Rajasthan Royals 202 for 5 (Jaiswal 77, Jurel 34, Deshpande 2-42) beat Chennai Super Kings 170 for 6 (Dube 52, Gaikwad 47, Zampa 3-22, Ashwin 2-35) by 32 runs

After losing their previous two games, Rajasthan Royals not only returned to winning ways but also the top of the IPL points table with a thumping 32-run win over Chennai Super Kings.

After Royals opted to bat, Yashasvi Jaiswal attacked his way to 77 off 43 balls. Super Kings did stage a brief comeback in the middle overs but late hitting from Dhruv Jurel (34 off 15) and Devdutt Padikkal (27* off 13) lifted Royals to 202 for 5, the first 200-plus total by an IPL team in Jaipur.

Matheesha Pathirana, despite nailing his yorkers at express pace, was unlucky to concede 48 in his four overs, as 28 of those runs came when batters were not in control of their shots.

Super Kings didn't get the start they were after. Adam Zampa and R Ashwin further stifled them while sharing five wickets. Shivam Dube was the only one to offer resistance but it was too little, too late.

Jaiswal leads the way for Royals

Even if it was an away game for Super Kings, they seemed to have more supporters in the stands than Royals had. It didn't have any effect on Jaiswal and Jos Buttler, though, as they gave Royals yet another flying start. Jaiswal kicked things off by hitting Akash Singh for two fours off the first two balls of the match, followed by one more in the over. He was even more severe in the seamer's next over, picking up three fours and a six. In between, Buttler hit Tushar Deshpande for two fours.

With seamers going for plenty, MS Dhoni turned to spin, and Maheesh Theekshana bowled a three-run over. Buttler, though, took the spinner for two fours - both times hitting length balls off the back foot over his head - in the sixth over to take Royals to 64 for no loss.

Ravindra Jadeja broke the opening stand with Buttler's wicket but Jaiswal kept marching on. Coming into this game, Jaiswal had scored 81 off 70 in the middle overs. Tonight, there was no slowdown; he smashed 37 off 22 after the field restrictions were lifted.

Jurel and Padikkal pick up after a brief lull

Deshpande removed Sanju Samson and Jaiswal in the 14th over to briefly put the brakes on the scoring rate. From overs 14 to 17, Royals managed only 28 runs and lost three wickets along the way. It was starting to look like Super Kings might restrict them under 200 but Jurel and Padikkal, who came in at No. 6, threw their bat around. They didn't always find the middle but the runs came thick and fast. Super Kings' sloppy fielding also helped Royals, and left Dhoni visibly angry on more than once occasion, as they ransacked 56 in the last four overs.

Zampa, Ashwin keep Super Kings on back foot

With Trent Boult picking up a niggle, Zampa got an opportunity. And the legspinner made an impact in his very first over. Bowling the last over of the powerplay, he had Devon Conway hitting one to mid-off.

Ruturaj Gaikwad was trying to make up for Super Kings' slow start. He had moved to 47 off 28 balls when he tried to attack Zampa only to be caught at long-on. R Ashwin dragged Super Kings further back in the next over, the 11th of the innings, by dismissing Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu.

Dube, Moeen fight back

With 130 needed from nine overs, Dube and Moeen threatened a fightback. The pair hit four sixes and a four in the next three overs, reducing the equation to 90 needed from the last five. Samson once again turned to Zampa, and he didn't disappoint his captain. Dube launched him into the stands, and Moeen too picked up a boundary, but with his fifth ball of the over, Zampa had Moeen under-edging one to Samson.

Dube, however, kept the fight on. He hit Jason Holder for a six and two fours in the 17th over. In the next, Jadeja took Sandeep Sharma for two fours but scoring 46 in the last two overs was too much of an uphill task.

Jaiswal and Zampa take Royals to the top of the table

2023-04-27 18:16:31