IPL 2021, RR vs CSK: Jaiswal, Dube's 50s trump Gaikwad's century as Rajasthan's wins by 7 wickets

It was an out of the world performance from former champion Rajasthan Royals (RR). It flailed fellow former champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by seven wickets in Match 47 of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. RR stays in the playoffs contention with this win, rising to the sixth spot.

Winning the toss, RR invited CSK to bat, as skipper Sanju Samson made four changes to the side, while CSK skipper MS Dhoni introduced a couple. It was off to a steady start before opener Faf du Plessis (25) being stumped to spinner Rahul Tewatia in the seventh, followed by Suresh Raina (3) to the same man in the ninth, ten runs later.

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Nevertheless, it was followed by a 57-run stand for the third wicket between opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (101*) and Moeen Ali (21) before the latter was stumped off Tewatia again in the 15th, followed by Ambati Rayudu (2) to pacer Chetan Sakariya in the 17th, 20 runs later. However, it was thereon when Gaikwad went all guns blazing, duly supported by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja at the other end, as the former hit a six off the final ball to bring up his maiden IPL ton, while CSK finished at 189/4.

RR put six bowlers into the attack. While Tewatia claimed the most wickets (3), spinner Glenn Phillips was highly economical.

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As RR came out for the chase, the openers had a volcanic start, as Evin Lewis (27) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (50) went all guns blazing. With a 77-run opening stand, Lewis was the first to depart in the sixth over to pacer Shardul Thakur.

During this time, Jaiswal brought up his maiden IPL half-century in just 19 deliveries, while RR finished the PP at 81/1. He fell soon after, in the seventh over, to debutant pacer KM Asif.

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However, the incoming RR batsmen hardly panicked, as Sanju Samson (28) and Shivam Dube (64*) continued with a similar approach, as they kept the scoreboard ticking and the run rate going. The two contributed to an 89-run stand for the third wicket before Thakur dismissed Samson in the 16th.

Nonetheless, it was too late, as Dube, too, brought up his maiden IPL half-century and, along with Glenn Phillips (14*), steered the side to a seven-wicket win. CSK utilised six bowlers, as Thakur claimed a couple, along with the best economy.
Brief scores: CSK 189/4 (Gaikwad- 101*, Jadeja- 32*; Tewatia- 3/39) lost to RR 190/3 in 17.3 overs (Jaiswal- 50, Dube- 64; Thakur- 2/30) by seven wickets.