Spinners set up 45-run win for CSK
Mumbai, Apr 19: The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali tormented the Rajasthan Royals batting line-up to ensure a second consecutive win for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL here on Monday.
Cameos from Faf du Plessis (33 off 17), Dwayne Bravo (20 not out off 8), Ambati Raydu (27 off 17) and Ali (26 off 20) helped CSK post 188 for nine after being put in to bat.
Royals made a promising start in the run chase courtesy Jos Buttler (49 off 35) before the batsmen succumbed to the spinners on the Wankhede pitch which offered more turn than earlier games. CSK won the game by 45 runs after Royals' innings ended at 143 for nine.
Ali (3/7 in 3 overs) picked up three wickets in quick succession to effectively seal the game for his team after Jadeja (2/28 in 4) provided the crucial breakthrough by castling Buttler with a classical away turning delivery. One of the best fielders around, Jadeja also took four catches.
It was another emphatic win for CSK after they outplayed Punjab Kings while Royals suffered their second loss in three games.
Earlier, CSK lost wickets towards the end with the batsmen going for big hits and also in the face of some good bowling by Royals.
Bravo smashed a huge six off the last ball of the innings from Mustafizur Rahman (1/37) to ensure the Super Kings got close to 190.
Du Plessis top scored with 33 as the CSK batsmen got starts but couldn't capitalise on them after.
Young Chetan Sakariya (3/36 from 4) was the best bowler for Rajasthan while Chris Morris finished with 2/33 despite conceding 15 runs in his final over.
M S Dhoni, in his 200th match as CSK captain, came in to bat at No.7 but could not get going as quickly as he would have liked. He, however, managed two boundaries in his 17-ball 18 before being beaten by an off-cutter by Sakariya only to give a catch to Jos Buttler.
He survived a run-out chance and a few anxious moments in his brief knock.
Rayudu and Suresh Raina (18, 15 balls, 1 four, 1 six) added 45 runs in quick time for the fourth wicket before the former perished going for an attacking shot on the off-side off Sakariya.
Sakariya struck again a few balls later, getting Raina to hit one straight to Morris at mid-off as CSK slipped to 125 for fice in the 15th over.
Rayudu hit sixes off successive deliveries in Tewatia's second over, scoring 14 runs as he and Raina attempted to take advantage of the fifth and sixth bowlers (Tewatia and Riyan Parag) employed by Royals skipper Samson.
Tewatia had begun well by conceding only five runs in his opening over and got ride of Moeen Ali (26 off 20).
Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad's struggles continued as his attempt to hit his way out saw him miscue a pull only to see it lob to Shivam Dube off Rahman. He fell for 10 (13 balls, 1 four) after adding 25 runs for the first wicket with fellow opener du Plessis.
The South African showed intent and waded into Jaydev Unadkat in the fifth over, hammering three fours and one six before an ambitious shot brought his downfall off Morris' bowling.
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Nipah: 8 suspected cases test negative, patient condition remains critical
Thiruvananthapuram, May 10 (PTI): The Kerala government on Saturday said that eight more people, who had come into contact with a Nipah virus infected patient in Malappuram district, tested negative for the disease.
However, the infected patient continues to be in critical condition despite being given one dose of monoclonal antibodies on Friday, state Health Minister Veena George said in a statement.
Another dose would be administered to the patient on Saturday, she said.
With eight more testing negative, the total number of persons who have been cleared of the disease has reached 25, the statement.
Meanwhile, 37 more were added to the contact list of the infected patient, bringing the total number to 94, it said.
Of these, 53 are in the high risk category with 40 of them from Malappuram, 11 from Palakkad and one each from Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts of the state, it said.
The remaining 43 are in the low risk category, the statement said.
Besides the infected person, five others are under treatment in various hospitals in the state, the minister said in the statement.
A joint outbreak investigation has been started in Malappuram district with the coordination of various departments, the statement said.
It also said that health workers visited 1,781 homes in that district during the day as part of a fever survey.
