Riding on the blistering 66-run knock from Brendon McCullum and a superb spell of spin bowling from Ravindra Jadeja, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) thrashed Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 97 runs in the 24th match of the IPL 8 at Chepauk. With this win, CSK now lead the points table with a total of five wins under their belt.
Chasing a humongous total of 193, KXIP were off to a worst possible start as they lost their three key batsmen Virender Sehwag, Shaun Marsh and skipper George Bailey inside the first seven overs courtesy some good bowling from both CSK’s pacers and spinners. Murali Vijay showed some fight to build the innings but he felt short of partners and as a result of that, KXIP stumbled to 95/9 in their allotted 20 overs, their second lowest total in eight IPL seasons. Jadeja came in to the party for the first time with the ball in the tournament and took three crucial wickets of Bailey, David Miller and Mitchell Johnson and bowled at an outstanding economy of 5.50. Ashish Nehra, who has so far been CSK’s best bowler in the tournament, bowled at an economy of 4.00 and took two wickets including that of dangerous Shaun Marsh.
Earlier, CSK skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat on the flat deck of Chepauk. McCullum and Dwayne Smith got them off to a flier as the duo added 50 runs inside the first 5 overs before seamer Anureet Singh struck to get rid of Smith on 26. McCullum then got a good support from Suresh Raina and they stitched a partnership of 66 in 7.3 overs before the former brought up his half-century. McCullum, who was awarded the man of the match, scored 66 off 44 balls with eight 4s and three 6s before Axar Patel got the better of him in the 13th over. Raina didn’t punish Kings XI as severely as McCullum did, but after his exit MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, who came in ahead of Dwayne Bravo and Faf du Plessis, finished the innings with a 48-run stand in 28 deliveries. Jadeja scored 18 whereas Dhoni remained unbeaten on 41 off just 27 balls with two 4s and two 6s.
CSK now face KKR on April 28 at Chepauk whereas KXIP, who are currently placed at the bottom of the points table, go one on one against SRH on April 27 at Mohali.