IPL 2018: Similarities between CSK's 208/5 and 205/5 against RCB(2012) and KKR(2018) respectively

Chennai Super Kings returned to Chennai with a thrilling win over the Kolkata Knight Riders. The Super Kings have always dominated KKR in Chepauk, having lost just twice and both times in IPL 2012, when Kolkata went on to win the trophy in Chennai. The fans of the Chennai based franchise were overwhelmed by the return of their team to Chennai. The fans had previously witnessed a very similar run chase in 2012 when Chennai successfully chased down the then second highest successful run chase against the Royal Challengers.

What is astonishing is that both the chases have many similarities. Here are a few of them:

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#5 50+ run opening partnership

2012:

An Indian and an overseas batsman opened the innings for Chennai and on both occasions, they provided the right start to chase down such big targets. It was Murali Vijay and Faf du Plessis who opened the batting for CSK in 2012 and they put together 56 runs in 41 balls, with du Plessis doing the bulk of the scoring.

2018:

In this year's edition, Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson competed with each other to clear the boundary ropes. Watson (42 off 19) and Rayudu (39 off 26) together scored 75 runs in the first 35 balls thereby providing a blazing start to the chase.

#4 Newly-recruited overseas batsman scoring a half-century

Sam Billings score his first IPL half-century (Source: iplt20.com)

2012:

Faf du Plessis, playing his fourth match for CSK, made a superb half-century scoring 71 runs off 46 deliveries before getting caught in the fifteenth over. Even though his strike rate was a bit less than the required rate, it was his half-century that held the innings together. He batted deep into the innings and provided the required support for the other Chennai batsmen to bat around him to successfully chase the target.

2018:

Sam Billings, playing his first game, played a memorable inning on his CSK debut. In the middle overs, even Dhoni wasn't able to up the ante and it was Billings who kept CSK alive in the game by scoring 56 off just 23 balls. Just like du Plessis, Billings could not finish the innings and got out in the penultimate over of the match.

Coincidently, Faf du Plessis and Sam Billings received their first IPL man of the match awards.

#3 Last over by Vinay Kumar

A dejected Vinay Kumar (Source: iplt20.com)

2012:

Vinay Kumar was the bowler who had to face the brunt of CSK batsmen on both the occasions. In 2012, CSK needed 15 runs in the final over and Vinay Kumar had a good start to the over conceding just a single and taking the wicket of the dangerous Albie Morkel on the second delivery. But the next four legal deliveries changed everything and the world had witnessed a Bravo-Jadeja special.

2018:

Things were similar this time around too, CSK needed 17 off the final over. The last four balls in 2012 were pretty much similar to the five legal deliveries that were bowled yesterday. Bravo and Jadeja took CSK to the target with a ball to spare.

#2 A Bravo boundary off no-ball

Dwayne Bravo (Source: iplt20.com)

2012:

Over 19.3 saw Dwayne Bravo on strike as the batsmen crossed before the catch was taken. Vinay Kumar bowled, a no-ball, a very high full toss above the waist which Bravo almost hit for a six as the ball dropped just short of the boundary rope. Bravo hit a six off the very next ball making things easier for CSK. That one legal delivery effectively gave away 11 runs turning the match in the favour of CSK, who then needed 3 from last 3 balls.

2018:

Over 19.1 saw another high full toss above the waistline from Vinay Kumar and Bravo edged it for a six over fine leg. The no-ball was followed by a free-hit which Bravo could not convert into a boundary but got two useful runs. Effectively the first delivery of the final over gave away 9 runs, making the target a gettable 8 off 5 balls.

#1 Jadeja scoring the winning runs

Six over long-on (Source: iplt20.com)

2012:

After conceding the 11 runs off that one legal delivery, Vinay Kumar bowled the next two balls superbly just giving away one run and it was Ravindra Jadeja, who was on strike, facing his first delivery. With Chennai needing two runs off the final delivery, it was Jadeja's turn to wield the bat and he scored the winning runs for CSK with a boundary as the ball flew off the outside edge of his bat.

2018:

Vinay Kumar conceded 13 runs in the four first balls and Chennai needed four runs off last two balls. It was again Sir Ravindra Jadeja who on strike and he hit the ball for a massive six over long on finishing the mammoth chase with one ball to spare.