In a day for India openers, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal stood out to guide Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals to commanding victories in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.
Rahul returned to open the batting for unbeaten Delhi and struck 77 to help his team down Chennai Super Kings by 25 runs for their third straight win of this season.
In the second match of the day, Jaiswal smashed 67 to set up a 50-run win for Rajasthan who handed Punjab their first loss of this season at Mullanpur, near Chandigarh.
The left-handed Jaiswal led the batting charge in his 45-ball knock and a 89-run opening stand with skipper Sanju Samson to steer Rajasthan to 205-4.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Samson's 38, in his return to captaincy this season, and an unbeaten 43 off 25 balls by Riyan Parag helped Rajasthan breach the 200-run mark for the first time at the venue in six matches.
Inaugural champions Rajasthan then restricted the opposition to 155-9 despite Nehal Wadhera's 41-ball 62 and hand Punjab their first loss of the season in three matches.
Rajasthan's England import Jofra Archer took two wickets in the first over of the chase and returned figures of 3-25 and was named player of the match.
Fellow seam bowler Sandeep Sharma complemented Archer's raw pace - he was hitting speeds of over 140 kmph - by picking up two wickets with his less explosive medium pace.
"That is a very deadly combo - one guy bowling around 150 and another bowling around 115," said Samson. "We all love it when he (Archer) bowls those quick overs."
- Rahul plays anchor -
Earlier in game one, Delhi elected to bat first and reached 183-6, riding on Rahul's 51-ball knock that included key partnerships at Chennai's M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Delhi bowlers combined to restrict five-time winners Chennai to 158-5 and stay unbeaten in this edition of the popular T20 tournament.
Chennai slipped to their third successive loss and second at home this season.
Delhi batters set up victory with Rahul playing an anchor role after taking over as opener from South Africa's Faf du Plessis who was not fit for the match.
The 32-year-old Rahul, a wicketkeeper-batsman, started his international career as opener but later batted in different positions and recently took the number six slot in the ODI Champions Trophy won by India.
"I was personally prepping to play at the top of the order before the IPL started," Rahul said after being named player of the match.
"I was happy that I got the opportunity today at the top of the order. It's more mental, and the pattern and process of getting in. I like to get used to doing the same thing.
"Since I have been going up and down the order, it takes me a few minutes to get used to it."
Rahul lost his opening partner Jake Fraser-McGurk for a duck off left-arm quick Khaleel Ahmed but stood firm to get going with Abishek Porel, who hit 33 off 20 balls.
Ravindra Jadeja dismissed left-handed Porel with his left-arm spin, but the Delhi batters kept chipping away with Rahul steady at one end.
Rahul put on partnerships with skipper Axar Patel, who hit 21, Sameer Rizvi, who made 20, and then Tristan Stubbs, who struck an unbeaten 24, to keep up the batting charge.
Rahul fell to Sri Lanka pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana in the final over after he hit six fours -- including a cheeky reverse lap shot -- and three sixes.
In reply, Chennai were never in the chase despite Vijay Shankar's valiant 69 not out.
Former captain M.S. Dhoni walked out to loud cheers in the 11th over but the once top finisher in international cricket again proved a pale shadow of his former self.
The 43-year-old Dhoni made 30 off 26 deliveries in an underwhelming show by him and his team.
fk/bsp
