Defending champions Chennai Super Kings made it three wins in three games as they rallied from early strikes to defeat Rajasthan Royals by eight runs in a pulsating IPL 2019 encounter in Chennai on Sunday.
Batting first against the moving ball, Chennai were in deep trouble at 27-3 before a fighting 75* off just 46 balls from MS Dhoni took the total to 175-5.
In the chase, Rajasthan too lost wickets to the new ball, reduced to 14-3. But gutsy knocks from Rahul Tripathi (39) and Ben Stokes (46 off 36) kept the Royals in the hunt. Twelve runs were needed off the last six balls with Stokes and Jofra Archer at the crease, but a classic final over from Dwayne Bravo produced just three runs and two wickets as Rajasthan were restricted to 167-8.
Here we take a look at how the match unfolded.
Chennai pitch changes colour
If the opening match of IPL 2019 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium was played on a rank turner, the second game at the venue went to the other extreme by providing extra help to fast bowlers.
Rajasthan opening quicks Archer, Dhawal Kulkarni and Stokes got the cherry to bend around corners. Ambati Rayudu poked at an Archer outswinger – in what was a wicket maiden – before Shane Watson slashed an away moving delivery from Stokes to short third man. Kedar Jadhav nicked Kulkarni to keeper Buttler as Chennai were reeling at 27-3.
Old hands join forces
Dhoni and Suresh Raina are the absolute core of the CSK franchise. And when the team needed them the most, they two veterans stood up to the challenge.
The situation was tailor-made for Dhoni. He is the master of nudging the ball around to take the score close to three figures. Raina, on the other hand, went after the weaker links on that pitch – spinners Shreyas Gopal and Krishnappa Gowtham – and the slow bowlers could only bowl five overs for 36 runs.
Dhoni magic
M S Dhoni has got to be the coolest leader to have walked onto ancrixket field. I hope all the young kids around the world copy MSD’s body language, demeanor and calmness. #CSK.
— ian bishop (@irbishi) March 31, 2019
With Dhoni batting with Bravo (27 off 16) in the final three overs and the score on 115-4, it was time to get a move on. A free hit from seamer Kulkarni was all that Dhoni needed to open up. A low full toss was sent over extra cover for a six while the next two balls went for four and six. The veteran keeper batsman capped the innings by sending the final three balls from left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat over the square leg, long-off and long on fence to take the total to a more than respectable 175-5 and his score to 75 from just 46 balls – four fours and as many sixes.
Chahar strikes early
Deepak Chahar. Image: SPORTZPICS.
With the new ball moving extravagantly, seamer Deepak Chahar was always going to be a threat. He got in-form Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson to drive uppishly, getting their outside edge to the cover and point region.
Dew settled in early and bowlers struggled to grip the ball as Tripathi (39) and Steve Smith (28) started the rebuilding job. But leg-spinner Imran Tahir got both set batsmen out within three overs to pull the match back in the hosts’ favour.
Late drama
DJ Bravo showing signs of his usual self at the death this season after poor performances last few seasons. He has conceded at 7.2 rpo with a wicket once in 5 balls at the death this season compared to 11.42 rpo with a wicket once in 18 balls in IPL 2016 & 2018. #IPL2019 #CSKvRR
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) March 31, 2019
As dew settled in, Stokes and Archer (23) kept Rajasthan in the hunt. The two all-rounders smoked four sixes in three overs as the equation came down to 12 off the final over. MS Dhoni entrusted Bravo to soak the pressure. The West Indian got Stokes to club the first ball straight to cover and then kept Archer quiet as Royals could only take three runs from a supreme death over to lose by eight runs.
