IPL 2021, CSK VS RR: CSK for an easy win

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), beat Rajasthan Royals (RR), by 45 runs in Match 12 at Wankhede on Monday.

The first innings begun with CSK at the batting end. Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad opened the game for CSK. Faff du Plessis cleared the ropes for a maximum in the second over against Sakariya. The duo put a treat for the spectators from the very start. Ruturaj was the first one to take the fall, top edging to extra cover, off of left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s delivery.

Faff du Plessis stood strong at his end as he added 3 fours and a six off Unadkat, in the 5^th over. However, Chris Morisson got Du Plessis, when the latter tried to slice only to get caught in the hands off Riyan Parag in the outfield.

CSK was 46/2 by the end of the powerplay. Moeen Ali claimed the pitch and struck 2 sixes early on. He added 33 runs to the table with Suresh Raina on the other end. He tried to continue capitalising on his form but in vain, as he got dismissed by a wide delivery by Rahul Tewatia.

Ambati Rayudu joined Raina and both took on Riyan Parag with 2 sixes each, adding 16 runs off of the 11^th over. 14^th over saw the fall of both Raina and Rayudu, off of Sakariya’s delivery.

RR’s consistent wicket taking spree had SCK play the next few overs under the radar. MS Dhoni struck two boundaries before Sakariya got him too, claiming his 3^rd wicket of the innings.

Jadeja’s wicket fell in the consecutive over and Morris clutched his second wicket of the innings. In the end Bravo scored 20 runs off only 8 balls, concluding the innings for CSK with a strong total of 188/9.

RR had Manan Vohra and Jos Buttler to start with to go after the target of 189. The duo got off to a strong start, hitting 11 runs of Deepak Chahar in the 1^st over. Vohra hit Sam Curran for a maximum before getting caught at deep mid-wicket, easing pressure for the defence in the 4^th over.

Buttler, undeterred, continued hammering with a four and a six against Chahar’s pace.

Shivam joined Buttler and the duo pacced through the middle overs. The righthanded batsman rejected Jadeja’s deliveries with two four’s and a six off a free hit.

10^th over mark had RR stand at a decent score of 81/2 but things suddenly  took a turn in favour of the defence. The high point that switched gears in CSK’s direction was when Jadeja dismissed Buttler keeping him from claiming his fifty. Jadeja trapped Dube in his spin as well in the same over. Moeen Ali, then got David Miller for only 2 runs.

The right arm spinner further went ahead taking two more wickets in the 15^th over. With only 5 overs left to overtake the target, the pressure got the best of RR and they fell through the cracks. Halfway into the game RR stood at 95/7.

Rahul Tewati and Jaydev Unadkat tried to push the ante for RR by adding 3 sixes, but they also fell prey to the CSK bowling. Bravo and Shardul Thakur dismissed the duo respectively, as CSK sealed a win.

Match :13, DC VS MI

Today’s Match – Tuesday, 20th April 2021

Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium
Match Time:  19:30 IST (14:00 GMT)

Ms. Shriya Sinha Sports and Lifestyle Journalist