Match Center

That is it from today's run extravaganza. Hope you enjoyed it. We have match 5 coming up of the Indian T20 League 2020 on 23rd September 2020. That game is between Kolkata and Mumbai. Kolkata starts their campaign and Mumbai will look to get back to winning ways after their loss in the first match. The game begins at 1800 local (1400 GMT). Till then cheers and take care!

Sanju Samson is named Player of the Match for his superb batting and keeping! Starts by saying that he plans to hit the ball if it is in his arc. Says that if the ball is there for the hit, he goes to smack it. Tells that his game requires a lot of power and he has worked on his health, diets. Says that he has been working hard in the last 4-5 months for the IPL. On several keepers in the team, Samson says that everyone likes to keep but it all depends on the skipper and the coach. Finishes by saying that they are happy to bring smiles on the fans' faces back home and we hope to continue doing so.

Steven Smith, the Rajasthan skipper, starts by saying that Jofra Archer's innings towards the end helped them get to a massive tota. Feels Samson was hitting the balls really well and it looked as if all of them will go for sixes. On the chances of him opening once Buttler returns, Smith says it is difficult to take that position from him as he has an incredible record doing that but says that I'll leave everyone guessing. Tells that the spinners bowled back of a length ball here and they did that they executed the plan well. Tells that he is ready for the coming games!

Jofra Archer is in for a chat now! Starts by saying it's a nice feeling to get over the line. Tells that he didn't want to offer any pace to the bowlers and hence he bowled the slower once. Says that there was dew as well. Adds that he has got a few more variations but he couldn't bring in here in this game. Adds that they decided that the spinners will not try to bowl fuller ones.

MS Dhoni, Chennai skipper, starts by telling that they needed to start really well to chase this total. Praises Sanju Samson and Steven Smith for their batting. Praises the opposition spinners and tells that they didn't try to do many things and kept it simple. Feels their spinners couldn't do that. Says that one thing which he would like to improve is to see the bowlers not bowling no-balls even if they are under pressure. Tells that had they kept them under 200, it would've been better. On his batting, Dhoni says that it has been tough as he has not batted for a long time and feels the quarantine didn't help either but adds that he is slowly getting into the grove. On him batting low down the order, Dhoni says that they are trying a few combinations like Sam or Jadeja batting up the order. Mentions that Faf du Plessis adapted to the situation really well.

Earlier in the day after being put in to bat, Rajasthan did not start that well but then came the Samson show as he cut, pulled, hooked and drove the ball all around the park for his fifty and to give him company was Steven Smith who continued to play his natural game getting to a fifty of his own. To put the icing on the cake, Jofra Archer hit some lusty blows in the final over to power Rajasthan over the 200-run mark. Chennai's bowling was below par and their bowlers were taken to the cleaners especially their spinners. The only bright spot in their bowling was Sam Curran who took 3 wickets. In the end, Chennai ended up conceding an above-par total which proved too much in the end. Let's head to the presentation now.

The young mind of Steven Smith has overpowered the experienced mind of MS Dhoni today. Smith was spot on with his bowling changes and encouraged his bowlers to bowl according to the plan. Though Rajasthan bowlers too went on a leather hunt it was their spinners who pulled the game back. Rahul Tewatia was spot on with his lines and lengths scalping wickets in the process. Other bowlers supported him as Tom Curran. Shreyas Gopal and Jofra Archer all took a wicket each. Only Curran and Unadkat were the ones to conceded over 10 runs an over. Overall they were a good unit on the field holding onto the catches and fielding was too spot-on. In the end, Rajasthan crossed the line with ease.

Brilliant show with the bat today. Chennai though would rue the loss but Rajasthan would accept it gleefully. Chasing a total in excess of 200 in 20 overs was never going to be an easy task. Chennai needed partnerships which they failed to stitch. The would have expected their opening batters to give them a flying start which did not come. Watson and Vijay stitched a 50-run stand but after the departure of Watson, it was a procession from then on. Faf though once again displayed maturity and played a stable innings scoring his 14th Indian T20 League fifty in the process but lack of support from the others meant that he had loot to do in the last few overs. MS Dhoni though hit out some lusty blows in the final over but Chennai ended on the losing side.

A single on the last ball. Slower bouncer outside off, Dhoni cuts it towards deep cover for a single. That brings up 200 for Chennai but RAJASTHAN WIN BY 16 RUNS.

SIX! Another one! Three in a row! Dhoni is hitting them out of the park with ease now! This will surely help them in the coming games. Banged one short, Dhoni hammers it over deep square leg and gets another six.

SIX! He connects again and this is massive too. A length ball in the slot for Dhoni. He gets down and powers it way over long on for a huge six.

SIX! Dhoni connects one and it is out of the park! Full and on the pads of MS Dhoni, he hoicks it over the fence at deep square leg. In fact, out of the park.

Just a single again. Slower good length ball outside off, Jadeja looks to cut but the ball takes the outer half and goes towards covers. A run taken.

Short and just outside off, Dhoni powerfully pulls it wide of the man at deep mid-wicket. Only a run.

Sharp bouncer again! Jadeja can only sway away from it.

Ravindra Jadeja walks out in the middle with 8 balls remaining and 38 needed. Can he do something similar like Archer with the bat?

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Fast and furious Archer bangs another short ball on the body. Faf looks to pull again. The ball gets big on him and takes the top edge. It balloons behind stumps. Samson calls for it and takes it calmly. A top knock from Faf comes to an end.