Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pipped Sunrisers Hyderabad by four runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium yesterday to return to the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) table.
Chasing a challenging 183-run target, Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson (84) and Yusuf Pathan (45 off 27) put up a good fight but fell short.
SRH were off to a disastrous start losing three wickets for just 22 runs in 4.2 overs. Young medium pacer Deepak Chahar gave the early jolts to the hosts after bagging the wickets of opener Ricky Bhui (0), Manish Pandey (0) and Deepak Hooda (1).
However, Williamson kept Hyderabad’s hopes alive after a 49-run stand with Shakib Al Hasan (24 off 19) for the fourth wicket. With Shakib falling in the 11th over on a Karn Sharma over and Hyderabad reeling at 71/4, the skipper was then joined by Yusuf Pathan.
With everything going Chennai’s way, Williamson and Pathan staged a terrific fightback with their 79-run partnership, punishing every Chennai bowler.
Pacer Dwayne Bravo finally got the better of the Hyderabad skipper in the 18th over with the hosts needing 32 off the last two overs. Williamson’s knock was decorated by five fours and as many sixes.
Just when it was anybody’s game, pacer Shardul Thakur sent back a dangerous Pathan in the 19th over.
Incoming batter Rashid Khan then slammed a four-ball 17 to make the game more interesting but the hosts failed to cross the line by four runs.
For Chennai, Chahar was the pick of the bowlers after bagging three wickets and conceding just 15 runs. Thakur, Sharma and Bravo took a wicket apiece.
Earlier, put in to bat, Chennai were off to a shaky start as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid struck early to send back both the visiting openers, Shane Watson (9) and Faf du Plessis (11) with 32 runs on board.
Suresh Raina (54 not out off 43) and Ambati Rayudu (79 off 37) then gathered 112 runs for the third wicket, putting things in order for Chennai.
Rayudu’s bizarre run out in the 17th over saw Dhoni coming in the middle, who then shared a 38-run stand with Raina.
While Rayudu’s innings was guided by nine boundaries and four sixes, Raina hit five fours and a couple of sixes.
Dhoni’s quick unbeaten 12-ball 25 in the final moments propelled Chennai to a respectable total of 182/3.
For Hyderabad, both Bhuvneshwar and Rashid scalped a wicket each.
Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 182/3 (Ambati Rayudu 79, Suresh Raina 52 not out; Bhuvneshwar 1/22) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 178/6 (Kane Williamson 84, Yusuf Pathan 45; Deepak Chahar 3/15) by 4 runs.
Gowtham powers Royals to win over Mumbai
Rajasthan Royals clinched a thriller at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium to beat Mumbai Indians by three wickets with two deliveries still to be bowled in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match yesterday.
K Gowtham was the hero for Rajasthan Royals as he played a match-winning innings under pressure. When all hopes were lost, he snatched the game from Mumbai Indians with a 11-ball 33 and finished the game in style with a massive six off Hardik Pandya. This after Mumbai Indians had clinched three quick wickets to change the face of the game in their favour. But it was not the day for Rohit Sharma’s team, but rather for the Ajinkya Rahane-led team. Earlier, Mumbai Indians rode on half-centuries from Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan to post a challenging total of 167/7. Coming together after the early departure of Mumbai opener Evin Lewis, Yadav and Kishan put on an excellent batting display to add 129 runs between them off 82 deliveries. Yadav scored a whirlwind knock of 72 runs, smashing six boundaries and three hits into the stands during his 47-ball stay in the middle. Kishan posted a steady 58 off 42 balls which included four boundaries and three sixes. For Rajasthan, young West Indies pacer Jofra Archer was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/22. Fellow pacer Dhawal Kulkarni returned 2/32 while Jaidev Unadkat also got a wicket. Kulkarni struck the first blow for the hosts in the very first over when Lewis dragged an inside edge on to his stumps. But that was the only bit of success Rajasthan managed as Yadav and Kishan took their bowlers to the cleaners. However, while Yadav and Kishan laid the foundation for a big total in the vicinity of 200 runs, the rest of the Mumbai batting line-up failed to provide the big final push.
The Rajasthan bowlers did well to stage a strong comeback by picking up quick wickets in the late overs. Kulkarni finally brought the partnership to an end when Kishan botched up a cheeky reverse scoop from outside the off-stump, only to hand an easy skier to Rajasthan wicket-keeper Jos Buttler. Kishan’s dismissal seemed to break Mumbai’s momentum as Rajasthan staged a strong comeback with two quick wickets in a span of three balls.
Chennai Super Kings’ Deepak Chahar (left) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Deepak Hooda during their IPL match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad yesterday. (AFP)
