Rajasthan Royals kept their playoffs hopes alive with a scintillating performance with the bat against Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. Chasing 190, the Royals went over the line by 7 wickets.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Evin Lewis were off to a brisk start to the chase after the two batters put 77 for the first wicket before Lewis departed for 27 off 12 balls. But Jaiswal was in different form as he struck a half-century in just 19 balls during the course, a knock that included three maximums and 6 fours. He was eventually undone by Asif after getting caught behind by MS Dhoni.
But the left-hander’s wicket didn’t really push RR on the backfoot as Shivam Dube and captain Sanju Samson took the onus on themselves and stitched a stand of 89 runs for the third wicket.
Dube was in sublime form as he struck four maximums and as many fours to return unbeaten at 64 off 42 during the chase. Samson was eventually sent back in the hut by Shardul Thakur for 28 but that didn’t really have much impact on the scoring-rate and RR went over the line in the 18th over.
Earlier, in the day, the Chennai Super Kings batting unit was on song as well with Ruturaj Gaikwad unveiling a masterclass with the willow. The right-hander scored his maiden IPL ton while Ravindra Jadeja took on the RR bowling attack in the death overs and an unbeaten 15-ball 32 to help the side put 189/4 on the board.
CSK captain MS Dhoni lauded RR batsmen for putting in such kind of an efforts. “You needed to bat well, and they did that, and put pressure on the bowlers. They just took the game away in the first 6 overs. 250 would've been closer to par (Warning: sarcasm), given the way they were going,” he said in the post-match presentation.
RR skipper Sanju Samson said that the track had something on offer for the batsmen in the later phase of the game. “We are aware of the abilities of the people we have in our batting line-up. That's why it's disappointing when we lose. The wicket was behaving really well in the last 3-4 overs, so we knew it'd be much better in the second innings. I am happy I guessed it (pitch getting better in the second innings) right,” he said.
Experts’ Opinion
Commentator Harsha Bhogle lavished praise on the way RR batsmen fared in the match and anchored the side to an important win. “What an astonishing result! And what a sensational performance from Rajasthan Royals. Aaj sachmuch HallaBol,” he tweeted.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag lauded Jaiswal and Dube for their batting efforts. “What a run chase by Rajasthan Royals. Yashasvi Jaiswal was top class and clean striking from Shivam Dube.The league is now wide open,” he wrote on Twitter.
Former India batsman Aakash Chopra went on to suggest that both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Jaiswal should be adjudged man of the match. “Can we pick both Ruturaj and Yashasvi as Players Of The Match today? Make an exception. Indian Pratibha League after all,” he tweeted.
Journalist Ayaz Memon was all in praise for Dube and Jaiswal after the two left-handers toyed with CSK bowling. “Stupefying run chase by Rajasthan Royals against table toppers CSK. Jaiswal and Dube toyed with the bowling. Shows the talent they possess but also highlights their inconsistency. But this upset result makes competition for 2 places in the play offs stiffer,” he wrote on Twitter.
CSK will now lock horns with DC in Dubai on Monday while RR will be up against MI in Sharjah on Tuesday.