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Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Match 15 in IPL 2015: Shane Watson-Ajinkya Rahane’s stand and highlights

RR beat CSK by eight wickets in their IPL 2015 encounter at Ahmedabad.

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Shane Watson (left) and Ajinkya Rahane put up a 144-run stand © IANS (File Photo)
Shane Watson (left) and Ajinkya Rahane put up a 144-run stand © IANS (File Photo)

Rajasthan Royals (RR) registered their fifth consecutive win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 as they defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by eight wickets at Ahmedabad. Sudatta Mukherjee brings the highlights from the 15th of the IPL 8 tournament.

Pravin Tambe’s early strike: Tambe provided the early breakthrough when he dismissed the dangerous CSK batsman Brendon McCullum. McCullum tried to smash it for a six over mid-wicket but the ball landed shorter than he expected. McCullum failed to pick it and the ball landed in James Faulkner’s hands. Tambe looked pleased and he should be. READ: Rajasthan Royals crush Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in IPL 2015 match

Chris Morris’s catch to dismiss Faf du Plessis: Amazing catches are nothing unknown or surprising in IPL. There are not many catches that have made the coaches jump in ecstasy in the dugout. Morris took an exceptional catch to remove du Plessis in the seventh over of the match. Just when it seemed Morris had misjudged the catch, he tumbled backwards and completed an amazing catch. Rahul Dravid and Paddy Upton were seen jumping as they got off their chairs in the dugout. Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015: Street-smart cricket once again on the cards

James Faulkner gets rid of in-form Dwayne Smith: Smith had just was 10 short of his second consecutive fifty in IPL 2015. Faulkner, Man of the Match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final, clean bowled the right-hander. Smith tried to hit it towards leg but Faulkner’s length delivery sneaked in and an inside-edge did the job. CSK soon had two new batsmen on the crease.

Dwayne Bravo’s half-century and partnership with MS Dhoni: CSK lost their top four batsmen inside ten overs and things looked bleak for the visiting side with two new cricketers in the middle. However, with Dhoni and Bravo still out in the middle, CSK did not have to worry. The pair put up 91 runs from 65 balls and the West Indian batsman scored his fifth IPL half-century.

Unlike Dhoni, whose intentions were quite clear since he came out to bat, Bravo took some time to break free and play those big shots. Bravo took 29 balls to score his second fifty of the season and Dhoni supported him well. CSK had scored 65 from the first 55 balls; from the next 65 balls, the duo helped their side set a target of 157.

Ajinkya Rahane and Shane Watson’s huge opening partnership: Watson returned to IPL after missing out on the first four games of the eighth edition. After RR were successful in restricting CSK to a 156, Watson, along with an in-form Rahane, helped register a century partnership for the opening wicket. It was also the eighth 100-plus opening wicket partnership for RR, the most by any team. RR should be really happy with the way their batsmen have been performing. With Watson’s performance on comeback match, things really look bright for them.

(Sudatta Mukherjee is a reporter with CricketCountry. Other than writing on cricket, she spends penning random thoughts on her blog. When she is not writing, you will catch her at a movie theatre or watching some English television show on her laptop. Her Twitter handle is @blackrosegal)

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