Samson added 121 runs for the second wicket with RR skipper Steve Smith.
WATCH – Yashasvi Jaiswal greets MS Dhoni with utmost respect before CSK-RR clash
After winning the toss, CSK skipper MS Dhoni opted to bowl first and Deepak Chahar soon proved his captain right by dismissing the debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 6.
However, Sanju Samson came to bat at No. 3 and changed the complexion of the match with his whirlwind knock. Samson smashed the Chennai bowlers to all parts of ground and completed his fifty in just 19 balls.
Lungi Ngidi dismissed the stylish right-hander in the 12th over but not before he scored 74 off 32 balls, including 1 four and 9 sixes. In the process, Samson also shared a 121-run stand for the second wicket with captain Steve Smith.
Subsequently, RR coped a mini collapse as David Miller (0), Robin Uthappa (5), Rahul Tewatia (10) and Riyan Parag (6) got out cheaply but Smith held the one end firmly. The skipper finished with 47-ball 69 and thanks to four consecutive sixes from Jofra Archer (27* off 8 balls) in the last over, RR eventually posted a mammoth 216/7 in 20 overs.
Cricket experts were left mesmerised by Samson’s effortless strokeplay as RR dominated CSK in the first half.
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