A match-winning 69 from Steve Smith helped the Rajasthan Royal's craft out a thrilling win against Chennai Super Kings to open their IPL campaign.
The Royal's skipper's remarkable 121-run partnership with Sanju Samson, who belted an incredible 74 off 32, inspired a 7/216 and 16-run win, in a match that produced a record-equalling 33 sixes.
Smith, who entered the match under a health cloud after suffering concussion in England, smashed four sixes and four fours, while Samson belted nine. England pacemen Jofra Archer also contributed with a stunning four sixes in the final over.
Requiring 216 runs, Chennai's opening partnership of Shane Watson and Murali Vijay built a strong foundation, reaching their fifty in the opening six overs, before Watson fell on 33 runs in the seventh.
South African Faff du Plessis entered the fray and went after the total with three sixes off Jaydev Unadkat to bring up his fifty and push the Super Kings' total out to 160, before he eventually fell with an Archer bouncer.
Skipper MS Dhoni provided some fight, hitting three sixes in the final over, but it wasn't enough as Chennai ended on 200/6.
Smith was initially in doubt for the match after suffering a hit to the helmet which forced him to miss three one-day matches for Australia against England, however he passed a concussion test.
An excellent knock from RR skipper Steve Smith. #IPL2020 #RRvsCSK
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 22, 2020
(Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) pic.twitter.com/e7OzIlToWg
