IPL 2020: Match 37, CSK vs RR – Buttler-Smith’s record stand, CSK’s low total, RR’s rare double over CSK and more stats

Chennai Super Kings pushed themselves on the verge of elimination following a 7-wicket defeat in the hands of Rajasthan Royals. After electing to bat first, the Super Kings lost four wickets inside the first ten overs leaving them to cut down the risks in the second half. They added only 69 runs in the last ten overs and ended with a modest total of 125/5. Some quality swing bowling upfront by the CSK left the Royals to 28/3. However, Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 70 off 48 and Steve Smith’s 26* helped RR to finish the chase with 15 balls to spare.

Here are all the statistical highlights from Rajasthan Royals’ 7-wicket victory during CSK vs RR:
RR gets the better of CSK again:
2008 – The 2020 season is only the 2nd IPL edition where the Chennai Super Kings lost more than once to the Rajasthan Royals. They suffered as many as three defeats to Rajasthan in the 2008 edition including once in the final. The 2008 season was also the previous instance of the Royals defeating Super Kings in successive IPL meetings.

A low total for CSK:
124/5 – Chennai Super Kings’ total of 124/5 is the joint 2nd lowest total in IPL history for the loss of five or fewer wickets after batting full 20 overs. CSK posted 114/4 against KKR in 2011 while DD scored 114/5 against CSK in 2012. Mumbai Indians also scored 124 for the loss of only three wickets during a successful chase against PWI in 2011.

Buttler’s first fifty in the middle order:
70* – Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 70 during CSK vs RR is now his maiden fifty while not opening the innings in the IPL. Buttler scored ten fifties in the IPL before this game; all as an opening batsman. His previous highest IPL score while not opening the batting is 41 for MI during the 2016 season against KKR.

Dhoni’s milestone game:
200 – The CSK vs RR match was marked to be the 200th appearance of MS Dhoni in the IPL by virtue of which he has become the first player to feature in as many as 200 IPL matches.

4022 – MS Dhoni completed 4000 runs in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings when he went past his individual score of six. He is now the 2nd player after Suresh Raina (4527) to have scored over 4000 IPL runs for the CSK team.

A record stand to win:
98 – The unbeaten partnership of 98 between Steve Smith and Jos Buttler during CSK vs RR is now the highest 4th wicket partnership for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. The previous highest was 77 between Ajinkya Rahane and Stuart Binny against Sunrisers Hyderabad during 2014 season also in Abu Dhabi.

In overall, Buttler-Smith stand is the 2nd highest for 4th and lower wicket for the Rajasthan team in the IPL behind Yusuf Pathan Paras Dogra’s 107-run partnership during the 2010 edition game against Mumbai Indians.

Yet another maiden by Chahar for CSK:
5 – Deepak Chahar now has bowled five maiden overs in the IPL; all for the Chennai Super Kings across 39 games. These are the most number of maidens delivered for CSK in the IPL by any player surpassing Ravichandran Ashwin (4) and Ishwar Pandey (4).

Rayudu @ 5000:
5008 – Ambati Rayudu completed 5000 runs in the Twenty20 format with the 2nd four he struck during CSK vs RR. Rayudu is now the 11th player from India to have amassed as many as 5000 runs in T20 cricket.