Rajasthan Royals won against Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets in match 37 of IPL 2020 to get to 8 points from 10 games in IPL 2020. In the process, they have moved up to the fifth spot in the points table. Meanwhile, CSK slipped down to the bottom of the table after their seventh loss this season. Rajasthan beat CSK in both the games for the first time since 2008 in the tournament. This loss almost puts CSK out of contention in the race for the playoffs.
MS Dhoni, playing his 200th game for CSK, won the toss and opted to bat first in Abu Dhabi. The Royals bowlers were on the money right from the start making it difficult for the CSK batsmen to get going. Jofra Archer bowled two overs for five runs in the powerplay.
He also picked up the key wicket of Faf Du Plessis (10) to stat CSK’s downfall. Karthik Tyagi then picked up Shane Watson (8) after being hit for two back to back boundaries. Sam Curran (22) was then picked up by Shreyas Gopal in the ninth over. The two Rajasthan Royals spinners tied the Chennai Super Kings batsmen down in the middle-overs not allowing them to hit many boundaries. The spinners bowled eight overs for 32 for 2.
MS Dhoni (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (35) then added a 51-run stand in the final overs to take CSK to 125 after their 20 overs. Kedar Jadhav, coming into bat at number seven scored four off seven balls to stay unbeaten.
Also Read: Wicket Got A Lot Better In The Second Innings – MS Dhoni
End of the Road for Chennai Super Kings … Almost
Royals in their chase of 26 lost some early wickets. They were 28 for 3 inside five overs with Robin Uthappa (19), Ben Stokes (4) and Sanju Samson (0) all back in the pavillion. From there on Jos Buttler (70*) and Steve Smith (26) added an unbeaten 98-run stand to take Rajasthan home without any further hiccup.
Chennai Super Kings bowlers created a few chances in between, however, things did not go their way on the night. MS Dhoni misjudged a DRS call in the game as well. Rajasthan Royals are now fifth on the points table with eight points. SRH, KXIP and CSK are all on six.
This loss almost puts CSK out of contention in the race for the playoffs. Even if they will all their remaining games, CSK will end with 14 points in the league stage, which might not be enough.
What was the Turning Point in the Game?
With RR 28 for 3, CSK had a chance to pull the game to their advantage, however, the unbeaten 98-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Smith and Buttler to take the Royals home, was the turning point in the game.
Jos Buttler for his unbeaten 70 was awarded the Man of the Match. This was his second fifty-plus score this season for the Royals.
“Nice to get a win on the board tonight. I tried to come out with some intensity in my batting. I didn’t think I had enough last game, and I decided to take a few more options tonight, and it came off. You have to keep trusting yourself and particularly when there’s no scoreboard pressure, you can play yourself in and let cut loose in the end” said Buttler leading RR to a comprehensive win.
Also Read: IPL 2020: You Have To Keep Trusting Yourself – Jos Buttler
