Watson Special Propels CSK To Top The Table

Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 64-runs, after Shane Watson's third IPL century and a dominating bowling performance at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday (April 20). The win over RR, helped CSK to move on top of the points table while RR slipped to fifth place.

This might not be had happened if Rahul Tripathi didn't drop Shane Watson in first slip off Stuart Binny on 8 in first over of the innings. It was a regulation chance and came at a nice height to Tripathi but he couldn't hold it. The drop proved to be the turning point of the match as Shane Watson add 98 more runs to that drop.



It was Ajinkya Rahane, who won the toss and elected to bowl first. CSK came off to a flier as they reached their fifty in 4.3 overs before Ambati Rayudu got out to Ben Laughlin. He made 12 off 8 balls. The wicket of Rayudu brought Suresh Raina on the crease, who missed out previous two games for CSK. He didn't take much time to take off.

In the last over of powerplay, Raina hit four fours in a row to Ben Stokes. His partnership with Watson was the highlight of the CSK's innings. The duo put on an 81-runs standoff just 44 balls for the second wicket. Raina made 46 off 29 balls including 9 fours. After putting 131 for 2 in 11.3 overs, CSK were all set to put up the big total. But Shreyas Gopal bowled superbly in middle overs and grab the wickets of Suresh Raina, Dhoni and Billings in quick succession and slow down the run rate.

Bravo played a cameo in the end and he and Watson ensured that CSK crossed the 200 run mark. The finished with 204 for 5 in 20 overs. Bravo remain unbeaten on 24 off 16 balls. While other bowlers were struggling to stop runs, Shreyas Gopal conceded on 20 runs in 4 overs and picked 3 wickets.



In the chase, RR couldn't start well, as debutant Henrich Klaasen bowled out to Shardul Thakur in second over. He was dropped on 0 by Watson but couldn't capitalize that chance. RR had a lot of expectations from in-form Sanju Samson, but he didn't last long and handed a simple catch to Karn Sharma off Deepak Chahar at mid-on boundary, he made only 2 runs. RR lost first 3 wickets inside powerplay as Rahane was bowled by Deepak Chahar on 16.

Stokes and Buttler put on a 45-runs together off 34 balls before Buttler got out to Bravo, he made 22 off 17 including a six and four. Stokes fight for a while but none of the other batsmen were able to score runs. Royals were bowled out for 140 in 18.3 overs. Stokes was the top scorer as he made 45 off 37 balls. Thakur and Chahar were the star with the ball as both picked two wickets each and destroyed RR's top order.

Shane Watson named Man Of The Match for his brilliant hundred. It was Watson's first hundred for CSK, his previous two came for Rajasthan Royals.

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