’s 8-ball 27 helped RR reach their total in the final over. In their chase, CSK started well with Shane Watson (33) and Murali Vijay (21) but Rahul Tewatia’s three quick wickets proved to be their downfall. Despite a late show by Faf du Plessis (72) and MS Dhoni (29*), CSK failed to complete the task as they ended on 200/6.
IPL 2020, RR vs CSK LIVE: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings.
And there it is! Rajasthan win by 16 runs as they restrict Chennai on 200/6! Faf du Plessis' (72) and MS Dhoni (29*) partnered well towards the end -- with the latter even hitting three back-to-back sixes in the last over -- but it was too late for CSK for a revival. Steve Smith takes the win, owing to his fifty, Sanju Samson's blitzkrieg and Rahul Tewatia's three quick wickets in the middle overs.
Archer comes back in for his last over, and Faf takes a quick two. Both the batsmen rotate strike and then the South African gets on with business -- boom, a six over deep mid-wicket! But Archer has his revenge as he gets Faf caught out on 72. 38 needed off 7 now. All but over for Chennai now. Jadeja to walk in now. Dhoni is on the other side on 9*. CSK: 179/6 (18.5 overs)
The South African doesn't waste the momentum as he hammers Tom Curran for a six in the next over too! But the Englishman bounces back with an inch-perfect yorker, what a contest! 10 runs off the over. 48 needed off 12 now. CSK: 169/5 (18 overs)
Dhoni takes a single off Unadkat in the first ball, then Faf flays the seamer for a six over long-on. Two singles, and then Faf goes berserk! Two back-to-back sixes and the South African reaches his 14th IPL fifty. 58 needed off 18 now. CSK: 159/5 (17 overs)
Tewatia comes back for his final over, and smack! Faf sends his delivery over long-on for a six. A helmetless Dhoni fails to get his trademark shot in and settles for a single. Faf punishes again with a maximum. 16 runs off the over. CSK: 131/5 (15 overs)
Unadkat comes back and bowls a responsible over, giving away just seven runs off it. The pressure's mounting on CSK right now as Jadhav and Faf are unable to get the big shots in. Even in the next over, Faf failed to make good use of a free hit and managed to take just a single. And there it is... the wicket. Jadhav is caught behind after he tried to slog Tom Curran. Samson with brilliant reactions behind the stumps. Who will it be next? The big-hitter Jadeja or the finisher Dhoni? CSK: 114/5 (13.4 overs)
After scoring just 9 runs in the last two overs, CSK find their groove back again... through Kedar Jadhav (18*). He smacks Gopal for three back-to-back fours. The shackles are coming loose, but they still need a huge 14.5 runs per over! CSK: 101/4 (12 overs)
In the first innings, Sanju Samson was the driving force for Rajasthan Royals early on with his nine mammoth sixes in his 32-ball 74. Later on, Jofra Archer assumed the role of the destroyer and hit four maximums in his knock of 27. Relive it here.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) came on to the pitch, charged out and... stumped! Tewatia gets his fourth! CSK: 77/4 (9 overs)
Sam Curran brings the blitzkrieg right on the door of Tewatia! After a four in the previous over, the Englishman goes for the big shots and he hits the spinner for two massive sixes on the trot. But there's a twist -- Tewatia completely confuses Curran in the middle with his spin, brings him out and gets him stumped by Samson. Brilliant stuff in Sharjah right now! CSK: 77/3 (8.5 overs)
Two wickets in the last six balls! Just the breakthrough Steve Smith was looking for. Vijay is the one who departs now as his miscued shot to the leg-side of the field is safely caught by Tom Curran. Shreyas Gopal takes the scalp. CSK: 58/2 (7.3 overs)
The powerplay ends, and so does Watson's innings as Rahul Tewatia completely uproots his leg-stump. The leg-spinner lured the batsman for a pull but the spin completely did him in the end. Watson departs for 33. CSK: 56/1 (6.4 overs)
Smith introduces Tom Curran, but it's the same story all over again. The opposition bowls mid-length, Watson (32*) holds his ground and just pulls it over everyone's heads. Another six into the scoreboard! He ends the over with a four. CSK: 53/0 (6 overs)
Shreyas Gopal joins the attack for RR, and off his second ball of the over, he gets punished by Vijay with a boundary to square leg. A single, Watson checks the bowler for a ball... and then unleashes a pull for an almighty six straight to the roof. CSK: 36/0 (5 overs)
After Vijay (14*) added some verve to CSK's innings in the previous over with two fours, Watson (10*) joins the party with a leg-cutter of a maximum facing Archer. But the pacer bounces back with five straight dot balls. Intense. CSK: 25/0 (4 overs)
Both the batsman look solid as they are currently dealing in singles and doubles. However, Watson once set can be the key man for CSK. As of now the duo have added 8 after two overs.
The chase starts as Murali Vijay and Shane Watson make way to the middle, with Vijay taking the strike. Jayadev Unadkat will open the attack for Rajasthan.
Jofra Archer makes hitting sixes look so easy, as he smashes Lungi Ngidi for four consecutive sixes. A total of 30 runs come from it as Rajasthan post a gigantic 216/7 on the board. CSK need 217 to win.
Steve Smith's innings comes to an end. He came to open the innings for Rajasthan and walks back in the 19th over, tells you how important this man is for any side. Smith shuffled across the crease, like he usually does, and whips it firmly but straight into the pockets of Kedar Jadhav fielding at deep mid-wicket. RR: 186-7 (19 overs)
Tom Curran is given caught-behind and this decision leaves him amused. However, the umpires are having a chat and it seems they are going upstairs to check whether the ball hit the bat or it even carried to Dhoni. TV replay shows that it hits Curran's thigh pad and not his bat on the way and what makes it more interesting is that it bounced before it was collected by Dhoni. Good that the umpire went upstairs as Curran survives. RR 177-6 (18 overs)