IPL 2019 highlights: CSK beat RR, but cool MSD loses cool in 100th IPL win
Chennai Super Kings produced yet another disciplined bowling effort to restrict Rajasthan Royals to a modest 151 for seven.
 "IPL 2019, CSK")
CSK. Photo: PTI
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Dhawal Kulkarni bowled a perfect away going delivery that squared up Shane Watson (0) while Suresh Raina (4) was beaten by a direct throw.
Faf du Plessis (7) soon followed the suit as Rahul Tripathi took a well judged catch at the deep mid-wicket boundary off Jaydev Unadkat's bowling to reduce CSK to 15 for 3.
Kedar Jadhav (1) didn't last long but it took an air-borne Ben Stokes to pull off an incredible catch at backward point off Jofra Archer's bowling.
At 24 for 4, Dhoni walked in and with two young spinners in Shreyas Gopal and Riyan Parag (0/24 in 3 overs) bowling in tandem, he launched into the duo hitting them for a six each as Rayudu kept on rotating the strike, hitting the odd boundaries in between. Their 50-run stand for the fifth wicket came in 42 balls as Dhoni deposited Gopal into the stands for his third six. Rayudu also did his bit lofting Stokes for a six.
Earlier, Chennai Super Kings produced yet another disciplined bowling effort to restrict Rajasthan Royals to a modest 151 for seven in 20 overs.
Save Jos Buttler (23 off 10 balls) at the top of the order, none of other Royals batsmen looked the part as CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's immaculate reading of the track once again helped the defending champions.
Left-arm spin duo Ravindra Jadeja (2/20 in 4 overs) and Mitchell Santner (1/25 in 4 overs) checked the run-flow as Royals batsmen were always playing a catch-up game.
Even Imran Tahir (0/28 in 4 overs), who went for a few more runs compared to the other two spinners, ended with decent enough figures.
Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane (14 off 11) failed once again with seamer Deepak Chahar (2/33 in 4 overs) trapping him leg before.
Buttler belted Shardul Thakur (2/44 in 4 overs) for a few boundaries before he mistiming one which was easily caught by Ambati Rayudu.
Once Buttler was gone, Royals lost the momentum as wickets fell at regular imtervals. Steve Smith (15,22 balls) struggled once again as he slog swept Ravindra Jadeja towards deep mid-wicket only to find Rayudu. Samson also top edged a sweep which was caught by substitute fielder Dhruv Shorey.
Rahul Tripathi's struggles in the middle-order continued while Ben Stokes' 28 off 26 balls wasn't good enough.
It was Shreyas Gopal, who struck a few meaty blows en route his 19 off 7 balls to take the target past 150 despite the home team playing as many as 42 dot balls.
Over 20; CSK win after NO ball controversy
Ben Stokes to bowl the final and Jadeja hits the first ball for SIX and picks a single off the next, NO ball called. Dhoni to take the FREE HIT and it is only a couple of runs off FREE HIT. A brilliant yorker from Ben Stokes and cleans up Dhoni as CSK need 8 runs in 3 balls.
Over 19
Archer continues and Dhoni takes a single off the first ball. Jadeja collects a single off the 2nd ball ti nud-wicket. Dhoni tucks the 3rd ball to square leg for a couple of runs. Dhoni cuts the 4th ball to deep point for a couple of runs and completes his fifty. Another double for Dhoni. A french cut from Dhoni for FOUR to fine leg boundary
Over 18
Ben Stokes [1.0-0-9-0] is back into the attack and Dhoni gets an inside edge onto his pads, no run. A short ball and Dhoni pulls the 2nd ball to backward square leg boundary for FOUR. WIDE down the leg side. Another short delivery and Dhoni pulls it this time to square leg for a single. Rayudu perished in search of boundary. Rayudu c Shreyas Gopal b Stokes 57(47) [4s-2 6s-3]. Ravindra Jadeja, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Dhoni works the 5th ball to extra-cover for a single. Jadeja hits the last ball to long-on for a couple of runs.
Over 17; CRR: 6.65 REQ: 13
Jofra Archer [2.0-1-4-1] is back into the attack and Dhoni works the first ball to sweeper cover for a single. 2 leg byes for CSK as Rayudu fails to put bat on ball. A single for Rayudu off the third ball. One leg byes as a bumper hits Dhoni on the grill. A single each for Rayudu and Dhoni to end the over.
Over 16; CRR: 6.62 REQ: 11.5
Shreyas Gopal [3.0-0-26-0] is back into the attack and Dhoni fails to score off the first ball while picks a single off the second to short fine leg. Rayudu picks a single off the 3rd ball. Dhoni hits the full toss to sweeper cover for a single. A single for Rayudu off the 5th ball to square leg. A single for Dhoni to end the over.
Over 15; Rayudu hits fifty
Jaydev Unadkat [2.0-0-10-1] is back into the attack and Dhoni picks a single off the first ball. Rayudu flicks the 2nd ball to square leg for a single. Dhoni works the 3rd ball to point region for a single. Rayudu comes down the wicket and wallopes the 4th delivery over long-on for a much-needed MAXXIMUM (SIX) while dabs the next to point region for no run. Rayudu goes on the backfoot and smashes the last ball to mid-wicket boundary and completes his fifty.
Time-out
Over 14; CRR: 6.29 REQ: 10.67
Ben Stokes, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack and Dhoni works the first ball to fine leg for a single. Rayudu makes room and smashes 2nd ball for SIX. One leg byes taken. Dhoni drives the 4th ball to long-on for a single. A full-toss and Rayudu edges the 5th ball to keeper on a bounce, no run. WIDE down the leg side. DOT to end the over.
Over 13; CRR: 6 REQ: 10.57
Shreyas Gopal [2.0-0-16-0] is back into the attack and Rayudu picks a single off the first ball as Ben Stokes makes an SUPERMAN effort at cow-corner boundary. A single for Dhoni off the 2nd ball. Rayudu steers the 3rd ball to deep point for a single. DOT... Dhoni goes for biggie again and gets a SIX over long-on boundary follows by a single to long-on.
Over 12; CRR: 5.67 REQ: 10.5
Jofra Archer [1.0-1-0-1] is back into the attack and concedes only 4 runs.
Over 11; CRR: 5.82 REQ: 9.78
Riyan Parag and Rayudu hits the 1st ball between long-on and deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. DOT... A single for Rayudu off the 3rd ball to long-on. Dhoni slog sweeps the 4th ball to cow-corner boundary for SIX follows by a single to short fine-leg. Rayudu smashes the last ball straight down the ground for FOUR. Two big overs for CSK after time-out
Over 10
Shreyas Gopal continues and Rayudu picks a single off the first ball. Dhoni wallopes the 2nd ball for SIX follows by a single to point. Rayudu takes a single off the 4th ball. A single each for Dhoni and Rayudu to end the over.
Time-out
Over 9; CRR: 4.33 REQ: 10.27
Riyan Parag continues and Rayudu picks a single off the first ball to long-on. Dhoni works the 2nd ball to mid-wicket for a single. Rayudu collects a couple of runs as he hits the 3rd ball just over short extra-cover. Another Double for Rayudu in same direction follows by a single to long-on. DOT to end the over.
Over 8
Shreyas Gopal, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack and Rayudu tucks the first ball to mid-wicket for a single. Dhoni works the 2nd ball to backward square leg for a single. DOT and a single for Rayudu off the 3rd and 4th. A single for Dhoni off the 5th ball. A single for Rayudu to end the over.
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First Published: Apr 11 2019 | 5:29 PM IST
