IPL 2018, CSK vs KKR: Hits and Misses

Another CSK game, another thriller! The Chepauk was filled with a sea of yellow as the IPL finally returned to Chennai after almost three years.

In the fifth game of this IPL, Chennai Super Kings won the toss and put Kolkata Knight Riders into bat first. KKR began with a bang as Sunil Narine struck 2 sixes in the first over.

But CSK slowly clawed their way back in the game as they kept taking wickets at regular intervals and reduced KKR to 89/5. But a blistering innings from Russell (88 off just 36 balls) took KKR to 202.

Chasing a big score, Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson added 75 in just 35 balls and set the tone for Chennai’s chase. But some tight overs from Kolkata brought them back in the game as they picked up a couple of quick wickets.

Suresh Raina’s cramps and Dhoni’s struggle meant the required run-rate climbed up. However, a superb innings from Sam Billings (where he scored 56 in just 23 balls) brought the run-chase back to life. But his dismissal in the 19th over meant CSK needed 17 off the final over.

Vinay Kumar bowled the last over and got hit for a six (which was also a no-ball) off the first delivery. And then Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja nudged around for 1s and 2s before Jadeja hit a magnificent six to deal the game for CSK. It was the second consecutive game where they have managed to come from behind and win the game.

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#5 Miss: MS Dhoni

Dhoni struggled for a large part of his innings

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been under fire in T20 cricket. He has been criticized for his style of play as he takes his time before going after the bowlers. Hence, he tends to use up deliveries.

He failed to fire in the first game this season as he managed just 5. In the second game, chasing 203, CSK got off to a flying start scoring 75 in the powerplay.

Walking out to bat at No. 4, Dhoni struggled to get going in the early part of his innings. He was batting on 9 off 17 deliveries at one stage before he hit Kuldeep Yadav for a four and a six to bring down the required run-rate.

However, just when one felt those were the shots that he needed to get going, he couldn’t get another boundary and was eventually dismissed for a sluggish 28-ball 25.

#4 Hit: Shane Watson

Shane Watson was excellent with both bat and ball

After a poor IPL last season, a lot of people thought Shane Watson was heading towards the end of the career. But he roared back into form. He scored 331 runs in the Big Bash this year. In the Pakistan Super League that followed, he was once again brilliant. He scored 319 runs in 10 innings and picked up 11 wickets.

Hence, he was coming into this IPL high on confidence. In the first game this IPL, he was good with the ball as he took 2/29 and scored 16.

The former Australian all-rounder continued his good form with the ball as he once again took two key wickets (Nitish Rana and Dinesh Karthik). He was taken for runs by Russell towards the end but it was still a good outing with the ball for Watson.

Chasing 203, Chennai Super Kings needed someone to give them a good start and the 36-year-old all-rounder helped CSK get off to a flying start. He hit 42 in just 19 balls and helped the home side get to 75 in the powerplay.

In the first over, he set the tone as he struck Vinay Kumar for two fours and a six. Watson then hit Piyush Chawla for a huge six as CSK raced to 30 in just 2 overs. Rayudu fed off his partner’s aggression as he struck a few lusty blows as well.

Watson then got stuck into Tom Curran as he hit the England pacer for a four and a six before he was caught at deep mid-wicket.

#3 Miss: Dwayne Bravo

Bravo gave away 50 runs in 3 overs

Dwayne Bravo made a superb return for the Chennai Super Kings when he took the ‘Men in Yellow’ home with a whirlwind 68 in 30 balls. He was also brilliant with the ball as he gave away just 11 runs in 3 overs at the death.

However, cricket acts as a great leveller. Bravo was taken for 50 runs in his 3 overs. In his first over, he gave away 10 runs as Andre Russell hit a big six off the fifth delivery of the over.

Bravo came back to bowl the 17th over and was taken for 3 sixes as he was hit for 19 runs. And then again in the 19th over, the CSK all-rounder was once again hit for 3 sixes by Russell.

Bravo was hit for 40 runs off his last two overs as CSK suffered at the death. With figures of 0/50, it was Bravo’s worst IPL figures. He was hit for a staggering 7 sixes by Russell.

However, he did score a 5-ball 11 to help CSK go over the line.

#2 Hit: Andre Russell

Andre Russell played a swashbuckling innings

Andre Russell has been out of action for more than a year. And his return to competitive cricket was cut-short as he suffered a hamstring injury which brought an end to his PSL campaign.

However, he recovered well and was a part of KKR’s playing XI for their first game. He looked good and was slowly beginning to find his rhythm. In the second game, Russell walked out to bat with KKR at 89/5 in 10 overs.

He did score a boundary off his second ball but he was trying to give himself some time in the middle. And he didn’t go after the bowling right from the word go. He reached 20 in 16 balls by the end of the 15th over and KKR reached 123/5.

It was then that the beast in Russell was unleashed. He hit Shardul Thakur for a couple of sixes to kick-start the carnage. Bravo was then hit for 3 more sixes out of which one was sent out of the ground.

And then in the last 2 overs, Russell struck 5 sixes to propel KKR’s score over 200. Russell’s 36-ball 88 dragged KKR from a difficult position to a commanding one. He struck 11 sixes and 1 four in his stunning blitz.

And then with the ball, Andre Russell seemed like KKR’s best bowler, especially in the powerplay. He gave away 16 in his first two overs in the powerplay where CSK scored 75. After giving away just 20 runs in his first 3 overs, Russell was taken for 15 runs in his last over.

However, his 88 was a brutal and a match-changing innings but Sam Billings stole the show with a stunning performance.

#1 Hit: Sam Billings

Sam Billings was the hero for CSK

Before this game, Sam Billings played just 11 games across two seasons for Delhi Daredevils. However, here with Kedar Jadhav injured, CSK decided to beef their middle-order and brought Billings in the playing XI and he delivered when it mattered the most.He was brilliant and innovative with his batting and he was the one responsible for taking Chennai close.

Walking into bat at 101/3 and with Dhoni struggling with his timing, Sam Billings completely changed the tempo of the innings. He got going with a beautiful whip through mid-wicket off Piyush Chawla.

And then came a game-changing moment when Billings was on 9. Uthappa dropped a tough chance at mid-off and Billings made full use of that life. He celebrated that drop with a couple of sixes in that very over.

After Dhoni got out, the 26-year-old took full responsibility and got CSK close. He hit Andre Russell for a couple of sixes in the 18th over and then hit Tom Curran for another six to reduce the equation to 19 off 9 balls. But Sam Billings was then dismissed. However, Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja finished the game with one ball to spare.

Sam Billings was also the Man of the Match for his 23-ball 56 which included 2 fours and 5 sixes.