Chennai: It was a case of so near, yet so far, as home favourites Chennai Super Kings (CSK), despite late heroics by skipper MS Dhoni, in his 200th match as captain, and Ravindra Jadeja, fell agonisingly short by three runs in a valiant chase against Rajasthan Royals at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium here Wednesday night.
Set to score 176 in 20 overs, CSK,finished at 172 for eight in a tight finish.
Earlier, asked to bat first, RR scord 175 for eight in 20 overs, with Jos Butler's half century and good cameos by R.Ashwin and Hetmyer.
In reply, CSK lost early wicket, recovered well through Deven Conway's half century (50, 38 balls, 6x4) and Ajinkhya Rahane's brisk knock (31, 19 balls, 2x4, 1x6), to take CSK at 78 for two in the 10th over.
However, CSK lost wickets in the middle overs, and needed 40 from two overs, reviving memories of Rinku gupta's heroics of KKR and the close finishes the edition witnessed over the last couple of days, with the teams winning from a no where situation.
But Dhoni and Jadeja played their hearts out, scoring 19 in the penultimate over, reducing the leeway to 21 in the last over.
Two wides of the first two balls by medium pacer Sandeep Sharma raised CSK hopes, and two sixers of successive balls by Dhon, brought the crowd on their feet, as the target boiled down to seven in three balls.
But good bowling by Sandeep, ensured that Rajasthan Royals scrap past the home team by three runs, in a cracker of a contest.
After losing Rutiraj Gaikwad early, Conway and Rahane scored at a good pace to keep CSK in the hunt.
Once they were separated, the visitors almost changed the complex of the game after Rahane, tried to slog sweep R.Ashwin on a wicket where the ball is gripping and offering some turn, missed the line and was trapped in front, triggering a collapse, as spinners Yuzuvendra Chahal, Ashwin and Adam Zampa picked up five wickets between them conceding a total of 95 runs in their 12 overs, that changed the complexion of the game.
Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali and impact player Ambati Rayudu, who failed to make any impact, fell quickly. Devon Conway perished in the last ball of the 15th over, reducing CSK to 113 for six, needing 63 in the last five overs.
At this stage, Dhoni (32 not out, 17 balls, 3x4, 1x6)and Jadeja (25, 15 balls, 2x6, 1x4) came together, adding 59 for the seventh wicket, that brought the team close to the finish line, but Sandeep Sharma, despite conceding two sixers, bowled the last two balls to perfection to deny the home team a victory on Dhoni's 200th match as skipper.
R.Ashwin was adjudged man of the match for his all round performance scoring 30 in 22 balls and picking up two wickets in his home town, who knows the pitch by the back of his palm. (UNI)
