Match Review of Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals

Indian Premier League - Match review
Date : 4th May 2011 Match No. : 43rd
Teams : Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
Venue : M.A. Chidambaram Stadium Chepuk, Chennai.
Umpires : S. S, Hazare and R. B. Tiffin Third Umpire: Aleem Dar
Toss : Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bat

Playing XI

Rajasthan Royals Shane Warne(c) Shane Watson Rahul Dravid Johan Botha Ross Taylor A. Rahane S.K. Trivedi Stuart Binny D. Yagnik N.D. Doshi Ashok Maneria

Chennai Super Kings M. Hussy M. S. Dhoni (c) Suresh Raina S. Badrinath Murali Vijay A. Srikanth Albie Morkel D. Bollinger Shadab Jakati R. Ashwin Suraj Randiv

The Chennai Super Kings, all set to host the Rajasthan Royals. Royals have been on a winning spree. Few reasons, firstly they have played their last few matches on their home ground and that has worked very well for them. Secondly, the Skipper Shane Warne has been lucky with the toss. Above all, are the leading skills of the legendary Leg spinner Warne, who keeps the team motivated at all times.

The Super Kings have had a roller coaster ride on the points table. but have been hanging around the top four on the tally since their last few clashes. The team looks balanced under the captaincy of Dhoni. With his cool temperament and ability to handle pressure, we have seen Dhoni snatching the matches from opposition's clutches many times

It was hot and humid Chennai afternoon with 42 degree and 98% of humidity recorded. Royal's skipper Shane Warne, lucky once again with the toss, chose to bat for a change. Fielding first was the least of the priority for the both teams under such hot conditions. Dhoni on other hand is more comfortable putting up a total on the board to chase, but had no choice.

Shane Watson and Rahul Dravid opened the batting and started hitting from the first ball itself. Rahul Dravid, who is known to be a defensive player, carried a completely different temper today. They capitalized on the first 6 overs with the field restrictions on and put up a huge score of 86 in 10 overs, until Shadab Jakati took a blinder of Shane Watson after scoring 32 in 26 balls with 5 boundaries. Impressed by his last inning, Ashok Maneria was sent up in the order but couldn't do well and got out on the individual score of 2 only.

The Royals were 2 wickets down on the score of 92 in 12 overs. Johan Botha who always comes handy with the bat and ball came to the crease and joined Rahul Dravid who had been hitting the ball very well. The Super King's spinners put a break on the high scoring rate of the Royals. Shadab Jakati once again did the trick and got Johan Botha out cheaply on 8. The dangerous Ross Taylor joined the crease and was in his natural spree of scoring quick runs. Soon the well set in Rahul Dravid, was removed by Suraj Randiv, a fine spinner from Sri Lanka. Dravid contributed 66 runs in just 51 deliveries to the Royals total. With few wickets down in quick succession, the run rate came down drastically. They were now 117 with 4 wickets down in the 16th over.

Though Ross Taylor from one end tried to play some good best shots but was a spectator as wicket kept falling down at the other end. Last 3 batsmen could not even contribute 20 runs to the total. All they could manage was a score of 147 in 20 overs. The Super Kings did a fantastic job of restricting them to 147.

148 to win, with a good batting line up and that too with the home crowd support, was never going to be tough until they commit some blunder.

Murali Vijay and Mike Hussy opened the batting for Super Kings. Murali Vijay who has been in good form this season got out very cheaply on the score of just 5 runs in the second over by Johan Botha. Suresh Raina was the next man in. Mike Hussy commonly known as Mr. Cricket showed his real talent today. He started hitting the ball very confidently. Raina's form has been a cause of concern for the Super Kings, was sent up the order, and the decision proved to be in the team's favor.

They both put up a record stand of 133 runs with 11 boundaries and 2 sixes. Both completed their half centauries and brought the required run rate under 6. Unfortunately Suresh Raina got out on Trivedi's ball when he was trying to hit to finish off things in style for the team. Albie Morkel completed the job on the next ball itself. The partnership of Hussey and Raina made it a one sided affair and finished off the things in the 19th over itself.

Key to the Super Kings successful run chase was they did not loose too many wickets in the opening 6 overs.



Last Updated on 5/5/2011