IPL 2018 Highlights, Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals: Shane Watson Stars In CSK's 64-Run Win Against RR
IPL 2018, Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Highlights: CSK thrash RR by 64 runs.
Shane Watson smashed a magnificent IPL century as Chennai Super Kings registered a comprehensive 64-run win over Rajasthan Royals on Friday. CSK, forced out of Chennai due to the Cauvery dispute, were shepherded by the 36-year-old Australian, who hammered 106 from 57 balls to lead his side to a challenging 204 for five after being invited to bat. Making full use of a dropped chance in the very first over on a flat track, Watson swung his arms when the ball was pitched outside off and positioned himself nicely against short and straight deliveries to find boundary after boundary. Watson hit nine fours and six sixes in his entertaining knock as another senior player enthralled the fans after Chris Gayle and CSK captain MS Dhoni showed their vintage touch in previous matches of the League. Three early wickets pegged Royals back and they were all out for 140 in 18.3 overs. (SCORECARD)
Royals' chase was spoilt when they lost three key batsmen inside Powerplay overs. They needed Sanju Samson (2), captain Ajinkya Rahane (16) and debutant Heinrich Klaasen (7) to fire at the top but all three could not make much contribution. Ben Stokes (45) and Jos Buttler (22) added 45 runs for the fourth wicket but the partnership broke when the latter was dismissed by Dwayne Bravo. Left-handed Stokes, who can turn the match on its head, was also dismissed soon and writing was clear on the wall. Watson shared a 50-run stand with fellow opener Ambati Rayudu (12) and then raised a 81-run partnership for the second wicket with comeback-man Suresh Raina, who hit a fiery 46 off 29 balls with nine shots to the fence. Watson was in regal touch as the Australian pummelled Royals bowlers after being dropped in the opening over, bowled by Stuart Binny. With no assistance on offer, the bowlers needed to be disciplined with their line and length but they were guilty of bowling either too full or short. If CSK could not take the total out of Royals' reach, it was because of leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, who stopped the run flow if not choked the CSK line-up, by accounting for three batsmen, including MS Dhoni in quick succession. Gopal conceded just 20 runs in his four-over quota and CSK managed only 54 runs in their last seven overs. Royals' captain Ajinkya Rahane used five different bowlers in first five bowlers and it was Australian Ben Laughlin who got the first success as he removed Rayudu in the fifth. However already 50 runs were on the board and it was Watson who was the danger man. In came Raina and the left-hander creamed off four boundaries off Ben Stokes' over. The job only got tougher for Royals bowlers. At half-way mark, CSK were 107 for one. In no time, Watson was approaching his hundred and Raina, a half-century, but Gopal brought relief for Royals by getting the latter caught in deep by Gowtham. There was no stopping Watson from the other end. He not only hit powerful shots but also used his wrists nicely for some delicate boundaries. Gopal though was doing a great job for his side as he stopped run flow by dismissing CSK captain MS Dhoni (5), who had enthralled his fans with a blistering fifty in the last match, and Sam Billings (3) in his successive overs. Watson completed his century in the 18th over and was out on penultimate ball of the innings. He later took wicket of K Gowtham.
England (Playing XI) - Jason Roy, Philip Salt, Dawid Malan, James Vince, Sam Curran, Jos Buttler (C?WK), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Rehan Ahmed, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer.
Bangladesh (Playing XI) - Tamim Iqbal (C), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam.
TOSS - Bangladesh have won the toss and will BAT first!
On the other hand, England have enjoyed this series. After having a poor ODI run, the Englishmen have won this series. They are now all set for a clean sweep as they enter into this game. Can they do it? Or will the hosts walk out of this series with their heads held high? Let's find out together. Toss and team news in a bit.
The hosts have had a poor start to this year and have lost both of their games against the Englishmen. The first game was a close one, but the hosts suffered a gut wrenching 132 run defeat in the second game. They will look to end the series on the happy note and salvage their pride.
Hello and a warm welcome to the final ODI game of England tour of Bangladesh. The visitors have already clinched the series, having won the first two games. Bangladesh will have to regroup, and win this game, and end the series on a high in front of the home crowd.
... MATCH DAY ...
It is time for the third and final ODI between Bangladesh and England which will be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong before we shift our focus to the T20I series. England has already secured the series by winning the first two games and will be looking for a whitewash. It was Dawid Malan's century that proved to be the difference in the first game, while Jason Roy absolutely bludgeoned 132 runs off just 124 balls in the second match. Their skipper, Jos Buttler, also has runs under his belt, but Philip Salt and James Vince have found it difficult in these conditions. Moeen Ali is the perfect player to handle the middle order, and they have the power-hitting abilities of Sam Curran too. Their bowling has been brilliant in both matches, and everyone has contributed. Curran and Adil Rashid were the standouts in the previous game with four wickets each. They rested their frontline pacer, Jofra Archer, for the second ODI, and they may rest him again to manage his workload now that the series is already wrapped up. Bangladesh, on the other hand, was able to show some fight in the first match, but they were outplayed in the previous game. Except for Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, and Najmul Hossain Shanto, no other batters looked comfortable, and they really struggled against a strong English bowling attack. With their experience, players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah will need to take more responsibility if they want to get anything out of this game. Their bowling was decent in the first game, but they fell apart in the second ODI. Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam were the only bowlers who were able to check the runs, but they haven't been able to pick wickets in the middle overs. Taskin Ahmed has by far been their best bowler and will look to continue his good form. They will have to come up with a different approach, and with the crowd behind them, they could cause an upset. They will be playing for pride and will want to finish this series on a high. Will they be able to do it? Or will England whitewash them? Let's find out together.