Rajsthan Royal has won the comfortable win against Chennai Super Kings. The win kept RR’s playoff hopes alive while leaving their beleaguered opponents on the verge of elimination.

RR restricted the three-time champions CSK to a modest 125 for five after being invited to bowl and then overcame the target in 17.3 overs, thanks to a 98-run fourth-wicket partnership between Buttler and skipper Steve Smith (26).

It turned out to be an excellent day for Buttler, who sent back Faf du Plessis with an incredible catch earlier in the day.

Early wickets were the need of the hour for CSK while defending such a low total and the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side did exactly that by reducing RR to 28 for three inside five overs.

Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for CSK with a 30-ball unbeaten 35 and skipper Dhoni made a run-a-ball 28 while adding 51 runs for the fifth wicket.

Jofra Archer (1/20) was terrific with the new ball but he would be disappointed with his outing on the field.

Besides Archer, the spin duo of Shreyas Gopal (1/14) and Rahul Tewatia (1/18) were economical in the middle overs, while young Kartik Tyagi (1/35) too was impressive.

Dhoni’s decision to bat first backfired as RR picked up wickets at regular intervals to make life difficult for CSK.

CSK lost the in-form Faf du Plessis (10) in the third over, caught by Jos Buttler off Archer and then an over later, Shane Watson was sent back by Kartik.

Opening the batting again, Sam Curran made 22 off 25 balls before being dismissed by Gopal.

After that, a lot depended on Ambati Rayudu but he too disappointed, perishing in the next over off Tewatia’s bowling as CSK slumped to 56 for four.

(With input from InsideSport)