15-year-old opening batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) celebrated turning 15 by scoring a half-century off just 15 balls in an eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings on Monday. This marked his first fifty of the season and the third 50-plus score in his eight-match IPL career so far.

Sooryavanshi, alongside fellow opener and India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, tore into the Chennai attack during the powerplay, guiding the team to 74 without loss. Sooryavanshi was dismissed for 52 off 17 balls, including five sixes and four fours, after sharing a blistering 75-run partnership with Jaiswal, and Rajasthan sealed the win by chasing down a target of 128 in just 12.1 overs.

Sooryavanshi commented on the match: "I think of defending, but the plan was to decide the game in the powerplay as we'd restricted them to a low score. If the bowlers had bowled well in the powerplay then the game might have turned their way, but we went all out in the powerplay." He credited Rajasthan coach Kumar Sangakkara and staff for backing his attacking instincts.

Rajasthan's quick chase followed a brilliant bowling effort: their attack reduced Chennai to 41-4 by the end of the powerplay, putting the visitors firmly on the back foot before they were dismissed for 127 in 19.4 overs. South African pace bowler Nandre Burger led the charge with figures of 2-26 and was named player of the match, while Jofra Archer and Ravindra Jadeja also took two wickets each.

In upcoming matches, Rajasthan Royals will face the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Saturday, while Chennai Super Kings host Punjab Kings on Friday.

Source: www.aljazeera.com