After laying the foundation for Jaiswal, 40 runs off 23 balls from the east take the team past the finish line; Moin’s knock was useless
After laying the foundation for Jaiswal, 40 runs off 23 balls from the east take the team past the finish line; Moin’s knock was useless
R Ashwin (number 40, 23b, 2×4, 3×6) played the finisher to guide Rajasthan Royals to a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the Brabourne Stadium here on Friday.
The win helped Royals (18 points) finish second and set up a clash against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 in Kolkata on 24 May. Lucknow Super Giants is the second team to qualify.
Chasing a target of 151 runs, Royals were making 104 for three. Leg-spinner Prashant Solanki raised alarm bells in the dressing room with early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal (59, 44B, 8×4, 1×6) and Shrimron Hetmyer (6, 7B, 1×4).
Experienced Ashwin, regardless of the run-rate required for the climb, managed to hit big shots to defuse the pressure. Ashwin and Riyan Parag (No 10, 10B, 1×4) took the Royals home with two balls to spare.
Earlier, Super Kings posted a sub-par total, with only Moeen Ali (93, 57b, 13×4, 3×6) showing positive intent. The Super Kings failed to make the best use of the flying start provided by Moeen.
The Englishman was still in full swing when wickets fell around him. He dismissed famous Krishna for 18 in the fourth over. Fellow pacer Trent Boult’s situation worsened as Moeen released his full series of strokes. The New Zealand left-arm fast bowler hit five fours and a six and played a huge innings of 26 runs in that over. An upper cut, which easily cleared the short third-man, completed Moeen’s first half-century of the season.
Moeen’s pyrotechnics bowled out Super Kings for 75 for one after six overs. He was helped by some poor strategy from Rajasthan Royals bowlers, who either overpitched or bowled short dolly.
At the other end, Ruturaj Gaikwad (2), Devon Conway (16), N. Jagadeesan (1) and Ambati Rayudu (3) fell cheap. Rayudu’s fall was greeted by a packed house as his hero MS Dhoni entered.
Although Moeen and Dhoni took the Super Kings to 150, it was not enough. Dhoni was generally observant, it took him time to settle down. He got two lives, one at zero and three, both dropped by wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. Super Kings supporters, the overwhelming majority in the stadium, had to wait for some time for Dhoni’s highlight – a massive six over mid-wicket.
The Super Kings captain was dismissed at long-on off Yuzvendra Chahal in the 19th over. Moeen went just a few short walks away from a century. Chahal and West Indies left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy took two wickets each.