Ravindra Jadeja smashes 37 in an over, leads CSK to big win over RCB

Mumbai, April 25

The irrepressible Ravindra Jadeja blasted an IPL record-equalling 37 runs in one over and then grabbed three big wickets in an outstanding all-round display as Chennai Super Kings crushed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 69 runs here today.

Jadeja pummelled 62 off 28 balls and lifted CSK to 191/4 after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to bat in a top-of-the-table clash.

Then, with his left-arm spin bowling, the star all-rounder picked up the important wickets of AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell to derail RCB’s run chase on a sluggish Wankhede pitch.

After a cracking start that saw them cross 50 in five overs, RCB were stopped at 122/9 in 20 overs. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with a 34 off just 15 balls.

Veteran South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir picked up two wickets for CSK while giving away only 16 runs.

Jadeja began the final over of CSK innings by clobbering four consecutive sixes off Harshal Patel before adding another off the fifth ball.

He smashed the last ball over square leg for four as Harshal, who had figures of 3 for 14 going into the final over, finished with 3/51.

Jadeja, batting at No. 5, was yet to open his account when he was dropped by Dan Christian off Washington Sundar.

‘It was a pleasure’: Kohli after being trumped by Jadeja

RCB captain Virat Kohli said that they were beaten by Ravindra Jadeja’s individual performance for CSK. “One guy completely beat us. Today, his skill was there for everyone to see,” said Kohli. “His ability has been there for everyone to see. I am very happy to see him perform with the bat, ball and on the field. After two months, he will be back playing for India, and it is always a pleasure to see your premier all-rounder do well with the bat. When he plays well and is confident, it lets out many opportunities.”

Playing for RCB, Chris Gayle had also scored 37 runs against Kochi Tuskers in the 2011 edition, the bowler being Prasanth Parameswaran on that occasion.

Earlier, a second straight half-century for Faf du Plessis (50 off 41 balls) propelled CSK before Harshal delivered a double blow in the 14th over, getting rid of Suresh Raina (24) and the former South African captain off successive deliveries.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings: 191/4 (Jadeja 62*, du Plessis 50; Harshal 3/51); Royal Challengers Bangalore: 122/9 (Padikkal 34; Jadeja 3/13, Tahir 2/16). — PTI

Super win for Delhi

Chennai: Delhi Capitals beat Sunrisers Hyderabad through the Super Over after the two teams had ended up with 159 runs each in the regulation 40 overs in the 20th match of IPL-14. Their fourth win in five matches took Delhi to eight points, the same as table-toppers Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore. In the Super Over, Delhi’s Rishabh Pant (5) and Shikhar Dhawan (0) got the eight runs they needed off the over bowled by Rashid Khan. Khan several times beat the batsmen, who nevertheless managed to run three leg-byes. Hyderabad had been restricted to only seven in the Super Over, bowled by Axar Patel, as Kane Williamson (4) and David Warner (2) could hit only one four. In regulation overs, Williamson had shepherded the Hyderabad innings with a fine 66 off 51 balls as they chased Delhi’s 159. Coming in at No. 3, Williamson added 28 runs with Jonny Bairstow (38 off 18 balls), but after Bairstow was removed by the young Avesh Khan, Williamson found no support from his fellow batsmen. The next five batsmen failed — Virat Singh (4), Kedar Jadhav (9), Abhishek Sharma (5), Rashid Khan (0), Vijay Shankar (8) got single-digit scores, with Avesh (3/34) and Axar Patel (2/26) doing most of the damage. Yet, Williamson continued to score and despite no support, took the score to 136 in the 19th over, when Shankar fell. No. 9 Jagadeesha Suchith then clattered 15 off 6 balls to give his team hope. The two needed to score 16 off the final over from Kagiso Rabada to take their team to victory — Williamson struck a four and Suchith pulled a six, but they fell one run short.

Brief scores: DC: 159/4 (Shaw 53, Pant 37; Kaul 2/31); SRH 159/7 (Williamson 66; Avesh Khan 3/34). TNS, agencies

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