In the final of the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the CSK skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and asked the SRH skipper Kane Williamson to bat. SRH scored 178/6 in 20 overs while CSK chased down that target successfully in 18.3 overs after losing just 2 wickets.
Yusuf Pathan played a good role in the late innings along with Carlos Brathwaite to secure a fighting total on the board. Pathan remained unbeaten on 45 runs off just 25 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes while Brathwaite scored 21 runs off just 11 balls (3 sixes) and was dismissed on the final delivery in that innings. SRH finally managed to score 178/6 at the end of 20 overs.
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Among the CSK bowlers, Lungi Ngidi (1/26), Shardul Thakur (1/31), Karn Sharma (1/25), Dwayne Bravo (1/46) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/24) all got one wicket each.
In reply, CSK chased down that target easily thanks to the superb unbeaten century knock by the opener Shane Watson. While they lost another opener Faf du Plessis (10 runs) very early, Suresh Raina and Watson partnership helped the team to clinch a comfortable victory. Watson-Raina put a 117-run partnership for the second wicket while Raina scored 32 runs off 24 balls with 3 fours and only six.
CSK chased down that target in 18.3 overs after losing just 2 wickets.
Among the SRH bowlers, only Sandeep Sharma (1/52) and Carlos Brathwaite (1/27) claimed one wicket each.
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Shane Watson (CSK)
Opening the batting along with Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson took around 10 balls to get off the mark, but after his first boundary, there was no looking back for him as he smashed as many as 117* runs in just 57 balls with the help of 11 fours and 8 sixes. He stayed till the end and made sure that CSK to go over the line with around 9 balls to spare. He was even named as ‘Player of the match’ as well for his match-winning performance.
Suresh Raina (CSK)
Coming in, to bat, at no. 3 after Du Plessis’ dismissal, Suresh Raina stitched a strong partnership with Watson for the second wicket of 117 runs before getting out in the 14th over of the innings. He amassed as many as 32 runs off 24 balls with the help of 3 fours and a six.
Yusuf Pathan (SRH)
Coming in, to bat, at no. 5 after the dismissal of Kane Williamson in the 13th over, Yusuf Pathan helped his team to reach a respectable total of 178/6. He scored 45* runs off 25 balls with the help of 25 balls.
