Highlights, CSK vs RR, IPL 2021, Match 12, Full Cricket Score: Moeen, Jadeja guide Chennai to massive 45-run win

Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni: I know it’s unusual to give two bowlers three overs each in the powerplay, but I always try to see what’s the best thing I can do at any given point in time, and both the bowlers then knew the conditions better than the ones coming in. A lot of times, when you keep doing something, they get quite used to the pressure of bowling in the first few over. Sam bowled very well, Deepak miscalculated a bit with the knuckle deliveries. Other than that, I’m very happy. I felt a good start was important.

Even before the ball was changed, the wet ball was spinning a bit. I wanted Jadeja to keep bowling the way he was, even though Jos was hitting the reverse sweep really well. I don’t mind a reverse sweep on a wicket where it’s turning and stopping a bit. I wanted him to keep bowling up. When the wet ball turns, the chances of a dry ball turning are even higher.

It’s important to have that sixth bowler in Moeen Ali. It’s not something you need to have, but it always helps. It was good to have him, it was turning and stopping, but there was less dew than usual and the wicket became a bit sticky.

I felt like we should have scored a little more, so that’s something we need to keep in mind.

A lot has changed since last year. The way we prepared, the way we turned up. Right from the start, it felt like a good dressing room, something we’ve always put an emphasis on. The bowlers have been under the pump, so they’re used to the conditions a bit. 

I’m getting old, so I don’t know how fit I am. When you’re playing, you don’t want anyone to say ‘oh he’s unfit.’ I can’t guarantee performances, but as long as people don’t point fingers at my level of fitness, I’ll take it as a positive. I’ll try to keep up with the younger guys.

A first for Chennai

Chennai Super Kings win by 45 runs!

Shardul Thakur gets to bowl the final over and Unadkat’s thick edge flies over short third for a boundary on the first ball! A couple of wides follow, before Jadeja somehow takes yet another catch at sweeper. He’s been just about everywhere tonight. Rajasthan Royals will need to reevaluate their batting lineup following tonight’s display. Manan Vohra and Sanju Samson in particular were poor. Chennai ease to a win, and much of that is down to one Ravindra Jadeja.

After 19 overs,Rajasthan Royals 137/8 ( Jaydev Unadkat 20 , )

Bravo’s back, and he begins by giving away a single. Tewatia then tries to score a boundary with a lofted drive, and there isn’t enough on it. It’s just a double. Tewatia then hits a shot straight to deep midwicket, but the fielder can’t help crossing the boundary rope in the midst of taking the catch, and it’s a six. Tewatia hits another six in the same area, and then at his third try for a maximum, he sends it straight down Ruturaj Gaikwad’s gullet at extra cover.

After 18 overs,Rajasthan Royals 122/7 ( Rahul Tewatia 6 , Jaydev Unadkat 19)

Sam Curran’s back to bowl his final over. First ball’s a dot, before Unadkat shifts his body and drags a shot over the fine leg boundary for six! Two singles, and then a boundary that’s short hammered between fine and square leg. Unnecessarily loose from Curran this.

After 17 overs,Rajasthan Royals 109/7 ( Rahul Tewatia 5 , Jaydev Unadkat 8)

Tewatia tries a couple of reverse sweeps on the first two balls of Moeen Ali’s third over, but both don’t really come off. He tries it yet again on the fourth delivery, and this time it almost comes off, but Jadeja prevents it from crossing the boundary. Nothing seems to be working for the RR batsmen.

A six that does more harm than good?

Another feather in Moeen’s cap

After 16 overs,Rajasthan Royals 105/7 ( Rahul Tewatia 3 , Jaydev Unadkat 6)

Dwayne Bravo will get a crack at RR’s tail end. Rajasthan seem to have thrown in the towel at the moment, with the required run rate skyrocketing towards the 20-run mark. Looks like the focus is now on trying to do as little damage to their run rate as possible. Tewatia and Unadkat are playing cautious cricket. Eight runs off the over, and RR need 84 to win from 24 balls. Time for a strategic timeout.

Most wickets v RR in IPL:

30 : Amit Mishra
21 : Piyush Chawla
18 : Ravindra Jadeja*
16 : Yuzvendra Chahal
16 : Ravichandran Ashwin

After 15 overs,Rajasthan Royals 97/7 ( Rahul Tewatia 2 , Jaydev Unadkat 1)

Moeen Ali will be hoping to get another wicket or two from this over, and what do you know, the very first ball sees Parag hole out to Jadeja at deep midwicket! Parag tried to go for a big shot, but there wasn’t enough juice on it. The next ball’s a dot, and then another wicket! Jadeja with the catch again, and this time it’s Morris who departs! Great work from the CSK fielder, he’s been involved in just about everything tonight. Two runs off the over and two wickets, RR are on the ropes here.

