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PHOTOS: Jadeja's fine all-round show takes Chennai past Rajasthan
A fine all-round performance by Ravindra Jadeja enabled former champions Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by seven runs in the IPL match in Dubai on Wednesday.
The India all-rounder, who was later named man of the match, claimed four wickets for 33 runs as Chennai, defending a modest 140 for 6, built around an entertaining 50 by Dwayne Smith, registered their second victory in three matches.
Jadeja had earlier rallied Chennai with a 33-ball 36 after a top order collapse.
Rajat Bhatia (23 off 20 balls) and Dhawal Kulkarni (28 off 19) staged a late fightback after Rajasthan’s batting crumbled, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from being consigned to their second defeat in three matches.
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Chennai fritter away good start
Earlier, Chennai Super Kings failed to capitalise on a good start from Brendon Mcullum and Dwayne Smith and had to be content with just 140 for six from their 20 overs.
After McCullum (6) was out to a brilliant running catch by Australia’s Steven Smith, off the bowling off James Falkner, West Indian Dwayne Smith went after the Rajasthan bowlers in an impressive exhibition of stroke-play at the top of the order.
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Dwayne Smith was harsh on James Faulkner
Smith, who scored exactly 50 from just 28 balls, with the help of six fours and three sixes, was harsh on James Faulkner.
He hit the Aussie bowler for four successive boundaries in the sixth over, which yielded 19 runs.
He was out in the eighth over off Stuart Binny immediately after smashing the bowler for a six.
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Rajat Bhatia's spell keeps Chennai on a leash
The Rajasthan bowlers then struck at regular intervals, picking the wickets of Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as Chennai slipped from 64 for 3 to 74 for 5 in the 12th over.
Rajat Bhatia had a hand in the dismissals of Raina, who was caught by Dhawal Kulkarni off his bowling, and, Faf du Plessis, who he ran-out deflecting the ball on to the stumps off his own bowling.
He finished with superb figures of two for 13 in four overs.
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Superb spell by Tambe
After the dismissals of Raina and du Plessis, Chennai’s hopes of putting up a handsome total rested on Dhoni, but the skipper was done in by veteran left-arm spinner Pravin Tambe.
In an attempt to attack the bowler, Dhoni hit the ball straight down the throat of Faulkner at deep midwicket and was dismissed for five.
Chennai lost three wickets for 10 runs in the space of 17 deliveries.
Tambe went for 13 runs in his final over, but still finished with decent figures of one for 17 in four overs as Chennai posted a modest 140 for six in their 20 overs.
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Jadeja's double strike leaves Royals in a mess
Rajasthan's batsmen were guilty of giving away their wickets cheaply through some poor shot selection.
Opener Abhishek Nayar was run out in the second over for five before Ajinkya Rahane attempted a slog sweep against R Ashwin only to hole out to deep midwicket after scoring 15.
Jadeja left Rajasthan reeling with two wickets in his first over. Shane Watson hit the third ball for a six but was caught down the ground off the next delivery attempting the same shot and Sanju Samson was caught and bowled off the next ball for 16 as they slipped to 44 for four in seven overs.
Rajasthan Royals bundled out for 133
Jadeja came back for his second spell and struck with the wicket of Steven Smith, who was caught by Faf du Plessis for 19 and then bowled Tim Southee in his next over for four.
Rajat Bhatia hit him for a six and a four in his fourth and final over but the left-arm spinner finished with splendid figures of four for 33 in four overs as Rajasthan were bowled out for 133 in 19.5 overs.
Chennai jump to 2nd place in IPL standings
Chennai, who registered their second victory in three matches, jumped to second place in the IPL standings behind Kings XI Punjab.
Rajasthan, who have lost two of their first three games, stay fifth with two points in their kitty.