Fifties from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube helped the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a seven-wicket win over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Saturday. The win helps the Royals leapfrog the Mumbai Indians to sixth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) points table and keeps their faint hopes of making the playoffs alive. 

CSK were powered by an unbeaten maiden century from young Ruturaj Gaikwad to an imposing target of 190. However, the 24-year-old’s ton went in vain as Rajasthan’s openers Jaiswal and Evin Lewis provided the perfect platform to launch the chase, scoring 75 runs in the first five overs in one of the best displays of powerplay batting this season.  

Those five overs saw Jaiswal notch one of this year’s fastest fifties, in just 19 deliveries, with the 19-year-old.  

Royals now have 10 points with two matches to go. The fourth place is set to be clinched at 14 points and net run-rate is going to be crucial.

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The defeat won’t hurt CSK much as they sit pretty on 18 points, having already made it to last four stage.

When CSK ended their innings at 189 for 4 with Ruturaj Gaikwad’s superb 60-ball-101 not out, little did anyone think that Royals’ Indian players would reply in kind and go even one better.

Jaiswal, with six fours and three sixes, was given fine support by Evin Lewis (27 off 12 balls) in their opening stand of 77 in 5.2 overs which set up the game.

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Hazlewood (0/54) wouldn’t have imagined that he would be hit for three sixes in his first spell as the match slipped out of CSK’s grasp in the Powerpay itself.

Jaiswal, whose game has improved from last season by a few notches, was seen flicking Hazlewood over deep mid-wicket and also hit a straight six during that knock.

Dube, who doesn’t have much of a footwork, hit some monstrous sixes off Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Sam Curran whenever the ball was pitched in his arc.

In all, he hit four fours and four sixes. Such was Dube’s domination that even the stylish Sanju Samson (28 off 24 balls) paled in comparison during their 89 run stand for the third wicket in 9.3 overs.

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But when the match started, it seemed as if Gaikwad owned the stage as he hit a six off Mustafizur Rahaman’s last ball to complete a coveted maiden IPL ton.

Gaikwad struck as many as nine fours and five sixes in his 60-ball 101 not out to make a mockery of Royals’ bowling attack in their 12th round encounter. Some of his shots in the off-side region would be remembered for times to come.

Ravindra Jadeja (32 not out off 15 balls) scythed through the Royals attack at the back-end as CSK added 55 runs in only 3.4 overs.

In the final over, Jadeja faced four deliveries, leaving Gaikwad with two deliveries and he pulled Mustafizur Rahman off the final delivery to complete the coveted landmark.