IPL 2020 in UAE: Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets - as it happened
Another inept performance by three-time champions Chennai
Rajasthan Royals pick up full points with a seven-wicket win
Dubai: An unbeaten 98-run partnership off 79 deliveries between senior pros Steve Smith and Jos Buttler helped Rajasthan Royals record a seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi today. The win, with two and-a-half overs to spare, took the Royals to fifth spot as Chennai find themselves in an unaccustomed last spot.
Looking tentative at 28 for three after the loss of both openers Ben Stokes, Robin Uthappa and Sanju Samson for a duck, Buttler (70 off 48 deliveries) took the aggressor’s role while Smith gave valuable support with 26 off 35 deliveries.
Earlier, Chennai never quite recovered from the early loss of their Big Two – Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson – and managed to post a modest total of 125 for five after taking
Relive the match as it happened...
Half time report: Chennai crawl to 125 for five in Abu Dhabi
Dubai: Chennai Super Kings never quite recovered from the early loss of their Big Two – Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson – and managed to post a modest total of 125 for five against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi.
Taking strike, the three-time champions were in doldrums at 56 for four at stage before Mahendra Singh Dhoni (run-a-ball 28) and Ravindra Jadeja (35 not out) cobbled together a 51-run partnership which managed to take their score past 100-mark. It was a fine display of leg spin bowling from Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia on a wicket which offered some turn and grip early on.
It looks a thin total alright, but Royals should be mindful against the the left-arm spin of Jadeja and Piyush Chawla.
