The Chennai Super Kings moved up to fourth in the Indian Premier League with an 18-run victory over Delhi Daredevils on Saturday, and the Rajasthan Royals beat Deccan Chargers to sit fifth.
In the first match in Port Elizabeth, Lee Carseldine top-scored with 39 and Abhishek Raut hit an unbeaten 36 to steer Rajasthan to a tense three-wicket win over Deccan as St George’s Park.
“We showed a lot of character today,” said Rajasthan captain Shane Warne. “There is a good spirit in our camp. There is no reason why we can’t go all the way to the semis.”
Carseldine, a 33-year-old Australian left hander, hit six boundaries in 32 balls in Rajasthan’s 142-7, dominating a crucial third wicket partnership that produced 51 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (12 off 17 balls).
The pair steadied the innings after Rajasthan lost both openers — Graeme Smith and Swapnil Asnoskar — for ducks in the first over.
Deccan captain Adam Gilchrist conceded that his team fielded poorly at the end.
“Both teams had a chance to win it, and unfortunately we lost due to a lapse on concentration,” Gilchrist said.
Earlier, Tirumalsetti Suman scored 41 not out as Deccan Chargers reached 141-5.
The 25-year-old Indian hit two boundaries and a six in 30 balls, sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 59 with Rohit Sharma (38 off 32 balls).
Shane Harwood, a 35-year-old Australian making his IPL debut for Rajasthan, took 2-25.
Rajasthan have won three matches and lost three, with one game abandoned.
At Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Dehli managed to bowl out Chennai for 163, but left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati then took four wickets to help give the Super Kings the victory.
Jakati varied his deliveries with devastating effect and allowed just 24 runs as Delhi were restricted to 145-8.
He struck with the wickets of IPL debutante David Warner (51), Dinesh Karthik (52), Tillakaratne Dilshan (13) and Pradeep Sangwan for a duck.
“He’s a very good spinner,” said Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. “He’s been bowling well in the nets. He was in the team for the last game but we didn’t bowl him. It’s nice to see a young left-arm spinner coming through.”.
RSS