The 39th match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore went down to the wire. MS Dhoni’s blistering knock of 84 runs from 48 balls went in vain as RCB won the match by one run.
Turning Point of the Match:
36 runs were needed off the final two overs. Dhoni decided not to take singles and took the onus on his shoulders. Subsequently, CSK required 26 runs from the last over, which was bowled by Umesh Yadav. Dhoni was able to get 16 runs from the first three balls with the help of two sixes and one four, which included a 111 meter six.
IPL 2019: Chennai Super Kings innings:
Chennai Super Kings got off to a worse possible start in their run-chase. Dale Steyn bowled a double strike first over to put the visitors behind the eighth-ball. Shane Watson continued his dismal form going and Suresh Raina was done in by a brilliant yorker.
Subsequently, Faf du Plessis tried to pull a short ball from Umesh Yadav but could only get a top edge. Kedar Jadhav also went back to the dressing room when he tried to play the ball with a cross-batted shot and ballooned the catch to AB de Villiers. Yadav scalped two wickets to put RCB right on top as CSK was tottering at 28-4.
However, the Chennai Super Kings never surrender till their captain MS Dhoni is at the crease. The talisman was able to hit the ground running as he got a quick start. Furthermore, Ambati Rayudu was able to change gears against Umesh Yadav.
However, Rayudu was bowled by Yuzvendra Chahal just when the former was getting a move on. Furthermore, a misunderstanding between Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni led to the downfall of the former.
MS Dhoni kept Chennai Super Kings in the contest as he continued to get the boundaries at the right time. Dhoni also brought his 4000 runs as captain of CSK and 23rd IPL fifty.
IPL 2019: Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings:
The hosts could not get off to a good start as they lost their in-form captain Virat Kohli after MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to bowl first. Deepak Chahar bowled the fifth stump line and Kohli went for the drive only to a get faint edge to MS Dhoni. AB de Villiers, who was making his comeback tried to big from the get-go but could not hit the ground running. RCB was able to get 49 runs in the powerplay overs.
The talisman could not get to the pitch of the ball and mistimed his shot to long-off whereas Faf du Plessis took a simple catch. However, Parthiv Patel was able to hit the straps as the southpaw batsman brought his 13th IPL fifty. Patel was able to rotate the strike at regular intervals and also got his boundaries at the right time.
Akshdeep Nath once again could not make the most of his start as he scored 24 runs from 20 balls. However, the in-form batsman Moeen Ali was pushed down to number six. Ali provided the finishing touches as he scored 16-ball 26 with the help of five fours to help his team post 161 runs.
On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja and Deepak Chahar scalped two wickets each. Jadeja conceded 29 runs in his four overs quota whereas Chahar gave away 25 runs.
Dwayne Bravo who was also making a comeback into the playing XI snared two wickets and conceded 34 runs in his four overs.
