AHMEDABAD, India, CMC – Dwayne Bravo smashed an exhilarating unbeaten half-century but then leaked runs with his medium pace as the previously unbeaten Chennai Super Kings crashed to an eight-wicket defeat to high-flying Rajasthan Royals here yesterday.
Opting to bat first at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Chennai collapsed to 65 for four in the 10thover before recovering to reach 156 without further loss from their 20 overs.
Bravo struck 62 off 36 deliveries with eight fours and a six to lead the revival, putting on 91 with captain MS Dhoni who chipped in with an unbeaten 31 from 37 deliveries.
Bravo’s West Indies teammate Dwayne Smith hammered 40 from 29 balls with three fours and two sixes at the top of the order.
In reply, Royals were propelled by a 144-run opening stand between Ajinkya Rahane who hammered 76 not out and Australian Shane Watson who finished 73 not out.
Rahane struck six fours and two sixes off 55 balls while Watson clobbered six fours and four sixes in a 47-ball knock.
Bravo’s first two overs gushed 29 runs but he returned to bowl the penultimate over and pick up the wicket of Australia’s Steve Smith for six, with Royals on the brink of victory.
Royals are now unbeaten in five outings.
On Saturday in Pune, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell blasted 66 from 36 deliveries to lift Kolkata Knight Riders to a four-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab.
Chasing 156, Knight Riders languished at 60 for five in the eighth over before Russell lashed nine fours and two sixes in a 95-run stand with Yusuf Pathan who scored 28 not out, to see his side to victory.