For a change, Chennai Super Kings were at the receiving end as they conceded a facile win to the challengers, Rajasthan Royals, at the heat-soaked Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. Royals kicked the strong Chennai outfit on their shins, giving them the same treatment that MS Dhoni’s lads had given Mumbai Indians in their last game.
Slowing things down
Royals handed out an all-round display to keep their unbeaten status intact in the current edition of the IPL. When Ankit Sharma bowled the first over of left-arm spin to the formidable Chennai opening pair, one knew Royals had devised a specific plan to counter the offensive that was expected from the in-form opposition.
With Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith in tremendous touch, slowing down the game was the need of the hour for the Royals. Their slower bowlers came to the fore, once again and gave good support to Chris Morris and James Faulkner, who kept piling on the pressure on Chennai’s batsmen. It took a great effort by Dwayne Bravo to take his team to a fighting total of 156 runs.
Watson returns
The return of skipper Shane Watson not only boosted the Royals but also gave the team depth in both batting and bowling departments. Having sat out during the first four matches with a hamstring injury, the Australian laid to rest any doubts that anyone may have had about his fitness and form.
Replacing Tim Southee, who has had a good season so far, Watson combined with Ajinkya Rahane to thwart the Chennai bowlers with some clever percentage cricket. They handled Chennai’s front men, Ashish Nehra and Mohit Sharma with caution, milking them to keep the scoreboard ticking and tore into Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin and Bravo to keep the run-rate intact.
Royals’ entire approach reeked of positivity while fielding and batting. Morris’s tidy spell ensured that Royals did not miss the consistent Southee, and the decision to play a spinner in place of seamer Dhawal Kulkarni turned out to be a good one.
The chase
Chasing 156 against a settled bowling attack led by a wily seasoned campaigner was never going to be easy even if the score was below par. While Watson fired on all cylinders, Rahane played like a champion to be adjudged the Man of the Match. He picked the gaps with ease, essaying some glorious shots along the carpet and going for the big ones completely free of risk.
What seems to be working for the Royals is way they approach each game. Their mentor Rahul Dravid is keeping his team away from the pressures of expectancy. In his post-match interview the legend rated his team as one that is competing with the “big” teams in the IPL.
He also mentioned that though they had performed creditably and won the last four matches, the win against Chennai (another unbeaten side in the competition) was near perfect.
Maintaining the streak
The key factor for the Royals will be to keep up the momentum that has got them five consecutive wins. Playing “perfect” cricket in the middle of a high-pressure tournament is great, but to maintain that standard over the next month is going to take a lot of hard work.
In Watson, Steve Smith and Faulkner, the Royals have three players who have come into this tournament after a victorious World Cup campaign for their country. They know what a team needs to do to keep winning matches and, more important, to maintain a high level of performance.
Their win against the highly-rated Chennai team, coupled with the return of an in-form Watson, will boost their reputation as the most dangerous team so far in the IPL.
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Slowing things down
Royals handed out an all-round display to keep their unbeaten status intact in the current edition of the IPL. When Ankit Sharma bowled the first over of left-arm spin to the formidable Chennai opening pair, one knew Royals had devised a specific plan to counter the offensive that was expected from the in-form opposition.
With Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith in tremendous touch, slowing down the game was the need of the hour for the Royals. Their slower bowlers came to the fore, once again and gave good support to Chris Morris and James Faulkner, who kept piling on the pressure on Chennai’s batsmen. It took a great effort by Dwayne Bravo to take his team to a fighting total of 156 runs.
Watson returns
The return of skipper Shane Watson not only boosted the Royals but also gave the team depth in both batting and bowling departments. Having sat out during the first four matches with a hamstring injury, the Australian laid to rest any doubts that anyone may have had about his fitness and form.
Replacing Tim Southee, who has had a good season so far, Watson combined with Ajinkya Rahane to thwart the Chennai bowlers with some clever percentage cricket. They handled Chennai’s front men, Ashish Nehra and Mohit Sharma with caution, milking them to keep the scoreboard ticking and tore into Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin and Bravo to keep the run-rate intact.
Royals’ entire approach reeked of positivity while fielding and batting. Morris’s tidy spell ensured that Royals did not miss the consistent Southee, and the decision to play a spinner in place of seamer Dhawal Kulkarni turned out to be a good one.
The chase
Chasing 156 against a settled bowling attack led by a wily seasoned campaigner was never going to be easy even if the score was below par. While Watson fired on all cylinders, Rahane played like a champion to be adjudged the Man of the Match. He picked the gaps with ease, essaying some glorious shots along the carpet and going for the big ones completely free of risk.
What seems to be working for the Royals is way they approach each game. Their mentor Rahul Dravid is keeping his team away from the pressures of expectancy. In his post-match interview the legend rated his team as one that is competing with the “big” teams in the IPL.
He also mentioned that though they had performed creditably and won the last four matches, the win against Chennai (another unbeaten side in the competition) was near perfect.
Maintaining the streak
The key factor for the Royals will be to keep up the momentum that has got them five consecutive wins. Playing “perfect” cricket in the middle of a high-pressure tournament is great, but to maintain that standard over the next month is going to take a lot of hard work.
In Watson, Steve Smith and Faulkner, the Royals have three players who have come into this tournament after a victorious World Cup campaign for their country. They know what a team needs to do to keep winning matches and, more important, to maintain a high level of performance.
Their win against the highly-rated Chennai team, coupled with the return of an in-form Watson, will boost their reputation as the most dangerous team so far in the IPL.