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Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings showed they will be a team to beat ahead . Putting on a clinical display CSK routed Rajasthan Royals by 45 runs at Wankhade, Mumbai .
Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to field first. CSK began slowly with Ruturaj Gaikwad struggling before he was out for (10). But Faf du Plessis 33 off 17 balls , four fours two sixes showed the intent. Batting in Number 3, Moeen Ali has been a huge revelation. he once again showed his batting prowess scoring a quick 26 off 20 balls, 1 four and two sixes. The duo gave the momentum to the innings. Suresh Raina did not score much out for ( 18) , Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni ( 18), Ambati Rayudu ( 27), Sam Curran ( 13) Dwayne Bravo ( 20) unbeaten off 8 balls with two fours , one six . These handy cameos helped CSK reach a competitive 188/ 9 in 20 overs.
Royals did well to restrict CSK to below 200. Young Chetan Sakariya was impressive with 3/36 ( 4 overs), Chris Morris 2/33 ( 4 overs), Rahul Tewatia 1/21 ( 3 overs),Mustafizur Rahman 1/37 ( 4 overs) , Jaydev Unadkat was tad expensive 0/ 40 ( 4 overs), Riyan Parag 0/16 ( 1 over)
In reply Royals began slowly Manan Vohra Was out for 14. Jos Buttler promised much but fell for a aggressive 35 ball 49 with 5 fours and two sixes to Ravindra jadeja. Skipper Sanju Samson once again threw away his wicket, out for 1 . This hi inconsistency coming to the fore again . Rest of the batting succumbed to the wily spin of Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and the seam of Sam Curran, Royals went down tamely with – Shivam Dube ( 17), David Miller ( 2),
Riyan Parag ( 3), Rahul Tewatia ( 20), Chris Morris ( 0), Jaydev Unadkat hit some lusty blows for his (24 )
For CSK , Ravindra Jadeja was outstanding in the field with four catches. The bowling on target. Sam Curran 2/24 ( 4 overs), Deepak Chahar 0/32 ( 4 overs) could not repeat his last match heroics, Moeen Ali was top class with 3/7 ( 3 overs), Ravindra Jadeja 2/28 ( 4 overs), Shardul Thakur 1/20 ( 3 overs), Dwayne Bravo 1/28 ( 3 overs). Mahendra Singh Dhoni was spot on with his bowling changes and his field placing particularly Ravindra Jadeja was a master class captaincy on display .
