IPL: Shane Watson stars as Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings
Sunday 19 April 2015 16:09, UK
Shane Watson took centre stage as the Rajasthan Royals strolled to their fifth straight Indian Premier League victory, routing the fancied Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in Ahmedabad.
Chennai, who were themselves unbeaten going into the game, elected to bat having won the toss but could not build any momentum as they laboured to 156-4, with Dwayne Bravo’s unbeaten 66 late on sparing them further ignominy.
The Rajasthan bowlers all played their part, especially Chris Morris (1-19) who claimed the prize scalp of Suresh Raina (4), while MS Dhoni (31) shared a 91-run fifth-wicket partnership with Bravo to lift the Super Kings to respectability.
Rajasthan chased down their target with 10 balls to spare as openers Ajinkya Rahane (76 no) and Watson (73) shared a club-record 144-run opening stand, guiding them home with an impressive combination of shot-making and striking.
Watson, making his first IPL appearance this year, took over from stand-in-skipper Steven Smith and hit six fours and four sixes to bring the big Sunday crowd to their feet.
Rajasthan top the standings while Chennai remain in second place.
