In the 46th game of IPL 2018, the hosts Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched a comfortable 8-wicket victory (with 6 balls to spare) against the in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium (Pune) on Sunday evening. While SRH scored 179/4 in 20 overs, CSK successfully chased down that target in 19 overs after losing only 2 wickets.
CSK captain MS Dhoni decided to field first after winning the toss. SRH lost their opener Alex Hales (2 runs) very early but another opener Shikhar Dhawan controlled the innings very well with the help of skipper Kane Williamson. They put a crucial 123 runs partnership for the second wicket which led the team to put a good total on the board.
Both completed their half-centuries as Dhawan scored 79 runs off 40 balls (10 fours and 3 sixes) while Williamson scored 51 runs off 39 balls (5 fours and 2 sixes). After a superb century partnership, both the set batsmen were dismissed in back-to-back deliveries which held back SRH from the big total.
At the late moment, Deepak Hooda played a firing cameo knock of unbeaten 21 runs off just 11 balls (one four and one six) which helped the team to put 179/4 on the board at the end of 20 overs.
Among the CSK bowlers, Shardul Thakur got two wickets while Deepak Chahar and Dwayne Bravo picked up one wicket each.
Chasing down that target, CSK openers Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu superbly performed which made easier to chase the target. They put a brilliant 134 runs partnership for the opening wicket which almost crushed the hope of SRH team.
While Watson was dismissed on 57 runs off 35 balls (5 fours and 3 sixes), Rayudu carried the innings till the end and completed a deserving century as he was not out on 100 runs off 62 balls. Among the other CSK batsmen, Suresh Raina was dismissed on just 2 runs while skipper MS Dhoni was unbeaten on 20 runs (14 balls). CSK chased down the target in 19 overs after losing just 2 wickets.
Only Sandeep Sharma (1/36) got the wicket among the SRH bowlers while Watson was run-out.
Here are the Twitter reactions:
I am overjoyed for Ambati Rayudu. Was asked to perform a different role this year and has played it stirringly.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 13, 2018
Jug jug jao Rayudu @RayuduAmbati
Well played boy 👏👏👏👏#CSKvSRH #CSK #WhistlePodu #CSKFan @ChennaiIPL @msdhoni @ImRaina #BESTvsBEST #IPL2018 #Dhoni #Raina #WhistlePoduExpress #IpLFantasyLeague— Crazy fan girl👧 (@SumaiyaKashfa) May 13, 2018
Deserved ton for Ambati Rayudu! Terrific from the CSK opener. #IPL2018 #CSKvSRH
— rohit sankar (@imRohit_SN) May 13, 2018
This is brilliant from Ambati Rayudu. What an @IPL he has had. Opened doors to the national team as well.@ChennaiIPL on a roll here against top bowling side.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) May 13, 2018
Chasing 180, losing only 2 wickets, with an over remaining is massive win for CSK. What a season this is turning out for @RayuduAmbati!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 13, 2018
In two consecutive games #SRH’s bowling has gone for plenty. #DD in the previous game…#CSK in this one. Also, in both #CSKvSRH games, plenty of runs were scored. #CSKvsRR
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 13, 2018
What a knock, to smack the best bowling attack in the tournament all around the park, scoring your maiden IPL ton in the process, take a bow @RayuduAmbati! Well played, well played.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 13, 2018
The ball didn't swing at all. And that took a lot of sting out of the #SRH attack. Became a beautiful batting surface.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 13, 2018
Shikhar Dhawan fans right now. #CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/P2SBQW7uJd
— Swapnil Suryawanshi (@swapnil_bs) May 13, 2018
Most fifty-plus scores by a captain in an IPL season:
11 – Virat Kohli, RCB 2016
9 – David Warner, SRH 2016
7 – David Warner, SRH 2015
7* – KANE WILLIAMSON, SRH 2018#IPL2018 #CSKvSRH— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) May 13, 2018
SRH to CSK, after being unable to defend a target. #CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/899TonvA3W
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) May 13, 2018
Pandey dropping Dhoni like his form.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 13, 2018
Dhoni representing the entire CSK fandom's approach towards Sir Jadeja 🙊😂😂 #CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/f5vooU901f
— Diksha (@Mahii7_) May 13, 2018
Manish Pandey is second biggest scam after demonetisation. #CSKvSRH
— Swapnil Suryawanshi (@swapnil_bs) May 13, 2018
