IPL 2021 Match 38: Ravindra Jadeja's cameo helps CSK beat KKR in a thrilling contest
Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-scoring thriller played at Sheikh Zayed International Stadium, Abu Dhabi on
Sunday.
KKR captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to bat
first. It was an aggressive start by Shubman Gill hitting 2 boundaries. Gill
was given out by the umpire and on review, it was overturned to not out due to the ball missing the stumps. Soon, Rayudu produced a superb direct hit to dismiss
Gill.
Rahul Tripathi and Venkatesh Iyer put the pressure on CSK
bowlers with attacking strokes. Both batsmen did not allow Curran to settle.
Tripathi was given out but due to the second bouncer, the delivery was called a
no-ball. Shardul Thakur struck in his first over dismissing Iyer caught by
Dhoni. Iyer decided to review the decision, but it was retained to out. Iyer
and Tripathi added 40 runs for the 2nd wicket. KKR scored 50 for 2
at the end of the first six overs.
Rahul Tripathi played with intent and kept the scoreboard
ticking. On the other hand, Eoin Morgan's struggle continued. At the end of the
first timeout, KKR scored 70 for 2.
After the timeout, Faf Du Plessis produced a superb piece of
catching at the boundary to dismiss Morgan. CSK bowlers kept the pressure on KKR
batsmen that eventually resulted in the wicket of Rahul Tripathi.
Andre Russell came to the crease and put pressure on CSK
bowlers especially Sam Curran. Nitish Rana also looked good. KKR went into the
2nd timeout with scoreboard reading 104 for 4.
Russell and Rana upped the ante making life tough for CSK
bowlers. Thakur struck an important blow dismissing dangerous Russell taking
inside edge onto the stumps. Russell and Rana added 36 runs for the 5th
wicket.
Dinesh Karthik provided the much-needed impetus for KKR with
19 runs off Sam Curran in the 19th over. Both Rana and Karthik kept the momentum going putting on 41 runs for the 6th wicket. Rana smacked a
boundary off Hazlewood to help KKR post competitive total of 171 for 6 in 20
overs.
Chasing 172 runs to win, it was an aggressive start by CSK
openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis taking the attack to KKR spinners
and pacers. Both showed intent against Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. At
the end of the first six overs, CSK looked in control at 52 for 0. With that,
the first timeout was called.
After the timeout, Gaikwad and du Plessis made batting look
easy. Russell eventually got the breakthrough dismissing Gaikwad taking the leading
edge to Eoin Morgan. Du Plessis and Gaikwad added 74 runs for the opening
wicket.
Moeen Ali timed the ball brilliantly taking on Lockie
Ferguson. A superb piece of catching by Ferguson resulted in the wicket of du
Plessis.
Ambati Rayudu struggled to read KKR spinners and was
eventually bowled by Narine to make the match more interesting. With that wicket,
the second timeout was called at 119 for 3. After the timeout, KKR bowlers
strangled CSK batsmen with wickets at regular intervals as Moeen Ali, Suresh
Raina, and MS Dhoni all went in quick succession.
With 26 runs required off the last 2 overs, Jadeja smashed 22
runs off Prasidh Krishna’s over in the 19th over to make the equation in
favor of CSK.
Sunil Narine bowled a superb 20th over grabbing
wickets of Sam Curran and then got rid of Jadeja. Deepak Chahar hit the winning
run to help CSK register a thrilling 2 wicket win.
CSK 172 for 8 in 20 overs (du Plessis 43, Gaikwad 40, Sunil
Narine 3/41, Chakravarthy 1/22) beat KKR 171 for 6 in 20 overs ( Tripathi 45,
Rana 37*, Thakur 2/20, Jadeja 1/21) by 2 wickets.
With this win, CSK moved up to the top of the points table.
For his 22 off 8 balls and 1 for 21 in 4 overs, Ravindra Jadeja was awarded man
of the match.
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