Images from the IPL 2023 match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, in Jaipur, on Thursday.
Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his good form with a brilliant half-century as Rajasthan Royals outclassed Chennai Super Kings by 32 runs to go top of the IPL 2023 standings in Jaipur on Thursday.
Jaiswal smashed 77 off 43 -- his third fifty of IPL 2023 before Devdutt Padikkal (27 from 13 balls) and Dhruv Jurel (34 off 15) provided the final flourish to register the highest total -- 202 for five -- at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Spinners Adam Zampa (3/22 in 3 overs) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/35) then shared five wickets between them to restrict CSK to 170/6 despite quickfire knocks from Ruturaj Gaikwad (47 from 29) and Shivam Dube (52 from 33 balls).
With the win, the Royals moved to the top of the table with five wins from eight games, while CSK, who have the same number of points, drop down to third due to an inferior run rate.
In contrast to RR, CSK openers found the going tough before Gaikwad, who was dropped on four, broke the shackles and hit Jason Holder for a four over mid on before cracking a six over square leg in the fourth over.
RR skipper Sanju Samson intensified the pressure by bowling spin from both ends and the move paid dividends.
Devon Conway (8) continued to struggle and with the required run rate increasing he was forced to hit a Zampa delivery straight to Sandeep Sharma at mid off.
Unperturbed by the wicket, Gaikwad kept stealing boundaries every over to keep the scoreboard ticking before Zampa struck once again to get rid of the dangerman.
CSK were way behind the asking rate as they were struggling on 72/2 at the halfway mark.
Ashwin (2/35) dented CSK further in the middle overs with the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane (15) and 'Impact Player' Ambati Rayudu (0).
But Dube had different plans as the left-hander upped the ante, hitting some much-needed sixes to give CSK a glimmer of hope.
The all-rounder brought his third consecutive fifty with the help of four sixes and two fours. However, he couldn't take his side over the line.
Earlier, the young Jaiswal went on the attack right from the word go to give Royals a flying start.
Opening the innings, Jaiswal slammed four sixes and eight fours in his 43-ball knock.
Padikkal (27 not out from 13 balls) and Jurel (34 off 15) added 48 runs for the fifth wicket to power Royals to their highest total at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Jaiswal targeted Akash Singh, hitting three fours in the very first over. The youngster started off with boundaries through the covers off the first two balls before flicking the fourth ball in the gap through midwicket for the same result.
Jos Buttler also made a bright start as he hit Tushar Deshpande for a couple of fours in the second over.
Left-hander Jaiswal again took Singh to the cleaners, hitting the pacer for three fours and a six in his second over.
Buttler smashed spinner Mahesh Theekshana twice straight down the ground for two fours as Royals raced to 64 for no loss in six overs.
There was no stopping Jaiswal, who played a splendid reverse sweep off Ravindra Jadeaj for a six before he raced to his fifty from just 26 balls, in the seventh over.
The duo put on 86 runs for the opening wicket from just 50 balls before Buttler was caught at long-off off Jadeja in the ninth over.
Tushar Deshpande removed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson in the 14th over to put the brakes on Royals' momentum in the middle overs. Photograph: BCCI
Royals stumbled briefly after Buttler's dismissal as they lost wickets regularly in the middle overs.
Returning for his second spell, Deshpande crippled Royals with a double strike in his third over. He got Sanju Samson caught at long-on for 17 before Jaiswal miscued the slower ball and was caught on the off-side by Ajinkya Rahane, in the 14th over.
The big-hitting Shimron Hetmyer was bowled by Theekshana for eight as Royals lost three wickets for 21 runs in the space of 17 balls.
Jurel and Paddikal then counter-attacked in the last few overs, as Royals smashed 49 in the last three overs to take their total above the 200-run mark.
