Cliffhanger at Chepauk

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The all-round strength of Chennai Super Kings was just about enough to help them clinch a last ball win over Rajasthan Royals at the MAC Stadium here on Saturday.

The result took Chennai to the third spot in the points table. Set to chase 147, Chennai’s talisman Faf Du Plessis was in the thick of things again with a well compiled 73.

The batsmen did full justice to the professional display with the ball and on the field as the defending champions further improved their impressive home record.

Chennai reaped the reward for continuing with the opening combination of S. Badrinath and Plessis.

It was not the best of days for the reliable Badri who managed only 15 (27b) but Plessis made up with some impressive stroke play. The partnership produced 55 in 7.3 overs to provide the perfect launch pad.

Plessis and Suresh Raina carried the score to 116 before both fell in the same over to Kevon Cooper before skipper MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo guided the chase with some clinical hits.

At the same time the duo was fortunate as they leaving it a little too late did not cost them two vital points.

Stuart Binny bowled a tight last over to keep the match alive till the last ball of which Dhoni collected a brace to signal the win.

Earlier, the Chennai attack worked efficiently enough to keep Rajasthan down to 146 on a relatively easy paced track.

The innings began on a brisk note with Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane starting fluently. Dhoni used four bowlers within the first six overs.

R. Ashwin introduced in the fifth over provided the breakthrough by luring Rahane on the drive. Given the rhythm the opener was in, it was a critical strike for the hosts.

Dravid was classy in parts before finding Bollinger on the fence of Shadab Jakati. At 50 for two in eight overs the balance was much with Chennai and they held on to that advantage for a further six overs.

from overs 6-14, the visitors could muster only 44 runs but importantly kept wickets intact for the final onslaught. Ashwin was tidy as ever and played his part to perfection in pulling the rate down.

Owais Shah did not let the dipping run rate affect his confidence. The 15th over from Ravindra Jadeja went for 22 and that shifted momentum firmly in favour of Rajasthan.

The drives in front of the wicket had a stamp of authority and it rubbed off nicely on Menaria who collected runs without fuss. Kulasekara bowled two excellent overs in the death to keep the final tally to 146.

The third wicket stand between Shah and Menaria was worth 92 in 10.5 overs. It was enough to keep Rajasthan in the hunt.