ENGLAND all-rounders Sam Curran and Moeen Ali both played key roles as Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals from 45 runs in the Indian Premier League.
Chennai posted 188-9, with Faf du Plessis scoring at the top with 33 while Moeen 26 and Curran made 13 of six balls.
Curran then trailed Manan Vohra and Sanju Samson in the six-over powerplay.
Rajasthan finished at 143-9, having been 87-2, with Moeen taking 3-7 and Ravindra Jadeja 2-28.
Although no Chennai batsman made their own contribution and won a match, six batters made 18-plus, and struck out 10 sixes to reach a score that was 10 runs above par at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium so far this season.
They lost regular wickets, but hitting Moeen over the middle of the wicket, alongside Ambati Rayudu’s 17-ball 27 and Dwayne Bravo’s eight off eight balls helped their pubs maintain momentum throughout.
Left-arm sailor Chetan Sakariya impressed by taking 3-36 to Rajasthan, including key wickets Rayudu and MS Dhoni, while Chris Morris – the most expensive singer in this year’s auction at £ 1.6m – took 2-33.
Rajasthan were well placed, with Jos Buttler going nicely, when the ball was changed after an English wicket keeper knocked Jadeja over the middle of the wicket for his second six.
The new ball, which was drier than the old one due to the evening dew, brought some grip and turn for Jadeja as he bowled Buttler for 49.
That triggered a drop of five wickets for just eight runs in 21 balls.
Jadeja and Moeen – who joined Chennai from Royal Challengers Bangalore this season – had Shivam Dube and David Miller hold lbw respectively, before the English spinner saw Riyan Parag and Morris trapped at the center border wicket.
Chennai move up to second – behind Royal Challengers Bangalore, which is the only side with a 100% record so far – while Rajasthan remains at the center of the table (BBC Sport).