After 14 overs,Rajasthan Royals 95/5 ( Riyan Parag 3 , Rahul Tewatia 1)

Rahul Tewatia’s on and Sanju Samson will be praying that he reprises his heroic innings from Sharjah in 2020. Jadeja to bowl and he starts with a single, dot and another single. Who’s going to step up and be a hero for RR tonight? Will it be Parag or Tewatia? At the moment it looks like neither want it. Just three from the over.

After 13 overs,Rajasthan Royals 92/5 ( Riyan Parag 1 , Rahul Tewatia 0)

David Miller and Riyan Parag have a real task on their hands if they’re hoping to guide Rajasthan Royals to a win. The required run rate is now well over 12 an over. There’s not a lot of time on offer for the batsmen. Moeen Ali has his first over, and it’s a good start, just two runs off the first four balls. The fifth is a wicket, it’s Miller who departs LBW. He doesn’t review the umpire’s decision, and the replay shows that maybe he should have. RR in real trouble now.

After 12 overs,Rajasthan Royals 90/4 ( David Miller 2 , Riyan Parag 0)

Oh lord, Ravindra Jadeja bowled the ball of the match! It’s a lovely delivery, and it completely outfoxes Jos Buttler, who departs on 49. Is this the moment we’ll look back on as the game-changer? Three singles come off the next four balls, before Jadeja strikes again, and this time it’s Shivam Dube who’s sent back to the dugout. It was LBW, and Dube reviews it, but the umpire was right the first time.

After 11 overs,Rajasthan Royals 87/2 ( Jos Buttler 49 , Shivam Dube 16)

Dwayne Bravo’s brought into the bowling attack. The Trinidadian begins with an abysmal wide. Make that two, he’s bowled another. Dube wisely left both balls well alone. Bravo finally gets a legitimate delivery, on the third time of asking. This one looked like a wide too, and Dube’s looking a bit confused it wasn’t given, after leaving it. Another dot ball follows, before Dube gets off strike with a single. Dot ball to Buttler, and then a single. Wide number three from Bravo now. And wide number four. Twice as many wides as singles in this over. Last ball’s a dot.

After 10 overs,Rajasthan Royals 81/2 ( Jos Buttler 48 , Shivam Dube 15)

Jadeja’s back, can he manage to bowl a slightly more economical over on the second time of asking? The first couple of deliveries result in singles. Two dots follow. This is exactly what Dhoni wanted from Jadeja. Well, that’s hit for a six, it’s whacked over deep midwicket by Buttler. Aaaaah, that’s a no ball as well! Dhoni looks livid. Free hit then, what can Buttler do with this? Not much really, he misjudges it, and it’s just a single. One more single to wrap up the over, 11 off it.

After 9 overs, Rajasthan Royals 70/2 ( Jos Buttler 40 , Shivam Dube 13)

Shardul Thakur’s back, and he’s greeted with a belter of a boundary off the bat of Shivam Dube. That’s hammered over point. The next two deliveries are dots, followed by a couple of singles. Buttler is playing well, and the longer he plays, the more CSK will begin to worry. Dube ends the over with a four that’s lofted over the bowler straight down the ground. Time for the first strategic timeout of the game.

After 8 overs,Rajasthan Royals 60/2 ( Jos Buttler 39 , Shivam Dube 4)

Ravindra Jadeja’s turn to bowl. If he can continue to be as miserly as his teammates, RR are looking at an uphill battle. Well, it’s not a great start. First ball is a single, and then Jos Buttler hits back-to-back reverse sweeps for four. Buttler’s really putting on a show here. Two more singles make it 11 off the over, and this will be a bit of a shot in the arm for RR.

After 7 overs,Rajasthan Royals 49/2 ( Jos Buttler 30 , Shivam Dube 2)

The powerplay’s done, and for the first time in this innings, we’ll have a bowler whose last name doesn’t begin with a C in Shardul Thakur. First ball is a dot, second’s a single which brings Shivam Dube back on strike. Another dot, and then Dube is off the mark with a single. Two more singles to make it four off the over, and RR’s run chase has now slowed down to a crawl.

After 6 overs,Rajasthan Royals 45/2 ( Jos Buttler 28 , Shivam Dube 0)

Dhoni is persisting with the Chahar-Curran combination. Curran’s turn to bowl. He starts with a dot, followed by a couple of singles. Another dot follows, this is already looking like a pretty decent over. Wait, it gets better, Samson is gone! It’s a terrible shot from the RR captain, he swats at a slower bouncer, and ends up pushing it straight down Bravo’s throat at mid-on. Good bowling from Curran, he’s really proving to be the difference for CSK in this contest.