Smith inspires Chennai win as Royals go down fighting

Joy Chakravarty 22:24 23/04/2014
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Quick-fire fifty: Smith hit his half century from just 28 balls.

    A clinical effort with the ball helped Chennai Super Kings gloss over a rather timid show with the bat as they edged Rajasthan Royals by seven runs last night. In front of a sold-out crowd at Dubai International Stadium. 

    Chennai successfully defended what felt like an inadequate target of 141 against a team that has made it a habit of causing problems for their more formidable opponents in the Indian Premier League.

    But with the pitch not exactly aiding the batsmen – the ball wasn’t coming on to the bat and the odd one kept low – it was always going to be a tough ask for Rajasthan, who were bundled out for 133 in 19.5 overs.

    All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made full use of the conditions and inflicted the maximum damage, picking up four wickets for 33 runs.

    But it was his knock of 36 runs in 33 balls towards the fag end of the Chennai innings that proved to be equally important. Rajasthan Royal would look back on this match as a massive opportunity lost. The inexperience showed in their young batting line-up.

    Needing just seven runs a over, they tried to go for maximum shots and paid the price of their indiscretion instead of trying to building up partnerships.

    There was just one batsman in both sides who felt at ease on the wicket – Chennai opener Dwayne Smith.

    The West Indian made a quickfire 50, coming in just 27 balls with three sixes and six fours, but once he departed with the score on 59 in the seventh over, the whole complexion of the match changed.

    Brendon McCullum (6 in 10 balls) was the first to go, superbly caught by Steven Smith running from mid-on to deep mid-wicket and diving in between two other players converging on the ball.

    That brought in Chennai’s, and IPL’s most successful batsman, Suresh Raina to the crease, but he experienced a rare failure.

    A thick edge off Rajat Bhatia flew to short third-man where Dhawal Kulkarni completed a diving catch. And when Faf du Plessis was unfortunately run out – Dhoni’s shot back to the bowler brushing Bhatia’s fingers and catching the non-striker out of his crease – Chennai were 4-71 in the 11th over.

    Skipper Dhoni, cheered no end by the house-full crowd, could not work his magic and flicked spinner Praveen Tambe straight down the throat of James Faulkner at deep square leg.

    Chennai then lost Mithun Manhas in the 15th over, before Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin put on an important partnership of 39 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket.

    A lot depended on what kind of a start Rajasthan openers Abhishek Nayar and Ajinkya Rahane provided them, and they began well with 10 runs off Ben Hilfenhaus’s first over.

    But Ishwar Pandey, seen as one of the future stars of Indian cricket, bowled a maiden, which also included the wicket of Nayar, who ran himself out going for a single that never existed.

    The big wicket for Chennai was of captain Watson. After smashing Jadeja for a six, the big Australian went for a repeat shot and holed out to Hilfenhaus at long-off who took a beautifully-judged jumping catch.

    Thereafter, it was a procession for the Royal batsman, although Sanju Samson impressed once again with his sheer timing as he smashed two sixes in 16.

    Smith, who was twice reprieved – Dhoni missing the simplest of stumping chance with the batsman on seven and then Mohit dropping a hot chance in the deep – could not make much out of his luck and was out for 19.

    Chennai have now won two consecutive matches and will next face Mumbai Indians at the same venue on Friday. Royals take on Bangalore in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

    Recommended