Sunrisers Hyderabad got their IPL 2019 campaign back on track as they cruised to a dominant victory over Chennai Super Kings.
The table-toppers were missing MS Dhoni due to back spasms, with someone other than the India veteran – Suresh Raina, in this case – captaining CSK for the first time since 2010. Without him, the Super Kings’ batting stuttered to post a meagre total of 132-5.
David Warner and Jonny Bairstow both scored 50s to make light work of the chase, which SRH wrapped up with 19 balls to spare in a six-wicket win that took them to within two points of the playoff spots.
CHENNAI BATTING STRUGGLES AGAIN
With Dhoni rested, all eyes were on the rest of the batting lineup. Other than Faf du Plessis, every regular batsman other than Dhoni averages under 26 this season, as CSK have relied on their captain and their bowlers for their outstanding start to the season.
Given the chance to step up in Dhoni’s absence, Chennai let themselves down. Du Plessis and Watson put on a 70-run opening partnership, but what followed was shocking. The Super Kings were 80-1 after 10 overs, and somehow managed to post a total of only 132. Even accounting for the slowness of the pitch, 52 runs off the last 10 overs was inexplicable.
Their efforts were put into stark contrast by the Sunrisers batsmen, with openers Warner and Bairstow leading SRH to an easy win. They’d knocked off the target within the powerplay, and even a two-wicket burst from Imran Tahir couldn’t help.
The 18th over was the 1st in which #CSK managed 10 or more since the 10th over.
— Victor Tarapore (@VictorTarapore) April 17, 2019
In the intervening 7 overs, CSK managed 29/4 (?!) at a run rate of 4.14 RPO!
What pressure! What bowling by @SunRisers !#MakeStatsGreatAgain #SRHvCSK #RiseWithUs #SRH #Sunrisers #IPL2019 #VIVOIPL
RAYUDU VS SHANKAR AN ANTICLIMACTIC BATTLE
India‘s preliminary World Cup squad announcement provided one of the biggest talking points for this game, with Sunrisers’ Vijay Shankar picked ahead of CSK batsman Ambati Rayudu. Rayudu’s tweet on Tuesday, saying he’d order 3D glasses after India’s selectors said Shankar give the team “ability with the three dimensions”, added spice to the match-up.
Shankar doesn’t bowl much, but he did on Wednesday, and took the key wicket of Du Plessis with his second ball. In walked Rayudu.
He nearly chopped onto his stumps first ball, but this face-off ended up being anticlimactic. Rayudu scored four runs off five balls against Shankar, finishing with 25 off 21. Shankar’s two-over spell of 1-11 helped Sunrisers dominate the second half of the CSK innings, but his batting was disappointing – just seven off 11 balls, with no boundaries.
The two players exchanged a hug when Rayudu was batting. No hard feelings, then.
Vijay Shankar bowls to Ambati Rayudu, who almost chops it on to his stumps. Harsha on commentary, 'in how many dimensions did he see that?' Epic!
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) April 17, 2019
BRIEF SCORES
Chennai Super Kings 132/5 (20 overs)
Faf du Plessis 45 (31)
Rashid Khan 2/17
Sunrisers Hyderbad 137/4 (16.5 overs)
Jonny Bairstow 61* (44)
David Warner 50 (25)
Imran Tahir 2/20
Sunrisers Hyderabad won by six wickets
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