In the 20th game of IPL 2018, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched a thrilling 4-run victory against the hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Uppal, Hyderabad) on Sunday afternoon. CSK put a total of 182/3 in 20 overs which SRH replied with 178/6 at the end of 20 overs.
SRH skipper Kane Williamson decided to field first after winning the toss. CSK had the slow start as their openers departed cheaply. CSK only scored 27/1 in the first 6 overs while the openers Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis were dismissed for just 9 and 11 runs respectively.
Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu put a brilliant thrashing 112 runs partnership for the third wicket. Rayudu played a blistering knock of 79 runs off just 37 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes before getting run-out. Raina took the responsibility to finish the game along with the skipper MS Dhoni. While Raina completed his half-century as he was unbeaten for 54 off 43 balls, Dhoni played a superb fast cameo knock with unbeaten 25 runs off 12 balls. At the end of the 20 overs, CSK put 182/3 on the board.
Among the SRH bowlers, only Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/22) and Rashid Khan (1/49) were able to pick any wicket in this game.
Chasing down the target, SRH lost their top-order batsmen quickly as opener Ricky Bhui and no.3 batsman Manish Pandey were dismissed for the duck while no.4 batsman Deepak Hooda scored only 1 run. From 22/3 in 4.2 overs, skipper Kane Williamson revamped the innings with middle order batsmen Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan. After Shakib was dismissed for 24 off 19 balls, Williamson put a remarkable smashing 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Yusuf Pathan.
While Williamson was dismissed for 84 off 51 balls (5 fours and 5 sixes), Yusuf Pathan played a superb 45 runs knock off just 27 balls (1 four and 4 sixes).
In the end, Rashid Khan played a mind-blowing unbeaten 17 runs knock off just 4 balls but the team failed to reach the target as they were just 4 runs short of CSK’s total. In the last over, SRH needed 19 runs but failed to claim that. Rashid Khan faced the final ball where SRH needed 6 runs for victory, but experienced Bravo held the nerve.
Among the CSK bowlers, Deepak Chahar (3/15) took 3 wickets while Shardul Thakur (1/45), Karn Sharma (1/30) and Dwayne Bravo (1/37) picked up one wicket each.
Here are some Twitter reactions to this match:
Close call for CSK, but SRH not shamed by defeat. Doughty run chase. Terrific match!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 22, 2018
Rayudu garu is a smash hit in his home city playing for Chennai
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/TrollCinemaOff/status/988029364171300864
He is old da.
He is Tuk Tuk da.
He is into late 30s da.
He is not a finisher anymore da.
He is injured da.But But But… He is Thala Dhoni da !!! Yet another contribution 25*(12) #Dhoni #Yellove #WhistlePodu @ChennaiIPL #SRHvCSK
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) April 22, 2018
Six 50+ scores for CSK this IPL – all by different players:
1st match – Bravo 68
2nd match – Billings 56
3rd match – Dhoni 79*
4th match – Watson 106
5th match – Rayudu 79, Raina 54*No doubts, the best batting side! #SRHvCSK
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 22, 2018
Stirring fightback by SRH after a disastrous start. Humdinger finish if Williamson and/or Pathan bat through
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 22, 2018
Well played Ambati Rayudu, he's done every job @ChennaiIPL have asked him to do. Proper team player.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 22, 2018
Ambati has been #CSK’s most consistent batsman this season….has been pushed up and down a bit but he’s not let that affect his form. Brilliant. #SRHvCSK #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 22, 2018
Wow! Never seen someone behave the way Rayudu did after getting run out after having played probably the knock of his IPL career
What a brilliant gesture that#SRHvCSK— Abhay (@ImAbhay3) April 22, 2018
Raina and Rayudu cutting loose, turnaround in match dynamics happening… #CSKvSRH
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 22, 2018
Stirring fightback by SRH after a disastrous start. Humdinger finish if Williamson and/or Pathan bat through
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 22, 2018
Dhoni has always backed swing bowlers. Transformed some of them into International bowlers too. Deepak Chahar is in right hands. Wish him well. #SRHvCSK #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 22, 2018
First time in five seasons SRH are playing a match without Warner and Dhawan. #SRHvCSK
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 22, 2018
Bhuvi shows his class. Watson gone.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/Fancricket12/status/988055532236718081
Short balls haven't worked yet CSK have bowled them too often.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/JAnbazhagan/status/988058361127100418
Still Have Any Doubts Why Sir Ravindra Jadeja Is In The Team? #SRHvCSK #SRHvsCSK #CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/xGxlfTdM99
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 22, 2018
What a knock from #Kanewillamson ,a complete package, arguably the most complete batsman of the modern era, and that.. across formats 👍🏼🏏☝🏻#SRHvsCSK #IPL2018
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) April 22, 2018
