In the 33rd game of IPL 2018, hosts Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) claimed an important 6-wicket victory (14 balls to spare) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Eden Gardens (Kolkata) on Thursday night. CSK managed to put 177/5 in 20 overs which were successfully chased down by KKR in 17.4 overs after losing 4 wickets.
KKR captain Dinesh Karthik decided to field first after winning the toss. While every CSK batsman got the good starts, they failed to capitalize for the big knocks. CSK had the opening partnership for 48 runs between Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis while their next wicket partnership was for 43-run between Watson and Suresh Raina.
Openers Watson and du Plessis scored 36 runs and 27 runs respectively while Raina was dismissed for 31 runs. In-from Ambati Rayudu was bowled by Sunil Narine after playing a 21-run knock off 17 balls.
Later, skipper MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja provided an important 54-run partnership for the fifth wicket that helped the visiting team to put a fighting total of 177/5 on the board at the end of 20 overs.
While skipper Dhoni played another important innings of unbeaten 43 runs off just 25 balls (only four and 4 sixes), Jadeja only managed to score 12 runs.
Among the KKR bowlers, Piyush Chawla (2/35) and Sunil Narine (2/20) got two wickets while Kuldeep Yadav (1/34) picked up the other wicket in that innings.
Chasing down that target, KKR lost their opener Chris Lynn (12 runs) in the very first over while another opener Sunil Narine was dropped twice back-to-back by Ravindra Jadeja during the second over. Narine later punished by scoring 32 runs before Jadeja finally dismissed him.
Also, Robin Uthappa (6 runs) and Rinku Singh (16 runs) were dismissed cheaply while KKR was struggling to make a good partnership to strengthen their grip in the game.
In next, skipper Dinesh Karthik put a brilliant match-winning unbroken 83-run partnership for the fifth wicket along with the set batsman Shubman Gill. While the SHubman was not out on 57 runs off 36 balls (6 fours and 2 sixes), skipper Karthik was unbeaten on 45 runs off just 18 balls (7 fours and only six). Their partnership helped the hosts to chase down a fighting total comfortably in 17.4 overs after losing 4 wickets.
Among the CSK bowlers, Lungi Ngidi (1/36), KM Asif (1/32), Ravindra Jadeja (1/39) and Harbhajan Singh (1/20) took one wicket each.
Here are some Twitter reactions to the game:
2 Catches Dropped In 2 Balls By Sir Jadeja. Don't Blame Me. It's Really Difficult To Focus On The Ball And Twitter At The Same Time. 🙄 #KKRvCSK #KKRvsCSK
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) May 3, 2018
Shubman Gill gets to bat in the top order for the first time this season and he delivers with a match-winning fifty.
He was sent in at No.7 four times and No. 6 once before getting to bat at No. 4 today. #KKRvCSK
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 3, 2018
Shubman Gill !!!! Another India U19 player lighting up the #IPL ……….
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 3, 2018
K Asif's inexperience coming thru, Gill's lack of experience no problem. Superb half century!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 3, 2018
I Feel Terribly Bad For MS Dhoni Haters. Every Match They Expect Him To Fail Like A Failure They Are, And Everytime He Ends-up Giving A Tight Slap Right On Their Face💪💪👏🙏 #KKRvCSK #KKRvsCSK #Dhoni
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) May 3, 2018
Dinesh Karthik is an amazing wicketkeeper, an amazing batsman, and an amazing team player. Sadly, he has to compete with Dhoni for position in the Indian team. Life is unfair.
— Rahul Raj (@x_rahulraj) May 3, 2018
*Dhoni Batting*
Dhoni making hand move to clear sight screen
Long on player moves to long off
Player: Ab sahi hai Dhoni bhai?
Dinesh: Dhoni Bhai mai captain hu
Dhoni: Bosdk mai sight screen ke liye ishara kar rha tha#KKRvCSK
— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) May 3, 2018
Pic 1 : how we used to look at Jadeja
Pic 2 : how Jadeja looks like now#KKRvCSK pic.twitter.com/laomszeBzq
— shubhmeme (@shubhmeme) May 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/992081423468294144
Dhoni plays well
Trollers – agli baar troll karenge
Dhoni again plays well
Trollers – agli baar to pakka
Dhoni yet again plays well
Trollers – 2019 world cup mein dekhenge 😡#KKRvCSK— Dr Gill (@ikpsgill1) May 3, 2018
Jadeja should be the brand ambassador for Polio campaign.
Coz, all it takes is 2 drops. #KKRvCSK
— Shridhar V (@iimcomic) May 3, 2018
How often will you see spinners bowling 18-19-20th overs in a T20 game? Also, wondering when #CSK will start thinking of sending Bravo ahead of Jadeja… #KKRvCSK #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 3, 2018
Normally the Eden Gardens is a sea of purple. But lots and lots of yellow in here. And they have had a bit to cheer already! #KKRvCSK
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 3, 2018
Dropped Narine Twice And Then Took His Wicket Himself. Sir Jadeja Is One True Force Who Balances The Forces Of The Entire Universe. 🙏#KKRvCSK #KKRvsCSK #SirJadeja
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) May 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/SirIshantSharma/status/992083648835923968
How Dhoni sees Jadeja
Vs
How everyone sees Jadeja.#KKRvCSK pic.twitter.com/c1UfHGP6MJ
— ch€t@n (@trust_my_lies) May 3, 2018
Csk saved Bravo for pace. KKR have brought back pace and kept spin back. Who blinks first? Jadeja or KKR?
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/SirIshantSharma/status/992079234175832064
Today's game wil b remembrd 4 Jadeja's bloopers.
Comng ahead of Bravo 2 bat n ensurd a possible 190 total ended up as 177.
Went a step furthr by dropping 2 back to back sitters against Narine n finally put the icing in the cake with an expensive spell#KKRvCSK#KKRvsCSK#IPL2018— Ambika (@apmahapatra) May 3, 2018
Dhoni to Jadeja after the match#KKRvCSK pic.twitter.com/EmReU1Pl7x
— RS (@AwaraRish) May 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/AndColorPockeT/status/992085030275973120
