RANCHI, India, CMC- West Indies in-form batsman Dwayne Smith top scored again to setup a chase that allowed Chennai Super Kings to romp home by five wickets against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier league (IPL) yesterday.
In a one sided encounter, Smith scored 44 from 35 balls which set the foundation for Chennai to reach 149 for 5 with two balls to spare, in response to Rajasthan Royals 148 for 8.
Smith batted in his customary attacking fashion hitting five fours and two sixes and sharing in a 35-run partnership with Faf du Du Plessis who scored 38.
Smith also hit a couple of straight sixes off James Faulkner before mistiming a pull-shot off Kevon Cooper to be caught by glovesman Dishant Yagnik.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni , who scored an unbeaten 26 off 16 balls, reaffirmed his status as an outstanding finisher in limited overs cricket with yet another fluent final flourish, hitting a six off Faulkner’s final over to make the required 12 runs off the final over look easy.
CSK now are on top of the eight-team table having 16 points from 10 games while Kings XI Punjab with 14 from nine games are a notch below.
Despite the loss, Royals, on 12 points from 10 games also remain firmly in contention for a play—off berth holding onto their third place.
