Chennai Are Two Points Behind Leaders Punjab
The left-arm spin of Ravindra Jadeja proved too much to handle for the Rajasthan Royals in Match 10 of Pepsi IPL 2014. The all-rounder claimed four vital wickets – after scoring a valuable 36 runs earlier in the game – as CSK registered a seven-run win in Dubai.
Earlier, Shane Watson chose to field first after winning the toss. However, Dwayne Smith came out all guns blazing for CSK. The West Indian opener went after the RR bowlers, while his opening partner, Brendon McCullum (6), was uncharacteristically quiet at the other end. In fact, the Kiwi batsman departed in the sixth over after scoring at less than a run-a-ball. Smith (50), however, continued to hammer the bowlers all over the park as he powered his way past 40. But he too perished soon off the bowling of Stuart Binny; CSK were on 59 for two in 7.2 overs at that point.
Suresh Raina was then joined by Faf du Plessis in the middle. However, Raina (4) soon departed off the bowling of Rajat Bhatia a short while later. Bhatia then ran du Plessis’ (7) out a couple of overs later, leaving CSK on 71 for four and in deep strife. RR then capitalised on the momentum and ensured MS Dhoni (5) did not lead a comeback with the bat. Pravin Tambe’s leg-spin did the CSK skipper in, reducing the opposition to 74 for five in 11.1 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja and Mithun Manhas then set about the arduous task of rebuilding the CSK innings while ensuring the run-rate did not dip too much. The pair added 27 runs off 22 balls, before Manhas was dismissed off the bowling of Bhatia, who finished his fours overs with figures of 13 for two. Jadeja (36*) and R Ashwin (9*) then stuck it out in the middle and denied the RR bowlers any more wickets. The pair carved out the best partnership of the innings that amounted to 39 runs. Thanks to their stand, CSK managed a respectable 140 for six in their 20 overs, after it seemed like they had been steamrolled by the Royals bowlers.
For RR, James Faulkner, Tambe and Binny were the wicket-takers apart from Bhatia, who was the pick of the bowlers.
RR then had a shaky start themselves as Abhishek Nayar (5) was run-out by McCullum in the second over of the run-chase. Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson then got the chase back on track. Both batsmen smashed the bowlers around to gather 27 runs for the second wicket. Rahane (15), however, departed when he tried to go for a big hit off Ashwin and ended up handing a catch to Manhas. Meanwhile, Samson, who had struck two big hits by then, was joined by Watson (7) at the crease. But the RR captain’s innings, despite comprising one maximum, ended shortly; he miscued a Jadeja delivery and got caught in the deep by Ben Hilfenhaus. And then, off the very next ball, Jadeja caught Samson (16) off his own bowling. The left-arm spinner, however, missed out on a hat-trick as Steven Smith safely negotiated the next ball. With RR on 44 for four after seven overs, CSK were right back in the game.
Binny (8) was the next to return to the dugout; Mohit Sharma claimed his wicket in the 11th over with the score on 63 for five. There was no respite for the Royals as Smith (19) fell prey to Jadeja, becoming his third wicket of the night. CSK continued to apply pressure on the RR batters, and it was too much for Faulkner (4) to handle; the Australian all-rounder lost his wicket to Ishwar Pandey soon afterwards. Jadeja then returned to clean up Tim Southee (4) – his fourth victim of the match.
However, with Bhatia (23) still at the crease, there was still some hope for the Royals. But with 29 needed off 12 balls, the equation was in the Super Kings’ favour. And Bhatia did perish in the 19th over, off Hilfenhaus, while going for a big hit, leaving RR on 113 for nine. Despite two big hits by Dhawal Kulkarni in the final over, there was no fairy-tale ending for the Royals in this match. Pravin Tambe (2) was run-out with one ball to spare, as RR were bowled out for 133 – seven short of CSK’s total.
Jadeja was the star for CSK as he claimed four wickets for 33 runs in his four overs.
