IPL 2019 highlights: CSK winning spree continues as they beat RR by 8 runs

Negotiating largely disciplined bowlers on a tricky pitch, skipper Dhoni produced a well-calculated half-century as Chennai Super Kings posted 175-5. Check CSK vs RR Live score, match commentary here

In Match 12 of VIVO Indian Premier League 2019 (IPL 2019), Mahendra Singh Dhoni's well-calculated half-century in challenging conditions turned out to be game-changer as Chennai Super Kings won their third IPL 2019 match as they hand eight-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. The pitch used in the previous match was a rank turner here but on Sunday it turned to be a different challenge for the batsmen since it was not conducive for stroke-play as the ball was stopping a bit.

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Dhoni paced his innings beautifully, scoring unbeaten 75 off 46 balls to lead his side to a competitive 175 for five, seizing momentum from Royals bowlers who were off to an inspiring start. The Royals needed someone to play a Dhoni-like innings but none took that responsibility and they could manage 167 for 8, suffering their third defeat in as many matches. Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer took the chase deep with their fiery 44-run stand but Dwayne Bravo bowled a brilliant last over, defending 12 runs that Royals needed to score to claim the win.

IPL 2019, Match 12: CSK vs RR full scorecard

Dhoni used his vast experience to read the conditions and mostly worked the ball around to keep the scoreboard ticking. Whenever he got the chance, he opened his arms and hit four fours and as many sixes.

Dhoni and Suresh Raina (36) added 61 runs for the fourth wicket, pushing the ball around and later the former India skipper raised a 56-run stand with West Indies' Dwayne Barvo, who added quick 27 runs.

Royals were disciplined throughout but pacer Jaydev Unadkat (1/54) conceded 28 runs in the final over with Dhoni finding three of his four sixes in that over after Ravindra Jadeja (8) lofted the paceman for a maximum.

The Royals innings went the CSK way as they struggled in Powerplay overs and lost top three batsmen.

Steve Smith (28) and Rahul Tripathi (3) steadied the innings with their 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket but spinner Imran Tahir sent them back in an excellent spell to make it difficult for the visitors.

Stokes (46 off 26) was still at the crease when Royals needed 44 from last three overs. Stokes and Archer collected 19 runs from Barvo's over taking the equation to 25 from 12.

It came down to 12 from last six balls and Bravo made up for that expensive over by having Stokes caught in the first ball. The West Indian all-rounder conceded just three runs by bowling quick to ensure CSK end on the right side of the result.

Earlier, the Royals pace trio of Archer (2/17), Dhawal Kulkarni (1/37) and Stokes kept the CSK batsmen on a tight leash in the powerplay overs. They conceded just 29 runs and also got rid of three top-order batsmen.

Each of them accounted for one CSK batsman, bringing experienced Dhoni and Raina together at the crease.

The runs came in singles with spinners Shreyas Gopal and Krishnappa Gowtham maintaining the pressure with tight line and length.

The ball stopped a bit, specially when Gopal operated, making stroke-making even more difficult. At half-way mark, CSK out on board just 55 runs and only seven boundaries were struck.

Raina meanwhile hit a massive six off Gopal but the two spinners did well to concede 37 runs while bowling in tandem for five overs.

In came Unadkat and went for a few runs but broke the stand by castling Raina with a quick delivery. Raina missed the line and Unadkat hit the stumps.

12:11 AM

Chennai Super Kings win by 8 runs

12:11 AM

Over 20

Over Summary: W 0 1L 1 W 1 ; RR: 167-8

Bravo continues and Stokes holed up the first ball straight to extra-cover, OUT. Stokes c Raina b Dwayne Bravo 46(26) [4s-1 6s-3]. Shreyas Gopal, right handed bat, comes to the crease and fails to make an connection, DOT... One leg byes.... A single for Archer off the 4th ball. Bravo gets Shreyas Gopal as he gets an top-edge to third-man fielder, Imran Tahir. Shreyas Gopal c Tahir b Dwayne Bravo 0(3).  A single for Jofra Archer to end the over and match. 

12:01 AM

Over 19; Rajasthan need 12 runs in 6 balls

Over Summary: 1L 2 1 6 2 1 ; RR: 164-6

Thakur continues and Stokes picks a leg byes. Archer gets a top-edge to deep third-man and picks a couple of runs. A single for Archer off the 3rd ball to deep fine leg. Stokes muscles the 4th ball to backward square leg for SIX. A couple of runs for Stokes off the 5th ball to sweeper cover. A single for Stokes to end the over. 

