IPL 2019: Top 3 knocks by Shane Watson in IPL History

#2 Watson’s 70 for RR against CSK in IPL 2013

Watson served Rajasthan Royals for 8 years

This match was played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium at Jaipur. RR won the toss and put CSK into bat. After a terrific opening partnership of 83 between Mike Hussey and Murali Vijay, CSK reached a mere 141 runs after 20 overs.

With Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson, Brad Hodge, Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson and Brad Hodge in their ranks for RR, the stage was set for an easy RR win. However, RR was in for a shock when they were reduced to 45 for 4 in the 10th over of the innings.

Rahane, James Franklin, Sanju Samson and Rahul Dravid were all back in the pavilion. Rajasthan Royal’s only hope rested on the shoulders of Shane Watson. Watson came in at No 5 and started off his innings with a four off Mohit Sharma and a six off Dwayne Bravo. He was on 13 when Dravid got out.

Stuart Binny joined Watson with the target nearly 100 runs away with 10 overs to go. The 11th over bowled by R. Ashwin proved to be the turning point of the match as Watson helped himself to a couple of sixes. That over went for 23 runs which brought down the required run rate from 9.3 to 7.77.

Binny was aggressive at the other end creaming 2 fours off Chris Morris. Meanwhile, Watson went on a six-hitting spree as his next three scoring shots were all sixes. Bravo was plundered for 22 runs in one over. Watson reached his 50 off 25 balls.

Shane celebrated his 50 by nailing Chris Morris for 3 fours. Finally, Watson was yorked by Bravo for 70 off 34 balls with 6 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 206. Though Watson has scored 4 hundreds in IPL, his knock of 70 against CSK in 2013 was better than his hundreds since it came when his team was wobbling at 39 for 4. Watson saved the day for RR against CSK.

In IPL 2013, both RR and CSK were knocked over by Mumbai Indians. While RR’s campaign came to an end in the second qualifier, CSK lost in the final to MI.