Rajasthan Royals (RR) ended table-toppers Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) unbeaten run in the UAE leg of IPL 14. They chased down 190 in just 17.3 overs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Powered by Ruturaj Gaikwad's maiden IPL hundred, CSK initially posted a mammoth 189/4 after asked to bat. However, the Rajasthan batters came out all guns blazing in this must-win encounter. Courtesy to electric half-centuries by Yashasvi Jaiswal (50 in 21 balls) and Shivam Dube (64* in 42), they managed to get home 15 balls and seven wickets to spare. With this triumph Rajasthan have kept themselves in the hunt for a spot in the Playoffs.
Rajasthan had their backs against the wall after the onslaught. They had little option but to go for an all-out attack right from the word go. And Jaiswal did exactly that.
The 19-year old blasted a 19-ball half-century and his team raced away to 81/1 in six overs – the highest Powerplay score of IPL 2021 by any side. K.M. Asif nipped out Jaiswal off his very first ball after the Powerplay overs, but Dube, promoted ahead of David Miller and Glenn Phillips, kept the momentum going. He went after the CSK spinners, forcing M.S. Dhoni to recall the pacers, but he didn't spare them either.
Dube remained unbeaten at 64, his maiden IPL fifty, with four fours and four sixes to take Rajasthan home. In the middle overs, he was aptly supported by his skipper Sanju Samson (28 in 24): the duo added 89 for the third wicket.
Samson fell to Shardul Thakur, but that came too little too late for CSK. Their bowling looked toothless without Dwayne Bravo and Deepak Chahar, who were rested for this fixture.
Earlier, Rajasthan made five changes in the XI and opted to chase. Their bowling was ripped apart by Gaikwad, who took his bat through the innings with his 60-ball 101 not out, which had nine fours and five sixes. Towards the end, Ravindra Jadeja contributed 32 off just 15 balls while at the top Faf du Plessis made 25 off 19.
For the Royals only Rahul Tewatia made some impact with the ball, taking three out of four CSK wickets.
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 189/4 in 20 overs (Gaikwad 101*; Tewatia 3-39) lost to Rajasthan Royals 190/3 in 17.3 overs (Dube 64*; Thakur 2-30) by 7 wickets. Player of the Match: Ruturaj Gaikwad.