11:53 PM

Over 18; Rajasthan need 25 runs in 12 balls

Over Summary: 6 4 1 2 6 0 ; RR: 151-6

Dwayne Bravo [2.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack and Stokes hits the slower delivery to long-off boundary for SIX follows by a FOUR to fine leg boundary. Stokes hits the 3rd ball to extra cover for a single. A couple of runs for Archer off the 4th ball to deep square leg. Archer wallopes the 5th ball straight down the ground for SIX. DOT to end the over. 

11:47 PM

Over 17; Rajasthan need 44 runs in 18 balls

Over Summary: W 4 1 1 0 6 ; RR: 132-6

Shardul Thakur [2.0-0-18-1] is back into the attack and Gowtham holed up the first ball to extra-cover. Gowtham c Raina b SN Thakur 9(8) [6s-1]. Jofra Archer, right handed bat, comes to the crease and cuts the first ball to backward point for FOUR follows by a single. Stokes puinches the 4th ball to sweeper cover. Archer beaten outside-off. Archer smoked the last ball to long-on boundary to end the over. 

11:40 PM

Over 16; Rajasthan need 56 runs in 24 balls

Over Summary: 6 0 0 1 1 1 ; RR: 120-5

Tahir continues after time-out and Gowtham smashes the 1st ball to mid-wicket stand for SIX. Tahir comeback briliantly with 3 DOTs, no but Dhoni concedes a single. Stokes picks a single off the 5th ball and a single for Gowtham to end the over. 

11:35 PM

Time-out

The balance in favour of CSK as they get 5 wickets and pitch is getting very very slow despite the dew

11:34 PM

Over 15; Rajasthan need 65 runs in 30 balls

Over Summary:2 2 6 1 1 2; RR: 111-5

Ravindra Jadeja [1.0-0-9-0] is back into the attack and Stokes hits the first uppishly to square leg boundary for a couple of runs follows by another double same direction but a ground shot this time. Stokes wallopes the 3rd ball just over deep mid-wicket for SIX follows by a quick single. A single for Gowtham off the 5th ball. A couple of runs off the last ball to end the over. 

11:29 PM

Over 14; Smith OUT

Over Summary:1 W 2 0 1 0; RR: 97-5

Tahir continues and Stokes picks a single off the first ball. Smith goes for a big one off the 2nd ball but doesn't times it properly and holed it to long-off. Smith c (sub)Shorey b Tahir 28(30) [4s-2]. Krishnappa Gowtham, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Stokes works away the 3rd ball to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. DOT... A single for Stokes to fine-leg. DOT to end the over. 

11:25 PM

Over 13; CRR: 7.15 REQ: 11.86

Over Summary: Wd Wd 1 1 0 1 1 0; RR: 93-4

Bravo continues and bowls the first ball down the leg side, Dhoni goes for animated appeal but Bravo doesn't look interested, WIDE called... Another WIDE down the leg side. Smith cuts the 1st ball to third-man for a single. Stokes guides the 2nd ball to third-man for a single. Smith beaten outside off as he tries to cut. Smith drives the 4th ball to long-on for a single. Stokes takes a single off the 5th ball to mid-wicket. DOT to end the over. 

11:18 PM

Over 12; CRR: 7.25 REQ: 11.12

Over Summary: 1 1 2 1 1 1; RR: 87-4

Tahir continues and Smith picks a single off the first ball. Stokes picks a single off the 2nd ball. Smith works away the 3rd ball to long-on for a couple of runs follows by a single to long-on. Stokes works away the 5th ball to long-on for a single. Smith picks a single off the last ball to short mi-wicket. 

11:16 PM

Over 11

Over Summary: 1 1 0 1 0 2; RR: 80-4

Dwayne Bravo, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack and Smith works away the first ball to backward square leg for a single. Stokes picks a single off the 2nd ball. DOT... A single for Smith off the 4th ball. DOT and a double for Stokes to end the over. 

11:13 PM

Ben Stokes, left handed bat, comes to the crease

11:12 PM

Over 10; Tahir breaks 50-run stand

Over Summary: 0 0 1 1 1 W; RR: 75-4

Imran Tahir, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack and Smith takes a single off the 3rd ball after blocking the first two. Tripathi takes a single off the 4th ball towards long-on. A single taken by Smith off the 5th. Tripathi hits the last ball straight to bowler and Tahir completes the catch. R Tripathi c and b Tahir 39(24) [4s-5 6s-1]

11:03 PM

Time-out

Match is equally poised at first time-out as Rahul Tripathi and Steve Smith put 50-run stand after losing Ajinkya Rahane, Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson early. Rajasthan need 104 runs in 66 balls