Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 16 runs in a high scoring game and open their 2020 campaign on winning note. This is the first time in IPL since 2010, Rajasthan has beaten Chennai after batting first.
MS Dhoni won another toss and elected to field first, like they did in season opener against Mumbai but this time the results are much different on a smaller ground compared to previous one.
Rajasthan Royals put a mammoth score on the board 216/7 in 20 overs after batting first. Led by young Sanju Samson who scored 74 runs in just 32 balls with the help of 9 towering sixes and just 1 four. Royals Captain Steve Smith played once again sensible knock by rotating strike, the Aussie scored 69 runs in 47 balls with the help of four 6’s and four 4’s.
The pair put Rajasthan in commanding place(2/132) before Samson got out in 11.4 overs,but Dhoni and Chennai pulled some quick wickets to restrict Rajasthan from scoring big total.But Jofra Archer had different ideas,his quick knock of 27 runs of just 8 balls including four 6’s in the final over of the game helped Royals to cross 200 mark.
Chennai openers Watson(33 runs from 21 balls,four 6’s) and Vijay(21 runs from 21 balls) Started well while chasing the big target, but the pair went back to the pavilion within 5 balls after setting 56 run opening partnership.
South African, Faf du Plessis once again took the responsibility to steady the innings by scoring 72 runs in 37 balls with the help of seven 6’s but there is little support for him from fellow Chenaian’s. In the final over Dhoni hit three consecutive 6’s to reach 200 mark,but it’s already too late for Super Kings.
There were couple of question marks over Dhoni captaincy in this game, especially team selection and batting Order. With today’s win Rajasthan Royals climbed up the table into first position, Chennai Super Kings dropped to fourth place.
Post-Match comments from presentation :
Sanju Samson, the Man of the Match:
“That’s what my gameplan is. I got lucky to get those few full ball in the starting of the over. The intent is there from the very first ball. I have been working very hard on my fitness, my diet, my training. I have understood that my game is a lot of power so I have to train accordingly. That is what my role is, that is what the game demands. I have developed my power hitting a bit more.”
Steven Smith, Captain of Rajasthan Royals:
“Sanju Samson played an unbelievable knock. Felt like everything he was hitting went for six. Jofra Archer’s last over. I was just giving Sanju strike, wasn’t I? He was middling everything. I hope this sets him up for a big IPL. We will wait and see where I bat once Jos is available. Like to keep them guessing. On this wicket, it was all about trying to avoid straight hits for the spinners. A couple of balls were fuller and got above the eyeline but the idea was to stay back of a length.”
MS Dhoni, Captain of Chennai Super Kings :
“217 on the board, you have to had a very good start. That was not the case. They batted really well. Steve and Sanju. You have to give credit to their bowlers too. There was a lot of dew. They knew what lengths to bowl. Their spinners didn’t try too many things. That was an error our spinners did in their first couple of overs. Without singling out anyone, a controllable we could have controlled is no-balls. Had we not bowled no-balls, we would have been chasing 200, and it would have been a very good game. Faf batted really well.The key is to adapt. When the spinners are bowling really short, what is important is to still hit over mid-on and not go to square leg because the ball stays low here. I think Faf did that really well.”
Click here for Complete Match Score Card.
Fan spotted taking home the match ball, after Dhoni’s massive six went out of the stadium in the final over of the game.
