Chennai, CMC: World-rated all-rounder Jason Holder had a day to forget. Still, West Indies teammate Shrimron Hetmyer played a supporting role when Rajasthan Royals squeezed out a three-run win against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.
Holder was dismissed for a first-ball duck, but Hetmyer hit 30 from 18 balls, and the Royals reached 175 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs after they were sent into ba in the contest at the Chidambaram Stadium.
Holder then conceded 37 in three overs without taking a wicket – the least economical figures of the Royals bowlers – but Sandeep Sharma held his nerve to defend 21 off the last over, and CSK were held to 172 for six.
The Royals clinched their second win in a row and third in four matches to move to the top of the 10-team standings with six points – the same number for Lucknow Super Giants – but they have a superior net run rate of +1.588.
England T20 International captain Jos Buttler hit 52 off 36 balls to lead the Royals batting, Devdutt Padikkal supported with 38 off 26 balls, Ravichandran Ashwin made 30 off 22 balls, and Hetmyer dialed in late, and the Royals posted a competitive target.
The Royals spinners then got into the act, choking the CSK batters, and picked up regular wickets in the middle overs.
They survived a late onslaught from former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, not out on 32 off 17 balls, and India left-handed all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, not out on 25 off 15 balls, to edge CSK in the thrilling contest.
The rampaging Dhoni and Jadeja added 59 unbroken for the seventh wicket. Still, off-spinner Ashwin and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took two wickets to keep the Royals in the contest.
and then 