PICS: CSK down RR to keep play-off hopes alive

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Images from the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in Chennai on Sunday.

Simarjeet Singh's best performance in the IPL and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad patient knock earned Chennai Super Kings a tense five-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Chennai on Sunday evening.

The pacer struck twice in the Powerplay for figures of 3 for 26 in four overs on a slow wicket before Gaikwad dropped anchor, hitting 2 sixes and a four in an unbeaten 42 off 41 balls, to guide the defending champions over the line and stay in contention for a berth in the play-offs.

Rajasthan Royals stay put in second place, behind Kolkata Knight Riders, with 16 points.

Chasing a modest 142 on a tricky surface, CSK stuttered a bit but were home with 145 for 5 in 18.2 overs.

The victory propelled CSK to third in the table with 14 points from 13 outings.

For the Royals, who suffered their third straight defeat, the in-form Riyan Parag top-scored with a 35-ball unbeaten 47.

Sunday’s first match had its share of drama, with Ravindra Jadeja being given out for obstructing the field.

Rachin Ravindra (27 off 18 balls) and Gaikwad were involved in a 32-run stand before the former was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin in the fourth over.

However, that did not have any impact on Gaikwad and Daryl Mitchell (22 off 13 balls) as they maintained a run-rate of over nine and ended the powerplay with 56 for 1.

Pacer Sandeep Sharma was the most expensive bowler for the visitors during this phase, hammered for 23 runs.

Mitchell appeared to be a man on a mission, but his stay was cut short by spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who trapped him leg-before wicket in the eighth over to end a 35-run partnership with Gaikwad.

Moeen Ali (10 off 13 balls) came in next, but he holed out to Nandre Burger in the 12th over.

With the score reading 92 for 3 in the 13th over, Shivam Dube decided to have a go at Ashwin in his final over.

While Dube hammered Ashwin for a six and two fours in the over, the veteran bowler had the last laugh, which also turned out to be his 50th IPL wicket at this venue.

Jadeja (5 off 6 balls) survived a scare in the subsequent over after Jos Buttler dropped him off Chahal at the long-on boundary.

Rookie Sameer Rizvi then hit an eight-ball 15 not out with three fours to end the game.

Jadeja became the third batter in IPL history to be adjudged out for obstructing the field after miscommunication with Gaikwad, who refused to go for a second run even as the all-rounder was halfway down the pitch.

The third man hurled it to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who aimed the ball at the bowler's end but the throw hit Jadeja. The Royals appealed, and the third umpire was convinced that Jadeja knew in which direction the ball was heading.

CSK needed 21 off the final four overs, and the duo of Gaikwad and Rizvi got the job done.

Earlier, it all started with CSK losing their 11th toss this season, the most for the team in a single edition.

Opting to bat, the Rajasthan openers were off to a cautious start against Tushar Deshpande and Maheesh Theekshana, and the first boundary only arrived in the third over.

Only six boundaries, including a maximum by Yashasvi Jaiswal, came in the Powerplay, indicating that the track may not be ideal for power-hitting, with the ball sticking to the surface.

After the Royals ended the Powerplay at 42 without loss, the 26-year-old Simarjeet effected the first breakthrough in the seventh over, getting rid of Jaiswal for 24 off 21 balls.

With the threat of Jaiswal being neutralised, spinner Ravindra Jadeja was pressed into action in the following over.

However, it was Simarjeet who delivered the second breakthrough in the ninth over, Jos Buttler (21 off 25 balls) departing while looking to clear the deep fine-leg.

As the score read 49 for 2, Parag joined skipper Sanju Samson (15 off 19 balls) and got a reprieve in the 12th over, after Theekshana dropped him while he was on 15.

Samson failed to get going and it was Simarjeet again who grabbed the prized wicket of the RR skipper, ending his 42-run partnership with Parag.

Having reached 103 for 3 at the end of the 16th over, Parag and Dhruv Jurel (28 off 18 balls) decided to free their arms, even as the pitch was only getting slower.

Simarjeet, Deshpande and Shardul Thakur were handed the duties in the final four overs.

Parag was handed another lifeline in the penultimate over, Sameer Rizvi dropping him off Thakur while he was on 36.

Deshpande, bowling the final over, got rid of Jurel and Shubham Dubey (0 off 1 ball) off consecutive deliveries.

Eventually, the visitors did not get a big enough total on the board.

For CSK, Simarjeet was the star with the ball, while Jadeja was the most economical of all.

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