Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Indian Premier League 2020 Match 37: As it happened

Image Credits: Twitter/@IPL

After Rajasthan Royals produced decent performance with the ball, Jos Buttler notched up an unbeaten half-century to guide his side to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a low-scoring tie of the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Chasing a lowly target of 127 runs to win, Buttler not only smashed a blistering knock of 70 runs off just 48 deliveries but also stitched a crucial stand of 98 runs with skipper Steve Smith (26) to help Rajasthan Royals chase down the score in 17.3 overs. 

Earlier,

Earlier, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) failed to stitch partnerships throughout their innings and were restricted to a score of 125/5 by Rajasthan Royals in their stipulated 20 overs.Ravindra Jadeja was the top scorer for the Chennai franchise with 30-ball 35, while skipper MS Dhoni contributed with 28-ball 28.

For Rajasthan Royals, Jofra Archer, Kartik Tyagi, Shrayas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia bagged a wicket each.(Also See: CSK vs RR, IPL 2020 Match 37: In Pics)

In the previous encounter between these two sides this season, Rajasthan Royals sealed a 16-run win over MS Dhoni's franchise at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in September.

Here are the highlights:

19 October 2020

22:43 IST

Piyush Chawla bowled a quite expensive 15th over, conceding 16 runs to Rajasthan Royals, before Shardul Thakur bowled a four-run over.Jos Buttler (62) drilled the third delivery from Chawla to long-off's right to notch up a fifty. The England batsman achieved the feat of 37 deliveries. Rajasthan have also crossed the 100-run mark. RR 112/3 (16 overs)

22:41 IST

Jos Buttler (47) is approaching a half-century, while skipper Steve Smith (25-ball 15) is batting cautiously at the crease. Rajasthan Royals now need 34 runs from 36 balls to seal win against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). RR 92/3 (14 overs)

22:28 IST

Jos Buttler (40) and skipper Steve Smith (8) have brought up a 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The duo reached the mark when Buttler lofted the fourth delivery of the 12th over by Shardul Thakur nonchalantly over the long-off region for a six. RR now need 47 runs from 48 balls. RR 79/3 (12 overs)

22:04 IST

12 runs off the last two overs.Jos Buttler (9) played a reverse sweep on the second ball of the seventh over from Ravindra Jadeja into the point boundary for four runs.RR now need 86 runs from 78 balls. RR 40/3 (7 overs)

21:54 IST

A wicket maiden for Deepak Chahar. Sanju Samson fell for a duck after being taken down by MS Dhoni at leg side on the third delivery of the fifth over.Rajasthan Royals are three down in the powerplay. RR 28/3 (5 overs)

21:47 IST

WICKET!! Rajasthan Royals have lost their openers Ben Stokes and Robin Uthappa in quick succession. While Stokes departed for 19 after being clean bowled by Deepak Chahar on the last delivery of the third over, Uthappa (4) was caught by MS Dhoni behind the stumps on the second ball of the fourth over by Josh Hazlewood. RR 28/2 (4 overs)

21:41 IST

Ben Stokes (14) and Robin Uthappa (1) have made a decent start in their side's chase of 126 runs.Stokes spanked the second ball of the first over by Deepak Chahar through covers to get off the mark for four runs, while Uthappa jabbed the second ball of the second over through point for a single.RR 20/0 (2 overs)

21:28 IST

Ben Stokes and Robin Uthappa have walked down the crease to begin RR's chase. Deepak Chahar to begin the proceedings for the CSK.

21:17 IST

INNINGS BREAK!

