Rajasthan Royals 5-144 (Shane Watson 70, Stuart Binny 41*, Jason Holder 2-20) beat Chennai Super Kings 4-141 (Murali Vijay  55, Michael Hussey 40, Kevon Cooper 2-32) by five wickets.

Shane Watson demonstrated a hurricane knock in the middle order and crushed the bowling of Chennai Super Kings who lost against Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur.

Chennai Super Kings scored 141 runs for just four wickets and Rajasthan Royals attained the target by plundering 144 with five wickets in hand in 17.1 overs.

Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals) was announced ‘Player of the match’ for his blistering innings of 70 from 34 mere balls.

The 61^st game of the Indian Premier League was played on Sunday, May 12, 2013, at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Earlier, the skipper of Rajasthan Royals, Rahul Dravid won the toss and asked his opponent team to bat first. Michael Hussey along with Murali Vijay opened the innings cautiously and scored 26 runs in the first five overs. Vijay hit 2 consecutive fours in the next over and Hussey was going along well at the other end. The score reached 75 after 10 overs with 5 fours from the willows of the two batsmen as the stumps of Michael Hussey were dislodged by Stuart Binny for 40 off even balls with 6 fours. The first wicket fell at 83 in 11.3 overs as Kevin Cooper dismissed Suresh Raina and his captain MS Dhoni for 1 and 2 runs respectively in the 13^th over.

Ravindra Jadeja came in next and the first hundred of the innings was posted on board in the 15^th over. Murali Vijay achieved his second fifty of the tournament two overs later with a four but was unluckily run out for 55 off 50 balls with 6 fours. Dwayne Bravo came in next and added 14 runs in the 19^th over with 3 fours and remained unbeaten for 23 off 11 with four boundaries. Jadeja scored 12 as Chennai Super Kings managed 141 runs with six wickets intact in 20 overs.

Rajasthan Royals had an awkward beginning since they lost their three top order batsmen for just 19 runs in 4.4 overs. Ajinkya Rahane, Jean Faulkner and Sanju Samson lost their wicktets for 9, 1 and 0 runs respectively. Shane Watson walked in under trying conditions, associated with Rahul Dravid and tried to mend the early loss. The next three overs witnessed the addition of 16 runs to the total as Watson hit the first six of the innings in the following over. Rahul Dravid was caught behind by Dhoni off Chris Morris for 22 off 28 with 2 fours.

Stuart Binny got together with Watson who changed his gears in the 11^th over off Ravichandran Ashwin for 3 grand sixes. Binny added the flavour to the game by hitting 2 fours in the next over as Watson dispatched another 4 sixes in the coming overs. Shane Watson continued his explosive innings and punished Chris Morris for 16 runs in the 15^th over with 4 fours and also thrashed his fifty. He was finally clean bowled by Dwayne Bravo for 70 off 34 deliveries comprising 6 giant sixes and even fours. Stuart Binny hit the winning six on the first ball of the 18^th over and secured his end by scoring 41 off just 23 with 3 lofty sixes and 2 fours.  Rajasthan Royals hammered 144 runs with half of their side intact and 17 balls to spare.

Jason Holder was the main wicket taker with two wickets whereas Mohit Sharma, Chris Morris and Ravichandran Ashwin shared one wicket each.

Rajasthan Royals defeated their strong opponents, Chennai Super Kings, with a big margin of five wickets easily in the end.

The present standing of the two teams in the tournament is as follows:

Chennai Super Kings – 20 points from 14 games – 1^st position.

Rajasthan Royals – 20 points from 14 games – 2^nd position.