IPL 2018: Ambati Rayudu finds his stride for Chennai Super Kings in record chase vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

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  • Chennai Super Kings chased down Royal Challengers Bangalore’s mammoth total of 205/8 to reach the summit of the Indian Premier League standings.

    Half-centuries from AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock helped the hosts to another 200-plus score but it wasn’t enough to prevent a fourth defeat for RCB in the current edition.

    Ambati Rayudu starred for CSK, hitting three fours and eight sixes in his innings of 82 before being run out by Umesh Yadav.

    Chennai skipper MS Dhoni (70 runs of 34 balls) however was on hand to see his side over the line as they won by five wickets with two balls to spare.

    DE VILLIERS LEADS CHARGE

    Given the star quality at their disposal, the Royal Challengers should really be higher up in the standings even at this stage of the season. One of the main criticisms against them is their tendency to rely on the big names in their batting order.

    Either Virat Kohli or De Villiers has had to deliver and this time, it was the South African who starred with his knock of 68. He played some outstanding shots, registering eight sixes and two fours in a masterful display of clean-hitting.

    Before Rayudu’s effort, De Villiers led the run-scoring in the league with 280 in six innings so far, boasting a strike rate of 184.21. With the 34-year-old in such devastating form, Bangalore can be forgiven for hanging their hats on their star-studded batting line-up.

    What will be even more encouraging is the support De Villiers was afforded. After a poor start to the campaign, Quinton de Kock came good with his sixth IPL half-century.

    Mandeep Singh is making a habit of chipping in with some handy knocks and did so again while Washington Sundar ensured they got over the 200-run mark in the final over despite losing four wickets for three runs.

    RAYUDU HITS HIS STRIDE

    Rayudu has looked impressive this season but while he put together some good starts at the crease in the first four games, he wasn’t able to take the next step and convert those into telling innings. Last time out against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he dropped down to No4 and finally came good.

    His knock of 79 from 37 balls led Chennai to a total of 182/3 and they were able to hold on for a four-run win. Returning to open the innings against RCB, it looks as if Rayudu has hit his stride – and the visitors’ bowling attack to all parts of the ground.

    After a fast start, the 32-year-old did briefly slow down to an extent as Shane Watson, Suresh Raina and Sam Billings were dismissed cheaply.

    Dhoni supported him brilliantly, though, and together they steadied the ship before accelerating towards their target with strategic precision. Rayudu was unfortunate to be run out after a superb innings of 82 which took his within sight of victory before Dhoni – as ever – finished things off in style.

    TAHIR LIMITS DAMAGE

    Twitter can be an unforgiving platform and once again, it was quick to pounce on Imran Tahir’s overzealous celebrations. Some would argue that despite match-winning innings from Rayudu and Dhoni, De Villiers’ effort was still the pick of the bunch.

    He punished the Chennaiyin attack but could’ve destroyed them along with any hope of a successful run chase had it not been for Tahir stopping him in his tracks. With the penultimate ball of the 15th over, he got De Villiers caught out at deep cover by Sam Billings, luring the South African into the trap.

    He set out on a run that only seemed destined to end all the way back in Chennai before he was stopped by a team-mate. His excitement was understandable though as the dismissal of De Villiers did significantly curtail the home team’s scoring.

    He then picked up the wicket of Corey Anderson with the very next ball as the left-hander was caught in the slips by Harbhajan Singh. While RCB’s total of 205 was still daunting and one that should’ve been defended, it could’ve been more had it not been for Tahir’s two wickets in quick succession.

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