Wats(on), CSK off

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Shane Watson personified Rajasthan Royals’ never-say-die spirit, playing a sensational knock to guide them to a five-wicket win over league leaders Chennai Super Kings in an exhilarating IPL-6 match here on Sunday night.
This was Rajasthan’s eight successive win at the venue and showed just why the young and inexperienced unit can never be counted out here. Chennai stay at the top of the table with 20 points from 14 games, while Rajasthan are second behind them, with as many points from an equal number of games.
Chasing a tricky 142, Rajasthan were staring down the barrel with the scorecard reading 45/4, but Watson played like there was no tomorrow. Interestingly, one did not witness a single maximum during the Chennai innings, while Watson’s 34-ball 70 was all about them. The burly Australian slammed as many as six of them as he single-handedly guided the team to a brilliant win.
Chennai pacers Jason Holder and Mohit Sharma, who had breathed fire in their opening spells, suddenly begun to look ordinary. Leg-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s first over conceded 23 runs — Watson picking two sixes in that — and it all but changed the complexion of the game.
From 49/4 in 10 overs, the hosts went to 72/4 by the next and the low asking rate only helped their cause. Watson continued the carnage, hammering everything that came his way. Dwayne Bravo — the visitors’ highest wicket-taker this season so far — was also meted out a similar treatment. Watson picked four boundaries off Chris Morris’ final over to kill the chase by the 15th over. Together with Stuart Binny, he raised 93 for the fifth wicket as Royals coasted to an impressive win.
Earlier, after being sent into bat, openers Murali Vijay (55 off 50 balls) and Michael Hussey (40 off 40 balls) laid a strong platform as CSK managed to post 141/4 in 20 overs. The Royals have managed to trick their opponents in this edition by their effective bowling and surprise elements in their XI, and Sunday was no different.
Rajasthan skipper Rahul Dravid once again tossed a surprise, handing the new ball to debutant Vikramjeet Malik (0/19). And even though the 30-year old bowled a decent line, Chennai openers had no trouble scoring at a steady rate early on.
Everything short of length was punished. Hussey was solid when it came to shot selection and exuded his class. The duo raised 83, which was Chennai’s highest opening partnership against the Royals in the IPL. His fall in the 12th over though triggered a mini collapse, something the visitors never recovered from.
Kevon Cooper (2/32) struck a twin blow, removing both Suresh Raina and M.S. Dhoni cheaply. From 83/1, CSK were 89/3 and the game came to life. James Faulkner and Watson played their role in restricting the opponents well before a Dwayne Bravo cameo (23 not out, 11 balls) propelled CSK to 141.