It was all smiles for the three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as they registered a comprehensive win over the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Those stunning shots were back from Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis as they decimated the KXIP bowlers completely. They registered the fourth-best opening partnership in the history of IPL and comfortably chased down 179 with 10 wickets in hand and 14 balls to spare.
The approach from Faf And Watson the teams have changed as even KXIP opted to bat first after winning the toss. And once again their openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal started off well as they added 61 runs for the opening partnership. Piyush Chawla gave the much-needed breakthrough to CSK picking Agarwal’s wicket after which Mandeep Singh smashed some huge sixes.
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However, Mandeep only managed to score 27 runs, but Rahul kept on doing well in the middle. Nicholas Pooran also showed aggression with the bat as he was scoring at a strike-rate of more than 200. But then, Shardul Thakur’s 18th over changed things.
The Caribbean southpaw was dismissed off the first ball and followed by the dismissed of Rahul on the very next ball owing to MS Dhoni’s diving catch. They ended at 178/4 in their 20 overs scoring only 26 runs in the last three overs.
CSK needed a good start which MS Dhoni had been talking right from the first game of the season and Watson was looking in a good nick from the word go. Faf du Plessis was always in great form and made sure that runs kept flowing throughout the innings. Soon the team’s score had gone past the 100-run mark and KXIP was looking hopeless. Their fielding was poor overall even as both Watson and Du Plessis played chanceless knocks. They went past their fifties in style as well and kept on plundering the KXIP bowling.
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With wickets not falling at any stage, they just kept finding gaps and finished the game in the 18th over itself with 10 wickets in hand. The duo of Du Plessis (87*) and Watson (83*) stitched a record opening stand for CSK in the IPL ever.
Hits
Shane Watson
After failing on a consistent basis in the first four matches of the IPL 2020, CSK opener, Shane Watson was desperate to score and he roared when it mattered the most. Watson amassed as many as 83 runs in just 53 deliveries with the help of 11 4s and three 6s.
Shardul Thakur
James Pattinson has never been a go-to bowler for CSK but tends to get a wicket and he didn’t disappoint when the team needed him. Bowling his third over he managed to scalp Nicholas Pooran and Manish Pandey on the back-to-back deliveries. He completed his spell after scalping 2 wickets and conceded just 29 runs.
Flops
Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan has played just two games in this season so far and he bowled seven over in which he has a conceded as many as 98 runs at an economy rate of 14. He is yet to take a wicket this season.
