IPL 2020, RR vs CSK: Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 16 runs in a high scoring game

In the 4th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 16 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Sanju Samson and Steven Smith's brilliant partnership helped RR put a very high target of 217 runs for the CSK to chase. Jofra Archer's explosive knock in the last overs helped RR breach 200 runs mark.

MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first. After the early wicket of RR's Jaiswal, Smith and Samson played a brilliant partnership with the former scoring 69 runs and latter scoring 74 runs off just 32 balls. After the fall of the duo, Jofra Archer in the death overs played an explosive knock of 27 runs off 8 balls. The stadium witnessed back to back sixes with Samson hitting 9 sixes while Archer hitting 4 consecutive sixes in just 2 balls. Piyush Chawla conceded 55 runs in his spell, while Deepak Chahar remained the most economical bowler for the CSK, giving away 31 runs in his spell. Sam Curran shined for the CSK as he took 3 wickets in his spell of four overs.

Sanju Samson played flawlessly with his 74 runs knock

With a high target of 217 runs, CSK openers Murli Vijay and Shane Watson started the innings with their high strike rate knocks. The opening duo managed to put an average score of 21 (Vijay) & 33 (Watson) runs. Faf Du Plessis remained the most valuable batsman from the Chennai's side with him scoring 72 runs off 37 balls. 3 sixes came off the Dhoni's bat in the death overs but they weren't enough for the CSK to complete the. Rahul Tewatia remained the bowling pick for the RR as he took 3 wickets.

After Chennai Super Kings' win against the Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the 13th edition of the IPL, the boys in yellow were hopeful of maintaining a winning streak. However, they were unable to do so, courtesy of the brilliant partnership of Sanju Samson and Steve Smith from RR. Rajasthan Royals indeed got an impressive start the new season with the win in their first match of the season.

Although CSK lost the match, they were able to play just right in the NRR with them limiting the margin of the win to 16 runs for the RR.