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CSK proves indomitable; Billings, Jadeja and Bravo make big target easy
April 11, 2018
Coimbatore: On expected lines, it was a cracker of a match at Chepauk amidst all the drama outside the stadium, following the ongoing Cauvery Issue. Chennai Super Kings, returning after two years, won the toss and decided to field. It was only yellow as far as the eyes could see inside the MA Chidambaram Stadium with cricket lovers thronging the stands in spite of being in a situation where the match could have been called off due to protests.
KKR started off well with Chris Lynn hitting boundaries and sixes straight away though Narine got out quickly. He then shared a valuable partnership with Robin Uthappa but CSK ensured to tighten the screws by getting the wicket of hard hitting Lynn in the sixth over. The first innings was watched in silence by CSK fans after the destructive batting of Kolkata Knight Riders, especially Andre Russell who scored (88 n.o 1×4 11×6) helping the Knights post a massive 202/6.
Earlier, CSK took wickets at regular intervals which left the KKR team tottering at 89/5 in the 10th over. It was then that Andre Rusell walked in and started doing the repair work with skipper Dinesh Karthik. Once the match entered into the final stages the Caribbean batsman changed gears quickly by clearing the fence at will. Karthik and Russel shared a 76-run partnership in the middle.
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With a huge target to chase CSK was up to it right from the start reaching 30-0 in two overs, with Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu starting off well. The run rate which was affected a bit after Watson’s dismissal was covered well by Sam Billings. Dhoni couldn’t stay at the crease for long and so did Suresh Raina, but thanks to the blitz by Sam Billings who scored 56 off 23 deliveries by tearing the KKR bowling apart, except for Russell who contained batsmen to some extent. In the end it was Jadeja and Bravo who finished things with the Super Kings wrapping up another win.
The sloppy fielding of the Kolkata Knight Riders added to the fall, along with the form of their bowlers who were clueless against an experienced batting lineup which would have otherwise given a different result. CSK batsmen also rotated the strike regularly to keep the pressure at bay.
