Indian Premier League, Abu Dhabi |
Chennai Super Kings 189-4 (20 overs): Gaikwad 101* (60), Jadeja 32* (15); Tewatia 3-39 |
Rajasthan Royals 190-3 (17.3 overs): Dube 64* (42), Jaiswal 50 (21); Thakur 2-30 |
Rajasthan won by seven wickets |
Scorecard; Table |
Rajasthan Royals kept alive their Indian Premier League play-off hopes with a sensational chase of 190 against already-qualified Chennai Super Kings.
Yashasvi Jaiswal hit 50 off 21 balls and Shivam Dube 64* off 42 as Rajasthan won with 15 balls to spare.
Earlier, Chennai made 189-4 with Ruturaj Gaikwad hitting a maiden T20 century from the final ball.
Rajasthan are now sixth in the table, but will likely need to win their final two games to earn a play-off spot.
They are one of four teams on 10 points, with net run rate looking more likely to decide who progresses.
Chennai have already qualified, but a place in top two, which means playing in the qualifier and having two chances to reach the final, is no longer in their own hands.
Brutal hitting sees Rajasthan home
Faced with a required run-rate of 9.50 an over, Rajasthan had little option but to go out and attack.
They did just that, motoring to 75-0 after five overs.
Jaiswal, who left home at the age of 10 to pursue a career in cricket, hit his first IPL half-century, with him and Evin Lewis, who made 27 off 12 balls, both hitting over mid-wicket and straight down the ground with alarming frequency.
Both fell in the space of five balls, to leave Rajasthan – who made five changes, including dropping England’s Liam Livingstone – 81-2, but that did not affect them.
Captain Sanju Samson took the anchor role, and allowed Dube to attack and he obliged, including hitting Moeen Ali for successive sixes over mid-wicket.
When Samson fell for 28 his side needed just 20 from 4.2 overs and the game was practically over, and allowed Glenn Phillips to chip in with an eight-ball 14.
It was a bad day for Chennai’s overseas pace bowlers with England’s Sam Curran going for 55 from his four overs and Australia’s Josh Hazlewood 54.
‘One of the best IPL innings’ – Gaikwad continues impressive march
Gaikwad is the latest batter off the Indian production line. Such is their depth, that despite averaging 50.85 in the IPL, he has only played twice for India and that was when a secondary squad toured Sri Lanka this summer, with their regular side in England.
His IPL career has not always been plain sailing, but he, CSK captain MS Dhoni and their head coach Stephen Fleming are now reaping their rewards for their trust and continued faith in the 24-year-old.
As is his norm he started patiently, scoring 20 off 19 balls in the powerplay, and reaching his half-century off 43 balls, before he exploded, moving to 101 not out in just 17 balls.
The right hander, who hit nine fours and five sixes, was strong over the covers and mid-off, showing a natural talent to play in to out, but also latched on to any length to pull and flick over square and mid-wicket with an effortless ease.
One of his sixes went a massive 103m, and he now has the two highest scores in this second phase of the tournament.
Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara, who was commentating on the game on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, said: “This guy is a proper player. It surprises me how far he can hit the ball because there is nothing on him – he is just pure timing and classy.
“It was probably one of the best innings I’ve seen in the IPL for a long, long time. How is he not playing for India?”
Listen to commentary of Royal Challengers Bangalore v Punjab Kings (11:00 BST) and Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad (15:00 BST) on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app on Sunday, 3 October.