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It turned out to be a memorable 200th game despite the loss as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni could not finish it off in style against Sandeep Sharma, a bowler who was ignored in Indian Premier League (IPL) auction and got picked by Rajasthan Royals (RR) as replacement. Sandeep kept Dhoni at bay to deny CSK fans a perfect finish to the game at MA Chidambaram Stadium. The pin-point yorker helped Royals breach the Chepauk fortress with a thrilling three-run win on April 11.
Steady start
CSK's run chase of 175 did not get off to an ideal start. In-form Ruturaj Gaikwad lost his wicket to Sandeep Sharma in the third over for a single-digit score. Ajinkya Rahane and Devon Conway hit a few boundaries during fielding restrictions to get CSK's score to 45/1 after six overs. The partnership between Conway and Rahane flourished. In the 10th over, Ravichandran Ashwin played his part as he trapped Rahane in front of the stumps. Rahane got out trying to attempt a slog sweep. He scored 31 runs from 19 balls including two fours and one six. At halfway stage, CSK were 80/2.
Wickets tumble
Shivam Dube struggled to rotate the strike. He found one boundary but got out blw to Ashwin. The replay showed that Dube was not out and the ball was missing the leg stump. Had Dube reviewed he would have been safe. Moeen Ali failed to make a mark as well and got out to Adam Zampa. In the next over, Chahal struck twice. First, impact player Ambati Rayudu got out trying to hit a big shot. Conway got to his half-century but succumbed to do ball pressure. Conway scored 50 runs from 38 balls including six fours.
Cracker of a finish
Dhoni and Jadeja played out Chahal's last over. Dhoni, who is not known for taking on spinners in IPL, targetted Zampa and hit him for a four and a six in the 18th over. CSK needed 40 runs from 12 balls. Jason Holder bowled the penultimate over. Jadeja went ballistic hitting Holder for a four and two sixes. 21 runs came off the penultimate over. In the final over, Sandeep started off with two wides. Dhoni faced a dot delivery and then struck two consecutive sixes. Sandeep bowled two brilliant deliveries and just two singles were taken. Five runs were needed off last ball and Sandeep bowled a yorker to limit it to just a single. Royals won the game by just three runs in a last-over thriller. Dhoni remained not out for 32 off 17 balls including one four and three sixes. On the other end, Jadeja scored 25 runs from 15 balls including one four and two sixes.
Buttler, Paddikal smash bowlers
Earlier, Dhoni won the toss and opted to field first. Yashasvi Jaiswal hit Akash Singh for two fours in the first over but lost his wicket to Tushar Deshpande in the second. Devdutt Padikkal looked in form and started off two fours off Maheesh Theekshana's bowling. Akash was impressive with the new ball. Padikkal got an early reprieve as Ali dropped him at first slip. Buttler rubbed salt on wounds with a six off following delivery. Theekshana conceded 17 runs from that over. After powerplay overs, Royals had 57/1 on the board.
In the eighth over, Buttler targetted Ali and hit him for two consecutive sixes. In his second over, Jadeja got the wicket of Padikkal. He scored 38 runs from 26 balls including five fours. He followed it up with the wicket of Sanju Samson with a cracker of a delivery. Jadeja had a chance to dismiss Ashwin as well but Ali once again dropped the catch at first slip.
Cameos guide Royals to fighting total
Ashwin was slow at the start but took on Akash in the 15th over with two consecutive sixes over deep mid-wicket. Akash had the last laugh as he got Ashwin's wicket. He scored 30 runs from 22 balls. In the next over, Buttler got to his half-century from 33 deliveries. Ali made a comeback and got the wicket of Buttler. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 52 runs from 36 balls including one four and three sixes. Shimron Hetmyer played an 18-ball 30 cameo. He did not have much support from the other end. In the penultimate over, Akash dismissed Dhruv Jurel whereas Deshpande got the wicket of Holder followed by the run out of Zampa off the last ball. Royals managed to post 175/8.
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