Rajasthan Royals (RR) took an important step towards reviving their campaign through a timely victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by seven wickets in a low-scoring fixture in Abu Dhabi this Monday (October 19). 

Their skipper Steve Smith was pleased with the win, only their fourth in ten outings, reigniting hopes of a playoffs berth, but Smith also pointed out how the surface used for the all-important encounter wasn't the best for run-making. 

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Only the ever-special Jos Buttler (70*) found timing the ball an easy task through his magnificent 48-ball knock. Otherwise, all the batsmen on show struggled for the same flow. Buttler, and Smith (26*), helped RR chase down CSK's modest 125/5 in 17.3 overs after a top-order collapsed had once seen the inaugural champions reeling at 28/3. 

In the first half, Smith used the same pitch to his team's advantage. Leg-spinners Shreyas Gopal (1/14) and Rahul Tewatia (1/18) gave away just 32 runs off their 8 overs. With the spin twins complimented very well by the team's pace spearhead, Jofra Archer (1/20), RR never allowed the opposition batsmen to get going. 

Ravindra Jadeja (35*) top-scored while Sam Curran (22) and MS Dhoni (28) were the only other batsmen to cross the 20-run mark for CSK. 

"Sharjah is a little different from here. The wicket was not the best for batting, and good to be on the winning side," said Smith at the post-match presentation ceremony, as quoted by ANI. 

"I thought we bowled well in the powerplay. The spinners bowled good lengths, with the googlies and leggies, building a lot of pressure. Tewatia and Shreyas have been sensational for us."

"Buttler took the pressure off me. I just knocked it around, and he just batted the way he usually does. He always maintains a good strike-rate," he added. 

RR next face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Dubai on Thursday (October 22).