IPL 2018: Ambati Rayudu repays faith and other talking points as Chennai Super Kings beat Sunrisers Hyderabad

Alex Broun 07:55 23/04/2018
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  • After yet another thrilling IPL encounter, won by the Super Kings by four runs, here are our takeaways from the victory over the Sunrisers.

    Planning for Shane

    After Shane Watson’s devastating innings of 106 off just 57 against Rajasthan, the Sunrisers knew they had to have a plan – and Bhuvneshwar Kumar executed it perfectly.

    His fiery first over kept Watson in check, restricting the Super Kings to just two runs, but then the hard hitting Australian looked to have broken the shackles smashing Kumar over square leg for a massive six off the second ball of his second over.

    The third delivery however fooled Watson superbly with a well-disguised slower ball and the opener spooned a catch to Deeapk Hooda at short midwicket.

    The dangerous Watson was on his way.

    Kumar and co kept up the pressure keeping Chennai to just 1-27 from the power play of six overs – the lowest in the IPL to date this year.

    Raina-led recovery

    The Super Kings were on the rack early but as they have done so many times before, they recovered brilliantly to post a winning score.

    With openers Watson (9) and Faf du Plessis (11) back in the pavilion cheaply as the Kings slumped to 2-32 off 7.1 overs, it was up to Suresh Raina to do something special – and the Indian star delivered with a rapid 54 off 43 balls.

    But Raina was just laying the platform for an extraordinary innings by Ambati Rayudu who tonked 79 off just 37 balls including nine fours and four sixes.

    His 112 run partnership with Raina, off just 57-balls, transformed the innings and propelled the Super Kings to a final score of 3-182, with Dhoni himself contributing 25 off 12 balls at the end.

    After the match Dhoni was full of praise for the 32-year-old.

    “Rayudu has been fantastic,” said Dhoni.

    “One of the questions was where do we play him? And I have seen him bat up the order at No3.

    “Whenever he plays the big shots, he maintains shape, which is very important. He can bat at all numbers, but I’d prefer to see him opening, where he looks very dangerous.”

    Bravo for Dwayne

    A stunning partnership of 79 runs from 45 balls between Kane Williamson (84 off 51) and Yusuf Pathan (45 0ff 27) looked like opening the door for the Sunrisers.

    With five overs to go captain MS Dhoni threw the ball to his trump-card Dwayne Bravo, one of the best ‘death’ bowlers in the tournament.

    But it looked like the plan may have back-fired as Pathan smashed the West Indian for two massive sixes in the 16th over to keep Hyderabad on track.

    In the 18th over however Bravo showed his class.

    He went for another four off the first ball, before containing the Sunrisers to just five runs off the next four deliveries.

    Then on the last ball he struck, with a great slower ball tricking Williamson and Ravindra Jadeja taking an easy catch.

    With Shardul Thakar removing the dangerous Pathan in the next over it was up to Bravo to defend 18 in over number 20.

    Despite some big-hitting from Rashid Khan, 17 off just four balls including two maximums off his first two balls, Bravo got the kings home.

    Afterwards captain Dhoni admitted to a few nerves.

    “I didn’t want him to change his plans,” said Dhoni. “At times, even the best like Bravo, need advice.

    “What’s important is you make mistakes and you learn. At lots of times we have these debates, but a lot of times, when you make mistakes, the bowlers understand what we were talking about.”

    Bravo however was just finishing off the hard work of opening bowler Deepak Chahar who took three for 15 off his four overs, including the prized wickets of Manish Pandey and Hooda.

    “As we progress towards the knockouts, you will see the bowlers come up with new plans, and getting the big scores won’t be so easy,” acknowledged Dhoni.

    “What’s important is to give these guys (Chahar and Thakur) some time. I want them to do well. Yes, there have been errors, but they will come back strong.”

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