Put into bat Rajasthan Royals got off to a dream start with Nitest Rana stroking 81 off 36 deliveries , thus helping his team to 79 runs in the power play overs and reaching 99 for 2 wickets in the 10th over.
The partnership of 82 between Nitesh Rana and Sanju Samson looking ominous with 200 plus runs a strong possibility.
The tide turned in favour of Rajasthan Royals with the introduction of Matheesha Pathirana to bowl in the death overs , as the slinger took 2 for 28 in his four overs , with leading wicket taker Noor Ahmed also chipping in with 2 for 28 with Khalid Ahmed despite being cartered during the power play overs striking gold in his second spell to take 2 scalps for 38 runs.
Nitesh Rana was batting on another pitch in comparison to his fellow teammates.. The prolific striker faced an injury off-speed merchant and slinger Matheesha Pathirana, and in the very next ball, his stumps took a tumble to a Pathirana yorker after which Rajasthan Royals could only mussel 83 runs in the final 10 overs , as Sri Lankan born slinger proved his monies worth in an exhibition of death bowling.
Things could have been even worse for Rajasthan Royals had debutant Overton had not given Shimron Hetmeyer a life before he made a valuable 19 runs when he dropped him off Pathirana at mid on before the left hander opened snoring.
A target of 183 is definitely within reach for Chennai Super Kings, given their batting prowess .
The departure of Rachin Ravindra for no score caught and bowled by Joffry Archer had a huge dent upfront.
Skipper Ruthrat Gaikward repaired the dent with authority when he made 63 , however, the introduction of Wanindu Hasaranga and his 4 for 35 with the miserly spell by Mahesh Theekshana his partner in the spin cordon who despite going wicketless for 30 runs ,made Chennai Super Kings batters huff and Puff against the Sri Lankan spin wizards.
Theekshana bowled a deadly death over, conceeding only 6 runs given the 17th whilst Hasaranga scalping Gaikward , Shivem Dube , Rahul Thirupathy and hard hitting Vijay Shanaka had its toll on favourites Chennai Super Kings.
All rounder Ravindra Jadeja made an unbeaten 32 , but Hasaranga ‘s 4 scalps for 35 that incidently won him the man of the match award helped his franchise to register points on the table winning the nail bitter by 6 runs.