21:15 IST

Rajasthan Royals have restricted Chennai Super Kings to a score of 125 for five in their stipulated 20 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Kedhar Jadhav remained unbeaten at the crease at their respective scores of 35 and four. CSK 125/5 (20 overs)

21:08 IST

WICKET!! A half-century stand between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja has come to an end after the CSK skipper was run out on the fourth delivery of the 18th over by Kartik Tyagi. Dhoni flicked the delivery to the left of Jofra Archer at long-off, only to see the Rajasthan bowler collect the ball and throw it at striker's end for Sanju Samson to rattle the stumps. CSK  107/5 (18 overs)

20:54 IST

Skipper Ms Dhoni (20*) and Ravindra Jadeja (20*) have brought up a little bit of partnership here after losing their first four wickets cheaply to take the Chennai franchise close to the 100-run mark. CSK 96/4 (16 overs)

20:40 IST

17 runs off the last two overs. MS Dhoni (14) drilled the second delivery of the 14th over from Kartik Tyagi firmly off the front foot to beat extra cover for four runs before Ravindra Jadeja (16) smashed the Rajasthan bowler for back-to-back boundaries. CSK 85/4 (14 overs)

20:31 IST

CSK skipper MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja are currently batting at the crease at seven runs each and are looking to stitch a crucial partnership after losing the side's first four wickets cheaply. CSK 68/4 (12 overs)

20:28 IST

WICKET!! Ambati Rayudu departed cheaply for 19-ball 13 runs after being caught behind the stumps by Sanju Samson on the last delivery of the 10th over by Rahul Tewatia.CSK stand at 56/4 at halfway mark. 

20:12 IST

WICKET!! Chennai Super Kings lost their third wicket after crossing the 50-run mark. Sam Curan handed a simple catch to Jos Buttler at long-off on the second delivery of the ninth over from Shreyas Gopal. CSK 55/3 (8.6 overs)

20:04 IST

Ben Stokes bowled a quite expensive fifth over, giving away 15 runs to CSK before Kartik Tyagi gave away just two singles. Sam Curran (16) pumped the first bowl of the fifth over straight over the bowler's head for six runs before Rayudu (8) smashed the England bowler for two boundaries. At the end of Powerplay, CSK stand at 43/2. 

19:52 IST

WICKET!! Soon after Faf du Plessis departed for 10 runs, Shane Watson (8) too followed him back to the pavilion after being caught by Rahul Tewatia at midwicket on the sixth ball of the fourth over from Kartik Tyagi. CSK 26/2 (4 overs)

19:44 IST

WICKET!! Jofra Archer gives breakthrough to Rajasthan Royals. Faf du Plessis departed cheaply for 10 runs after being taken at short extra cover by Jos Buttler on the sixth ball of the third over. CSK 13/1 (3 overs)

19:39 IST

10 runs off the first two overs for CSK. Sam Curran (2) defended the second delivery from Jofra Archer into the off side to get off the mark with a single. Du Plessis (8), on the other hand, pushed the third ball of the first over to mid-on's right to open his account with one run before he dragged the second ball from Ankit Rajpoot in the next over past midwicket to collect four runs. CSK 10/0 (2 overs)

19:31 IST

Sam Curran and Faf du Plessis have walked down the crease to begin CSK's innings. Jofra Archer to open the attack for RR. 

19:11 IST

CSK skipper MS Dhoni will make his 200th IPL appearance for his side. As a result, he will become the first player to achieve this feat. 

19:08 IST

Rajasthan have made just one change in their Playing XI. Ankit Rajpoot comes in place of Jaydev Unadkat. CSK, on the other han, have made two changes in their Playing XI. Dwayne Bravo and Karn Sharma are out, while Josh Hazlewood and Piyush Chawla have been roped in.

19:06 IST

LINEUPS:

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI: Faf du Plessis, Sam Curran, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (capt, wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Shardul Thakur, Piyush Chawla, Josh Hazlewood

Rajasthan Royals Playing XI: Jos Buttler (wk), Robin Uthappa, Sanju Samson, Steven Smith (capt), Ben Stokes Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Ankit Rajpoot, Kartik Tyagi

19:02 IST

CSK win the toss, opt to bat first against RR !

18:59 IST

Ahead of the toss, the players of the Chennai Super Kings are gearing up for their clash against Rajasthan Royals.

#CSK players gearing up for the game against #RR in Abu Dhabi.#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/hAo6gbLHcQ

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 19, 2020

18:54 IST

The toss for the second tie between CSK and RR will take place shortly.