Raina runs the show

Suresh Raina provides impetus to the Chennai innings. He hit a savage 98 off just 55 deliveries in a 38-run triumph

Suresh Raina starred with the bat and Lakshmipathy Balaji the ball as Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 38 runs in a rematch of last season’s Indian Premier League final.

Raina was in thrilling form, smashing 98 as his side set the defending champions 165 for victory at Supersport Park, with useful contributions from Subramaniam Badrinath (29) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (22 not out).

In response, only Ravindra Jadeja, who made 37, threatened for the Royals as Balaji claimed 4-21 to bowl them out for 126 with three balls to spare.

After winning the toss, Shane Warne continued his recent trend of opening the bowling with off-spinner Yusuf Pathan and again it paid dividends as the all-rounder bowled Matthew Hayden, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, for one with his first delivery.

In his next over he tempted Parthiv Patel into an unnecessary slog which he skied to Kamran Khan at point, but then came two half-century stands.

Both involved Raina, who raised his fifty in just 26 balls when he slammed Warne wide of cover for four.

He and Badrinath put on 67 for the third wicket and left their side in a strong position at the mid-innings strategy break with 81 on the board.

But Warne had Badrinath stumped by Mahesh Rawat, and Jacob Oram was superbly caught by Dimitri Mascarenhas off Munaf Patel before Dhoni offered Raini valuable support.

The pair put on 71 in 41 balls, but Raina fell withn sight of a century when he was caught by Graeme Smith running back from backward point off Patel. He had faced just 55 balls and hit 10 fours and five sixes.

In reply, Rajasthan’s struggles at the top of the order continued when the out-of-sorts Smith, driving, sliced Albie Morkel to point.

Swapnil Asnodkar hit his wicket attempting to pull Morkel, and Raini trapped Rob Quiney lbw for 28 as the defending champions slipped to 55 for three.

The in-form Pathan smashed 20 off just 13 balls, but when he was caught by Raina at long-off trying a shot too many against Balaji, it spelt the end for Rajasthan.

Mascarenhas, Jadeja, Warne, Munaf and Siddharth Trivedi perished trying to hit out as the Royals suffered their third loss in six games.