Chennai Super Kings failed to complete their third consecutive heart-stopping chase tonight against the Kings XI Punjab team at the PCA Stadium, Mohali. Earlier, it was the Gaylestorm that rocked the Chennai team to take Punjab to a total near 200. Once Sam Billings got out, the hopes of this heavy chase diminished for Dhoni’s team untill MS Dhoni’s best in the IPL brought them very close.
Here are a few major reasons of the loss –
Mohit Sharma’s Last over
When the last over of the match began, Chennai Super Kings needed 17 runs. MS Dhoni was hobbling but he had striked the ball cleanly so far. So much that he reminded of the MS Dhoni of the old. Mohit Sharma was handed the responsibility to defend the total against MS Dhoni and DJ Bravo.
Mohit Sharma began the over with a good yorker. Bravo had one aim in the mind, to give the strike to MS for the remaining ball, which he achieved. The second ball was the perfect wide yorker that just within the limit to be deemed the legitimate delivery. Dhoni could not score off it.
Next ball, Mohit tried the same ball, this went just a bit too wide. Umpire added an extra run to the tally. Dhoni now had the measure of Mohit’s line. He squeezed the next ball through the packed offside field to get a boundary. Crowd got on its feet. CSK needed 11 off three balls.
Mohit Sharma determined to keep his head high, dished out another perfect wide yorker which Dhoni could not connect with. The target now came down to 11 from two balls. Next ball was the replica of what had been bowled so far, Dhoni connected but only a dot ball. The match was over as CSK needed 11 runs from the last ball.
MS Dhoni was not done though. He smashed the last ball for a six which acted as a consolation for the CSK fans. But it was Mohit Sharma’s wonderful last over that lost it for CSK.
Chris Gayle’s storming arrival in IPL 2018
Chris Gayle was included into the side in place of Marcus Stoinis, he proved as to why he is known as the Universe Boss in the world of cricket. Chris was sent in to open the batting with Lokesh Rahul. The first ball which he faced was hit for a four through the off-side off Harbhajan Singh.
Gayle again targeted the veteran Indian off-spinner in his next over, scoring a four and a six in the fourth over of the innings. Shardul Thakur, who was introduced into the attack in the fifth over, induced an edge off Gayle’s bat, but the ball went in between wicket-keeper Dhoni and a wide slip to the third-man boundary.
Gayle was brutal against Deepak Chahar when he hit 22 runs off the Super Kings’ pacer in the last over of the powerplay. Kings XI Punjab had scored 75-0 in the powerplay. Gayle had contributed 46* (21) in the powerplay. He eventually walked back to the pavilion in the 12th over after scoring 63 (33) with the help of seven fours and four sixes.
Ambati Rayudu’s Runout
The veteran T20 batsman had again opened with Shane Watson. At the start, Rayudu did not look in the best possible touch as he had in the previous few matches for the Chennai Super Kings team. Still, Rayudu managed to stay out there tonight without giving his wicket away.
By the end of 13th over, he was batting on 43 from 31 balls. He had got himself settled and was looking ready to blast off. He made his intentions clear as he smashed a six over the square leg on the bowling of Barinder Sran.
On the fourth ball of the over, Rayudu pushed the ball to extra cover. Punjab captain Ravi Ashwin alert there swooped in a flash and scored a direct hit at the striker’s end after Dhoni sent Rayudu back. Rayudu had given up the hope, he was run out for 49 (35)
