RR vs CSK IPL Score: Rahul Tewatia picked up 3/37 to help RR beat CSK by 16 runs in Sharjah.© BCCI/IPL
Rajasthan Royals kept a tight leash on Chennai Super Kings even as CSK went limp in their chase of 217. After a decent start provided by Shane Watson and Murali Vijay, the CSK chase went astray in that none of the batsmen took enough risks to up the ante even with the asking rate climbing every over. Faf du Plessis smashed 72 off just 37 and Sam Curran played a 17-run cameo off just six balls. However, du Plessis accelerated late and Curran perished before he could take off. Skipper MS Dhoni demoted himself to No. 7 and finished unebaten on 29 off 17 balls but most of his runs came in the last over when the game was out of CSK's reach. Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal and Tom Curran got a wicket each while Rahul Tewatia was the pick of the RR bowlers with 3/37 off four, including wickets of Watson and Curran.  (SCORECARD )
IPL 2020 Highlights Between SunRisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore straight from Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
September 22 2020 23:26 (IST)
RR BEAT CSK BY 16 RUNS!
The Dhoni entertainment ends as the finisher remains unbeaten but fails to finish the match.
RR beat CSK by 16 runs and begin their IPL 2020 campaign with a win.
September 22 2020 23:25 (IST)
SIX!
Short ball, top edge, six. As simple as that.
Dhoni showing brute force in the final few balls.
The question is why could he not do it earlier?
September 22 2020 23:24 (IST)
SIX!
Proper entertainment from THALA towards the end.
He smashes this one OUT OF THE GROUND and a bystander on the road outside the stadium casually takes the ball away with him.
Everyone's having fun!
September 22 2020 23:23 (IST)
SIX!
The Dhoni jet finally takes off but it's too little too late.
This heave over mid-wicket for SIX will only add to the net run rate!
September 22 2020 23:20 (IST)
CSK need 38 runs off the final over!
Dhoni can get 36 off the six legal balls.
How will he get the remaining two runs?
RR just have to bowl six legal deliveries to win this match.
September 22 2020 23:19 (IST)
WICKET! Faf du Plessis (c Samson b Archer) 72 (37)
Archer sears in another bouncer, this time a quick one, and it's too fast for du Plessis as he is hurried into his shot.
The pull fails to connect as he gloves one to Samson behind the stumps.
September 22 2020 23:18 (IST)
SIX!
Archer goes too short and du Plessis tears into the ball by smashing it over long-on for another SIX!
September 22 2020 23:17 (IST)
Archer bowls the 19th over!
Archer comes back and keeps the balls away from the reach of du Plessis.
He bowls back of a length and outside off stump as du Plessis and Dhoni only manage singles and doubles.
September 22 2020 23:12 (IST)
SIX!
Faf du Plessis ain't giving up yet.
He hammers Tom Curran over long-off for another six.
Can he hit four more SIXES this over?
Yes, that's how many he may need in just this over to have a chance at pulling this off for CSK.
September 22 2020 23:09 (IST)
50 for du Plessis with a SIX!
He smashes Unadkat over the bowler's head for another six to bring up his 50.
CSK need 58 off 18 balls. Can the two veterans do it?
September 22 2020 23:08 (IST)
SIX!
Slower bouncer by Unadkat and du Plessis waits for an eternity before smashing it over mid-wicket for another six.
Du Plessis is trying his best – but it may yet not be enough!
September 22 2020 23:07 (IST)
SIX!
Unadkat bowls a slower one as du Plessis walks down the wicket and heaves the ball over long-on for a six.
Alas, it's not going to be enough still. 71 needed off 21 balls.
September 22 2020 23:06 (IST)
79 needed off 24 balls!
Is this game already out of the reach for CSK?
Looks every bit like it at the moment.
September 22 2020 23:02 (IST)
FOUR!
Du Plessis makes room for himself and smashes a short of length ball from Archer through the covers for four.
But CSK need SIXES! And many of them.
September 22 2020 22:59 (IST)
After 15 overs, CSK are 131/5
86 runs are needed off the last five overs!
Can CSK do it? Can Dhoni pull off a heist?
Stay tuned!
September 22 2020 22:58 (IST)
SIX!
Finally, du Plessis gets it right.
Tewatia pitches one slightly full and du Plessis takea a long stride towards the ball and pummels it over long-on for a much-needed six.'
September 22 2020 22:57 (IST)
September 22 2020 22:56 (IST)
Tewatia returns for his final over
Faf du Plessis comes down the track and hits the ball over long-on.
Riyan Parag gets his hands to the ball right at the fence, but doesn't manage to hold on.
SIX for du Plessis!
September 22 2020 22:53 (IST)
MS DHONI HAS ARRIVED!
But has he arrived too late? The asking rate is over 16 runs per over.
Or is it right up Dhoni's alley?
We'll have to wait and watch.
September 22 2020 22:52 (IST)
WICKET! Jadhav (c Samson b T Curran) 22 (16)
Curran bowls it slow and back of length outside off. Jadhav swings hard but only gets an outside edge to the ball.
