IPL 2022: RR vs CSK Review – Ashwin secures Rajasthan’s top two spot

Rajasthan Royals have finished in the top two places in the points table after a comfortable victory against Chennai Super Kings in Match 68. The Sanju Samson-led side lost Jos Buttler quite early and it was up to Yashashvi Jaiswal and the skipper, Sanju Samson, to build a good partnership. Jaiswal played a good hand with a 44-ball 59, however, it was Ashwin’s innings that changed the game in RR’s favour completely despite some hiccups towards the end.

Earlier, Chennai Super Kings after opting to bat first lost the early wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Moeen Ali (93) and Devon Conway (16) stitched a magnificent partnership for the second wicket in relatively quick time and runs came thick and through until the powerplay. However, it changed completely once Conway was dismissed as the spinners strangled the CSK batting line up to just 150 on the board.

Top Performers of the game

Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali played one of the innings of the tournament and was unlucky not to get to the three-figure mark. The left-hander reached his fifty in merely 19 balls as he took advantage of the powerplay. He was dismissed for a 57-ball 93, which included 13 fours and three sixes. He did the bulk of the scoring for the franchise while setting up the total and bowled an excellent spell as well.

Ravichandran Ashwin

R Ashwin was promoted up the batting order and he relished the challenge quite well by going after the bowling from ball one. The all-rounder has shown good batting form this season and Royal used him wisely yet again as he ended with an unbeaten 23-ball 40 to guide his team home. He also bowled an economical spell alongside picking up the important wicket of Devon Conway.

What next for the two teams

Rajasthan Royals will play the Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 24 in Qualifier 1 while the Chennai Super Kings have finished their league campaign in 2022 season at the ninth position in the points table.