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Ahmedabad: A 144-runs opening partnership between Rahana's 55-ball 76 and Watson's 47-ball 73 helps Rajasthan Royals chased down 157 with 10 balls to spare.
They defeated the Chennai Super Kings by a resounding eight-wicket margin at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The opening pair survived a few anxious moments early on – mistiming a couple of deliveries which just about eluded the CSK fielders - and took time to get used to the pace of the pitch. But in 6.4 overs to get to 50, and added the next 50 runs in 4.5 overs. The pair was separated in the 17th over when Ravindra Jadeja’s yorker sneaked under the bat of Watson; the RR captain made 73 from 47 balls and hit six fours and four sixes.
Rahane, who reclaimed the Orange Cap, finished unbeaten on 76; he consumed 55 balls and hit six fours and two sixes.
Earlier, the Chennai Super Kings started off with a bang, with Brendon McCullum hitting Ankit Sharma for two boundaries in the first over. After a quiet second over – bowled by Chris Morris – the Kiwi batsman hit the first ball of the third over straight back past the bowler Pravin Tambe. But the experienced leg-spinner had the last laugh as he deceived the batsman with a quickish delivery and had him holing out to mid on.
The other opener - Dwayne Smith - hit three boundaries and two sixes before he dragged a James Faulkner delivery back onto his stumps. His 40 runs – all of which were scored on the leg-side - was the highest score among CSK’s top four.
Reduced to 65 for 4 after 9.1 overs, CSK MS Dhoni struggled for timing and wasn’t his usual self, Bravo chose the right day to score his first IPL half-century. The Trinidadian used his feet against the RR spinners and was severe particularly against Tambe against who he scored 24 runs from 11 deliveries. He also ran hard between the wickets, cut and pulled, and finished unbeaten on 62; his 36-ball knock was studded with eight boundaries and a six.
Bravo’s 5th wicket association with his captain lasted 10.5 overs and was worth 91 runs. Dhoni remained unbeaten on 31 from 37 balls. CSK finished their twenty overs at 156 for 4 – 43 of which came in the last four overs.
Brief scores
Chennai Super Kings - 156/4 (Bravo 62*, Smith 40, Dhoni 31*)
Rajasthan Royals - 157/2 (Rahane 76*, Watson 73)
Result - Rajasthan Royals won by 8 wickets
Points - Rajasthan Royals 2, Chennai Super Kings 0