Samson leaps to his right and takes an excellent catch behind the stumps.
CSK are in deep, deep trouble!
September 22 2020 22:50 (IST)
Tom Curran returns and gifts CSK a FREE HIT
The ball is wet due to the dew on the outfield and it slipped out of Tom Curran's hands, who was probably looking for a yorker, and reached above waist height at the batsman.
The free hit yields just one as du Plessis fails to clear the field over long-on.
September 22 2020 22:44 (IST)
Unadkat bowls an excellent over under pressure
Unadkat comes back and mixes his pace and lengths.
Jadhav and du Plessis deal in singles – quite astonishing given the asking rate has climbed over 15 runs per over!
September 22 2020 22:42 (IST)
September 22 2020 22:39 (IST)
100 up for CSK!
Despite setbacks, CSK have brought up their 100 in the 12th over.
This game could go down to the wire.
September 22 2020 22:38 (IST)
FOUR, FOUR, FOUR!
Some room outside off and Jadhav does his business from the crease.
He opens the face of the bat and hits one over point for four.
The next ball is carved over covers for another four.
CSK are making a comeback or what?
September 22 2020 22:36 (IST)
FOUR! "LIKE A TRACER BULLET"
Gopal will bowl his final over.
He bowls a fast, straight ball and Jadhav smashes it back past the bowler for four.
Like a TRACER BULLET!
September 22 2020 22:35 (IST)
Tewatia keeps the stranglehold on CSK
His figures read 3-0-21-3 in a chase of 217 runs.
The wickets column has names of Shane Watson and Sam Curran.
He still has an over up his sleeve. It will be interesting to see if Smith saves him for the end.
September 22 2020 22:31 (IST)
Kedar Jadhav is the new batsman! CSK 82/4 in 10 overs
CSK are in trouble!
Jadhav and du Plessis need to stitch a partnership and they need to maintain the run rate as well.
It will be a tough ask even for these two experienced batsmen.
CSK need 135 runs from 60 balls.
September 22 2020 22:26 (IST)
WICKET! Gaikwad (st Samson b Tewatia) 0 (1)
Gaikwad comes dancing down the wicket on the first ball he faces and misses it completely.
More stumping practise for Samson as Tewatia gets his third wicket.
RR are DOMINATING!
September 22 2020 22:25 (IST)
Ruturaj Gaikwad is the new batsman!
No MS Dhoni yet!
September 22 2020 22:22 (IST)
WICKET! S Curran (st Samson b Tewatia) 17 (6)
Tewatia gets his man!
Curran comes down the wicket again, but misses the ball altogether.
Samson does the rest as he whips the bails off in a flash.
The see-sawing game continues to amaze us!
September 22 2020 22:20 (IST)
SIX! AGAIN!
Tewatia has been taken to the cleaners!
This time Curran stays in the crease and smashes it over long-on for another six.
Curran made Tewatia pitch it up and the batsman made full use of the opportunity.
September 22 2020 22:19 (IST)
SIX! Sam Curran is warming up!
Sam Curran is in the mood!
Tewatia continues and pitches it on good length, but Curran uses his feet to get to the pitch and smash it over long-on for a HUGE SIX!
September 22 2020 22:16 (IST)
FOUR! Sam Curran has arrived!
Sam Curran arrives and gets a short ball from Gopal.
He smashes it through mid-wicket for four!
He had changed the game for CSK in the last match. Can he do it again here?
September 22 2020 22:15 (IST)
WICKET! Vijay c T Curran b Gopal 21 (21)
Gopal drops it short to lure Vijay into the pull shot and the batsman obliges.
However, Vijay doesn't get the necessary power behind the shot as he holes out to Tom Curran in the deep at mid-wicket.
RR have two quick wickets!
September 22 2020 22:10 (IST)
WICKET! Watson b Tewatia 33 (21)
RR have their breakthrough!
Watson was looking dangerous and Rahul Tewatia has cleaned up the Aussie.
This ball was short of length and Watson went deep in his crease to pull the ball over the leg side, but went a bit early into the shot.
The ball clips the pads and deflects on to the stumps.
September 22 2020 22:06 (IST)
FOUR!
Here's a boundary for a change.
Curran stays short of length but this time outside off, Watson cuts it fine of short third man for another four.
CSK 53/0 in at the end of Powerplay.
September 22 2020 22:05 (IST)
SIX! SIX!
Watson is getting into his groove now.
Tom Curran bowls on the legs, Watson whips over the leg side for six.
Tom Curran goes short and Watson smashes it high and long to hit the giant screen on the leg side.
It's destruction everywhere at the moment.
September 22 2020 22:00 (IST)
SIX!
Gopal goes short and Watson goes deep in his crease and smacks this ball over backward square leg for a HUGE SIX!
CSK need more of these!
September 22 2020 21:58 (IST)
Shreyas Gopal bowls in Powerplay
The leg spinner starts with two googlies.
The first is a dot but the second is too short and Vijay pulls it behind square for FOUR!
Topics mentioned in this article
Chennai Super Kings
Rajasthan Royals