RR vs CSK: A tremendous all-round performance from Ravichandran Ashwin helped Rajasthan Royals to a 5-wicket win over his former franchise Chennai Super Kings, propelling RR to the second position in the points table after their last league game on Friday.
Sanju Samson’s side booked a place with the table-toppers Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on May 24 in Kolkata.
Ashwin was the star man for the Royals: after registering bowling figures of 1/28 in his four overs, which included the wicket of CSK opener Devon Conway, Ashwin came good with the bat in the run chase of 151: promoted up to number 5, Ashwin smoked 40 runs off 23 balls, his knock comprised two fours and three sixes.
This was when Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal and Shimron Hetmyer all managed a combined 26 runs. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal clattered 8 fours and a six on his way to 59 runs from 44 balls. With just two balls to spare, Ashwin and Riyan Parag remained unbeaten taking RR to a top-two finish, their first top-two finish since 2008.
Earlier in the evening, Moeen Ali’s carnage with the bat hit the Royals bowlers in the powerplay. From being 15/1 at the end of the third over, Ali rumbled CSK to 75/1 at the end of the powerplay, including thumping 26 runs to Trent Boult in the sixth over.
However, after the powerplay, CSK’s train slowed down, losing Conway, N Jagadeesan and Rayudu in succession. Dhoni and Ali then completely switched off – Dhoni said after the loss it was because of playing a batter less – and the final flourish in the death overs never came.
Dhoni got out scoring 26 off 28 and Ali, after thwacking a fifty off 19 balls, managed 93 off 57 balls, with CSK ending up a below-par total of 150, which Dhoni felt was 10-15 short than he’d have ideally wanted.
CSK have 8 points now and are at the 9th position; they could still finish last if Mumbai Indians, who have 6 points, win by a big margin against Delhi Capitals.
Twitter erupted with Ashwin taking RR to the Qualifier 1, defeating his former team, and also with CSK losing another game to close out a rather disappointing season.
Here are some of the best memes from the RR vs CSK game:
Crypto me sare paise doob gaye mere isiliye tumhare liye Ring nahi laa paya, sorry baby pic.twitter.com/KqR6zKdFIZ
— The Winter Guy
(@The_WinterGuy) May 20, 2022
(@The_WinterGuy) #CSKvsRR #RRvCSK pic.twitter.com/k0M3j3yxcj
— cheers lynn (@AvtarGoswami2) May 20, 2022
The two ex CSKians players are enjoying the loss of CSK.#RRvsCSK pic.twitter.com/E0ZVo5qvxg
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) May 20, 2022
R Ashwin today pic.twitter.com/j2FQBlCedG
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 20, 2022
Lucknow Super Giants will play eliminator. Ab trophy nahi jeetne waale. pic.twitter.com/ugIOaYjuIb
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) May 20, 2022
Ashwin Anna pic.twitter.com/wpmFlpJX6o
— Rajasthani Memer 4.0 (@Memes_Raj) May 20, 2022
1. When your team fails to qualify in in top 2
2. But you get an extra game before finals to get Orange Cap pic.twitter.com/dIXLTQz7Yr
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 20, 2022
Well done Ashwin
— Srushti (@Srushtipb) May 20, 2022
what a game for this man today
#CSKvRR #CSKvsRR #RRvsCSK
Ravi Ashwin is ready for team India. pic.twitter.com/Yb1BFiyadP— 마륵 타망
Ashwin celebrating aggressively against his former franchise in front of MS Dhoni, inject
— . (@sanket7262) May 20, 2022
