CSK vs RR, 15th match at Ahmedabad, , Apr 19 2015 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
15th match (D/N), Ahmedabad, April 19, 2015, Pepsi Indian Premier League
(18.2/20 ov, T:157) 157/2

RR won by 8 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
76* (55)
ajinkya-rahane
Cricinfo's MVP
84.64 ptsImpact List
shane-watson
New
RR
Full commentary

While Royals continue to rise, it's up to Mumbai to arrest their fall. Over to the other game now. Ciao ciao.

"It's nice to be back with Royals," Watson says. "Chennai is a great team, so it was a good win against them.The pitch was a little bit slow and little bit dry, but we summed up the conditions pretty quickly and the bowlers bowled well to give ourselves the best chance. Chris Morris bowled very well. Dwayne Bravo played a brilliant innings. But I am very proud of the way we played today. We are getting better every year. The people we have brought in this year complement the team and we continue to learn."

Ajinkya Rahane is the Man of the Match. He is the leading run-getter in this IPL now. He talks about playing his natural game, making the most of the form and enjoying cricket.

Shane Watson gets an award for hitting the most sixes and Pravin Tambe gets another award for picking up the wicket of Brendon McCullum.

"We are playing well through the tournament, but i thought this was a perfect game," says Dravid. "Chennai is a big side and I am very glad with the performance. To restrict them to less than 160 was incredible from the bowlers."

"It was an off day for us," Dhoni says. "When I went to bat, I ate up a lot of deliveries. It was quite a good wicket, under the light, it gets slightly better. It played how we thought it would play. It was a back-to-back game for us after Mumbai, and the heat could have been a factor (behind the flat display) but we have to come back. Bravo released a lot of pressure of me. IF he can play like this, I can play somewhere else in the batting order. With Jadeja and Ashwin to follow, it gives our batting potency."

7.15 pm So Rajasthan Royals keep their slate clean with their fifth win in a row. It ends Chennai Super Kings unbeaten run as well. What a game it has been for Shane Watson.. Coming back from injury, it seemed his inclusion could disturb an already settled combination, but he has made superb impact. Along with Rahane, he added a record144 runs for the opening wicket. At one stage it seemed they would complete a 10-wicket win.. But they were never really hurried in their chase. Chennai Super Kings appeared a bit flat in their bowling attack, or maybe it was the calm batting from Rahane and Watson that made it look that way. A flat game for Super Kings, who, apart from Bravo's fifty in the first innings, didn't have much to smile about.

18.2
1
Dwayne Bravo to Nair, 1 run

another slower delivery and Karun whips it to square leg to complete a comprehensive win

No Faulkner. Karun Nair comes in to hit the winning run

18.1
W
Dwayne Bravo to Smith, OUT

No he will not! This is a slower ball and what does Smith do? he chips it straight back at the bowler. Will it be Faulkner then?

Steven Smith c & b Bravo 6 (7b 0x4 0x6 8m) SR: 85.71

So Smith it will be to hit the winning runs..

end of over 189 runs
RR: 156/1CRR: 8.66 RRR: 0.50
Steven Smith6 (6b)
Ajinkya Rahane76 (55b 6x4 2x6)
Mohit Sharma 4-0-33-0
Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-29-1
17.6
1
Mohit to Smith, 1 run

short delivery this time and Smith slaps it straight to short fine leg for a single.

17.5
2
Mohit to Smith, 2 runs

fuller on the off, Smith eases it down to long-off. The throw comes in from the deep, hits the stumps and ricochets away, allowing an extra run

17.4
1
Mohit to Rahane, 1 run

length delivery outside off, Rahane gets hurried as this is the quicker one, dragged down to long on

17.3
2
Mohit to Rahane, 2 runs

slower bouncer this time, Rahane has seen that coming and he ramps it from the right of Dhoni was a couple to third man

17.2
2
Mohit to Rahane, 2 runs

fires a good, fast yorker that Rahane digs out to cover.. Raina picks it up and aims at the non-stirker's but misses and gives away an overthrow

17.1
1
Mohit to Smith, 1 run

length delivery outside off and Smith hammers it to the leg side, a diving save at midwicket from the fielding Smith prevents a certain boundary

end of over 173 runs • 1 wicket
RR: 147/1CRR: 8.64 RRR: 3.33
Ajinkya Rahane71 (52b 6x4 2x6)
Steven Smith2 (3b)
Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-29-1
Mohit Sharma 3-0-24-0
16.6
Jadeja to Rahane, no run

pushed through on the stumps, the batsman defends it down the pitch

16.5
1
Jadeja to Smith, 1 run

steps out of the crease and punches the length ball down to long off

16.4
1
Jadeja to Rahane, 1 run

he comes forward to play a defensive shot towards backward point but Smith wants a single and completes it easily

16.3
1
Jadeja to Smith, 1 run

he waits on the back foot and punches the length delivery through cover

16.2
Jadeja to Smith, no run

drives the fuller delivery but can't find the gap at cover

Smith comes in

16.1
W
Jadeja to Watson, OUT

here's a wicket against the run of play! Jadeja fires in a yorker that squeezes under the bat and knocks the stumps down. Well done David

Shane Watson b Jadeja 73 (47b 6x4 4x6 75m) SR: 155.31
end of over 166 runs
RR: 144/0CRR: 9.00 RRR: 3.25
Shane Watson73 (46b 6x4 4x6)
Ajinkya Rahane70 (50b 6x4 2x6)
Mohit Sharma 3-0-24-0
Ashish Nehra 4-0-32-0

Time to discuss some last-minute strategies.. it's a break.

David: "Watson or Rahane to get out soon so Faulkner can fulfill his contractual obligations to hit the winning runs. "

15.6
1
Mohit to Watson, 1 run

another slower ball, Watson waits for it before steering it through backward point for a single

15.5
1
Mohit to Rahane, 1 run

short and slower, the batsman has to adjust for the lack of pace as he pulls it through square leg

15.4
2
Mohit to Rahane, 2 runs

fires it in the blockhole but Rahane picks up an easy couple to wide long on

15.3
Mohit to Rahane, no run

fuller and quicker outside off, Rahane looks to drive it but misses

15.2
1
Mohit to Watson, 1 run

oh what luck! Watson gets a big leading edge as he looks to blast this slower delivery down the ground. He gives it up as soon as he hits it.. but there is no one at square leg. Dwayne Smith runs towards it from short fine leg but never gets there. Dwayne Bravo from the deep never runs in. It lands safely

15.1
1
Mohit to Rahane, 1 run

starts off with a slower ball but that is calmly pushed towards long on for a single

Win Probability
RR 100%
CSKRR
100%50%100%CSK InningsRR Innings

Over 19 • RR 157/2

Steven Smith c & b Bravo 6 (7b 0x4 0x6 8m) SR: 85.71
W
RR won by 8 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)
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Pepsi Indian Premier League

TEAMMWLPTNRR
CSK1495180.709
MI148616-0.043
RCB1475161.037
RR1475160.062
KKR1476150.253
SRH147714-0.239
DC145811-0.049
KXIP143116-1.436