Live Cricket Score: IPL 2018, CSK vs RR, Match 17

A good 'home' start

Chennai Super Kings' 'home' campaign in Pune began with a clinical 64-run victory. After posting 204, courtesy Shane Watson's century, the bowlers closed out the challenge early, with a superb display in the Powerplay. They continued to maintain the pressure on Rajasthan Royals till the end. Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo and Karn Sharma bagged two wickets each. Rajasthan Royals failed to bat 20 overs and were bowled out for 140.

A lost battle getting stretched

Jaydev Unadkat and Shreyas Gopal are stretching a lost battle. But stretch they must. RR can't afford to lose all their wickets. Karn Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja have got a chance to bowl. Even in defeat, Net Run Rate is crucial. They need to bat out the 20 overs.

Persistence with Tahir works

Imran Tahir has been the most expensive bowler for CSK today. Yet, MS Dhoni decides to give him a fourth over while Karn Sharma is yet to bowl. The move works. Even as Ben Stokes hits him for a six, he fails to connect a slog sweep well and holes out to Sam Billings in the deep. Safe to say, RR's challenge for the day is over.

And another one falls

The pressure of going for the big shots leads to the downfall of Rahul Tripathi. Fifth wicket in the bag for CSK, second for Dwayne Bravo. The game already seems out of RR's hand. But, wait. Stokes is still around.

Bravo joins the party

Dwayne Bravo arrives, strikes, and dances. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler were looking good to shift a gear higher. But CSK have struck at the right time. The required rate is touching 13 an over now. Stokes will have to play a massive role from hereon, in case RR want to challenge the total.

Challenge for the English duo

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, who got off to slow starts, have got going. The required rate has gone above 12 and these two will remain critical for Rajasthan Royals in the chase. There isn't much firepower left in the batting to follow.

Skipper gone

Deepak Chahar is having a good day. Ajinkya Rahane is undone by a knuckle-ball and is clean bowled. Rajasthan Royals' top order has been dismantled. Three wickets down with only 32 runs on the board.

Another fall

Sanju Samson fell for the trap. Pitched in short, Samson flicked Deepak Chahar's delivery straight to Karn Sharma at deep square leg. He is disappointed with himself, not surprisingly! Rajasthan Royals are in trouble early.

First strike

Shardul Thakur has struck in the first over. Henrich Klaasen completely looks out of position as he faces up to the pacer. Not sure what he was trying to do, but his stumps are shattered. Thakur nearly bags another when he hits Sanju Samson on the pads. There is a loud appeal but the umpire isn't impressed. MS Dhoni, meanwhile, continues to avoid the DRS.

Returning favour

Rajasthan Royals are off to a steady start. Much like in the first innings, CSK too start off with a wide. Deepak Chahar manages to square up Henrich Klaasen and induces an outside edge. But Shane Watson, who too was offered a life in the first innings, drops a catch at slips. Rahul Tripathi has some company tonight!

Surprise, surprise

It is Henrich Klaasen who has walked out to open the innings for Rajasthan Royals along with Ajinkya Rahane, and not Rahul Tripathi. That brings us toPrediction 3: How much will Rajasthan Royals score in the powerplay?

204/5

Watson was eventually dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings. Nonetheless, his innings has helped power CSK to 204 for 5. Despite the massive total on board, CSK would be disappointed with the way they ended. They managed to score only 54 runs in the last seven overs. RR would believe the total is well chaseable and would make use of some old CSK legs on the field.

Watto slams 3rd IPL ton

An absolute legend! Shane Watson brings up the first century of IPL 2018 and his third ton in IPL. This has been a fine exhibition of attacking batting... well let's add a brutal in between. Basically, a quintessential Watson knock! And quite contrastingly it was a deft touch for a single which helped him reach the landmark. He has led CSK's charge almost single-handedly for most parts of the innings today, barring the second wicket stand with Suresh Raina.

Shreyas Gopal bags two more

Among all the bowlers, Shreyas Gopal seems to be more effective. His half-trackers have already got him two wickets - MS Dhoni and Sam Billings. Both of them, caught in the deep. The former looked to give the leggie a charge while the latter pulled him straight to Ben Stokes at deep mid wicket. Is CSK's innings under the threat of getting derailed. With Watson still around, they would hope it doesn't.

Fewest overs to 150 for CSK in IPL:

13.0 v RR, Pune, 2018 *

13.1 v MI, Mumbai (WS), 2015

13.5 v RR, Chennai, 2010

Strike 2

Raina manages to connect a slog sweep off Shreyas Gopal but finds a fielder at deep mid wicket. RR have managed to get their second breakthrough, stop Raina from scoring a fifty. But can they bring down CSK's pace of scoring?

On 5th gear

While Shane Watson is leading the charge, Suresh Raina isn't too far behind. He too is closing in on his half century. There is no respite for the RR bowlers. Wonder why Ajinkya Rahane isn't bringing Ben Laughlin back for a second over. He has been the only impressive bowler for RR today. They need to stop this carnage right now, instead of waiting for the death.

Prediction 2:How much will Shane Watson score today?

Watson show

This is brutal batting, vintage of sorts! How old are you Shane Watson? When did you retire? He is smashing everything in his arc. He has moved on to 60 off only 30 balls. Four 4s and five 6s. And he is still batting. Where is Rahul Tripathi? They are looking for you. Two dropped chances will be hard to make up now.

If you needed some drama...

Ben Stokes and Shane Watson are having a go at each other. Drifting a bit from the topic, who is your favourite all-rounder of the two? Tweet to us