Rajasthan Royals (182/9) survived a late scare to beat Chennai Super Kings (176/6) by six runs in a nail-biting contest in Guwahati. Wanindu Hasaranga’s four-wicket haul and Nitish Rana’s commanding 81-run knock proved decisive as CSK fell just short despite a valiant effort from Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni.
Rana Leads Royals to Competitive Total
CSK won the toss and opted to field, looking to take early advantage of the conditions. Rajasthan’s batting got off to a shaky start as Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early, courtesy of Khaleel Ahmed. However, Nitish Rana took charge and counterattacked brilliantly.
The left-hander found solid support in Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag before Matheesha Pathirana struck twice to halt RR’s momentum. Rana, undeterred, kept the scoreboard ticking and reached his half-century in quick time. Some late wickets put a dent in Rajasthan’s plans, but Rana’s 81 ensured they finished at a competitive 182/9 in 20 overs.
Hasaranga Spins a Web Around CSK’s Batting
Chasing 183, CSK’s innings was built around Ruturaj Gaikwad, who held the innings together with a well-paced 63. However, wickets at regular intervals hampered Chennai’s chase. Hasaranga was the wrecker-in-chief, striking at crucial moments.
- He first removed the dangerous Shivam Dube before dismissing Tripathi cheaply.
- Later, he broke the backbone of CSK’s middle order by sending Gaikwad back.
- His four-wicket haul left CSK reeling at a precarious position in the chase.
The equation boiled down to 38 runs off the last three overs with Dhoni and Jadeja at the crease.
Dhoni’s Heroics Fall Short
The pressure was mounting, but MS Dhoni, ever the finisher, turned back the clock with a few vintage strokes. He smashed a four and a six in the 19th over, while Jadeja also joined the onslaught, taking 19 runs off Tushar Deshpande’s over.
With 13 needed off the final over, Sandeep Sharma was handed the ball. He held his nerve, executing perfect yorkers to deny Dhoni and Jadeja any room. The veteran dismissed Dhoni off the first ball, sealing Rajasthan’s thrilling six-run win.
Match Summary
| Teams | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan Royals | 182/9 | 20.0 | Won by 6 runs |
| Chennai Super Kings | 176/6 | 20.0 | Lost |
Hasaranga (4/26) and Nitish Rana (81 off 47) emerged as the match-winners, while CSK will have to regroup quickly after suffering back-to-back defeats in the tournament.
