IPL Match 49: Chennai Super Kings beat KKR in a thriller
Thanks to brilliant knocks by Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rayudu and
Ravindra Jadeja, Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in a
thriller played at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai on Thursday.
CSK captain MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to field
first. It was a solid start by KKR openers Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana who
played with intent putting the CSK bowlers under pressure. At the end of the
first six overs, KKR openers made 48 for 0. At the end of the first timeout,
KKR scored 52 for 0.
Soon after the timeout got over, Karn Sharma was bought into
the attack and got a breakthrough dismissing Shubman Gill. KKR openers put on 53
runs in 7.2 overs. On the other hand, Nitish Rana looked composed with his
stroke play. CSK spinners put a lid on the KKR batting line-up. Mitchell Santer got
rid of Sunil Narine providing an easy catch to Ravindra Jadeja at deep
midwicket.
It was a bad choice as Eoin Morgan decided to send Rinku
Singh at number 4. Rana continued to play with intent while Rinku struggled
with his timing. Rinku’s struggle came to end as Jadeja dismissed him. With
that wicket, KKR ended the 2nd timeout at 93 for 3.
After the timeout, Rana completed his fifty off 44 balls.
Rana showed his class by smashing 3 successive sixes off Karn Sharma’s bowling
to put pressure on CSK bowlers. Lungi Ngidi got the dangerous Rana with a good
catch by Sam Curran at long-on. Rana and Dinesh Karthik added 44 runs for the 4th
wicket. Dinesh Karthik played a quickfire cameo scoring 21 off 10 balls. Lungi
Ngidi did a brilliant job by grabbing Eoin Morgan's wicket in the last over.
Morgan and Karthik added 30 runs for the 5th wicket. At the end of
the 20 overs, KKR posted 172 for 5. Rahul Tripathi got to bat only 2 balls
coming at number 7.
Chasing 173 runs to win, Ruturaj Gaikwad played with
positive intent putting pressure on KKR bowlers especially Pat Cummins. On the
other hand, Shane Watson looked out of sorts with his timing. At the end of the
first six overs, CSK made 44 for 0.
Varun Chakravarthy provided the breakthrough getting rid of
Watson giving a simple catch to Rinku Singh at long-on. CSK openers put on 50
runs to lay a strong foundation. At the end of the first timeout, CSK scored 58
for 1.
After the timeout, Ambati Rayudu and Gaikwad showed their
intent keeping the scoreboard with a flurry of boundaries. Gaikwad looked
composed with his stroke to reach his 2nd successive 50 off 37
balls. The things looked at ease with both batsmen in complete control. It
was an amazing batting display by Rayudu and Gaikwad who made batting look easy.
At the end of the second timeout, CSK scored 109 for 1.
Rayudu smashed two fours off Pat Cummins over but could not
go past Sunil Narine’s to give KKR a breakthrough. Rayudu and Gaikwad added 68
runs for the 2nd wicket. Varun Chakravarthy bowled a beauty to
dismiss MS Dhoni to put CSK under pressure.
Pat Cummins bowled a superb 18th over giving away
just 4 runs and taking the wicket of well-set Gaikwad. With 30 runs required
off 2 overs, Ravindra Jadeja smashed 20 runs from Ferguson over including 1
no-ball. Kamlesh Nagarkoti kept his nerves for the first four balls but Jadeja
smashed 2 sixes to help CSK win the match by six wickets.
With CSK winning this match, Mumbai Indians became the first
team to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2020.
CSK 178 for 4 in 20 overs ( Gaikwad 72, Rayudu 38, Jadeja
31*, Varun Chakravarthy 2/20, Cummins 2/31) beat KKR 172 for 5 in 20 overs (
Rana 87, Gill 26, Ngidi 2/34) by six wickets.
For his superb knock of 72 from 53 balls, Ruturaj Gaikwad
was named the man of the match award.
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