Chasing a target of 176 runs, the Chennai team was in trouble as they lost wickets regularly. Apart from David Conway (50 runs, 38 balls, 6 fours) and Ajinkya Rahane (31 runs, 19 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) in Chennai’s top order, no one did much. They lost 6 wickets for 113 runs and fell into trouble. From there, Dhoni (32 runs, 17 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes) and Jadeja (25 runs, 15 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes) led the Chennai scoreboard forward.
In the last over of the innings bowled by Sandeep Sharma, Chennai needed 21 runs to win. Dhoni hit the second and third balls for sixes. After that, when 7 runs were needed in 3 balls.. Sandeep got his rhythm back and bowled brilliantly. Needing 5 runs off the last ball, Chennai fans thought that Dhoni would end the match with a six. But, as only 1 run was scored.. in that over only 17 runs were scored and Chennai lost by 3 runs.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took two crucial wickets at the crucial stage and turned the match around. Ashwin and Yazvendra Chahal took 2 wickets each in the Rajasthan Royals team. Both of them put pressure on Chennai with sharp balls. Along with them, Sandeep Sharma and Adam Zampa took wickets. With the regular loss of wickets and the desired run rate increasing, the pressure on the Chennai team increased.
After losing the toss and batting first, Rajasthan Royals scored 175 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Jos Buttler (52 runs, 36 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes), Devdutt Padikkal (38 runs, 26 balls, 5 fours), Heitmayer (30 runs, 18 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes), Ravichandran Ashwin (30 runs) in Rajasthan’s innings runs, 22 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes) played a vital role.
Ravindra Jadeja 2, Akash Singh 2, Tushar Deshpand 2, Moeen Ali 1 wicket among Chennai bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin, who excelled with the bat and the ball and played a vital role in the victory of the Rajasthan team, was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’.
