Rajasthan Royals (RR) crushed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by seven wickets in the 37th match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Chasing a paltry target of 126 could have been a stroll in the park for Royals, but CSK bowlers had some other plans.
CSK dismissed three RR batsmen inside the powerplay to give their side a solid start. First, Deepak Chahar cleaned up Ben Stokes (19) in the third over.
Then, in the next over, Josh Hazlewood came to the party and removed Robin Uthappa (4). The trouble continued for Royals as they lost Sanju Samson for a duck in the fifth over.
However, then RR skipper Steve Smith (26 not out) and English batsman Jos Buttler (70 not out) steadied the ship. The pair added an unbeaten 98-run stand to take Royals over the line.
With the fourth victory, RR climbed to the fifth spot in the points table.
Royals’ disciplined bowling restricted CSK at 125/5
Earlier, CSK registered the lowest first-innings score of IPL 2020 when they posted 125/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
The 51-run stand between skipper MS Dhoni (28) and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (35 not out) was the only highlight in CSK’s innings.
Royals’ leg-spinners Rahul Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal squeezed the scoring rate in the middle overs. Tewatia conceded 18 runs in 4 overs with a wicket of Ambati Rayudu (13) while Gopal gave only 14 runs in 4 overs with a scalp of Sam Curran (22).
Apart from the spin duo, Jofra Archer also bowled brilliantly. In his 4-over spell, Archer conceded only 20 runs and dismissed CSK opener Faf du Plessis (10).
Here is how Twitter reacted:
You don't win too many T20 games by scoring 125 and not a single batter scoring even a 40. Looks playoff hopes almost over for #CSK #CSKvsRR #RRvCSK #IPL2020
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) October 19, 2020
2020 hitting us like never before. 🦁💛#Yellove #CSKvRR pic.twitter.com/oXeKNeluK0
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1318241666076037120
Such a tough batsmen to bowl to is Buttler. You bowl straight, give him no room… he has the great skill to carve the ball towards cover and whip it on the leg side too. And with wonderful timing. So basically he scores easily off good balls too. Class act! 🙏👏👏👏#CSKvsRR
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 19, 2020
And Rajasthan win the white-ball 20-over Test in Abu Dhabi by seven wickets.#IPL2020 #CSKvRR
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 19, 2020
#JosButtler at his best in a low scoring game. @IPL #CSKvRR #IPL2020 #RR
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) October 19, 2020
HALLAA BOLLL!! 💗💗
WE WIN BY 7 WICKETS! 🕺🕺#CSKvRR | #HallaBol | #RoyalsFamily | #IPL2020
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) October 19, 2020
Mathematically they're still in, but basically Chennai Super Kings are out of playoff contention, for the first time in the franchise's history. #IPL2020
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) October 19, 2020
Dear @msdhoni @ChennaiIPL
Next game let's open with Jagadeesan, give Curran the finisher role, Play Sai Kishore instead of a spinner.Nothing more to lose, let's get to see them play now. #CSK
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) October 19, 2020
You have to say that's it for CSK this IPL. They have wrought many miracles in the past, but getting out of this looks absolutely beyond them. This team has done its time.
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) October 19, 2020
Okay guys, I'm embarrassed. I caught myself wishing for no IPL winner this season. #IPL
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 19, 2020
Such a tough batsmen to bowl to is Buttler. You bowl straight, give him no room… he has the great skill to carve the ball towards cover and whip it on the leg side too. And with wonderful timing. So basically he scores easily off good balls too. Class act! 🙏👏👏👏#CSKvsRR
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/AdamDhoni1/status/1318244371821514752
