IPL 2018: Suresh Raina Hails Team Performance After Impressive Win Over Royal Challengers Bangalore
Credits: BCCI

Chennai Super Kings stormed back to the top of the points table with a dominating win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday. The MS Dhoni-led side came up with a brilliant performance to crush the Virat Kohli-led side by six wickets.

Dhoni’s decision to bowl first was fully justified by his bowlers as they restricted the Royal Challengers to just 127 for 9. Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh starred with the ball, picking up three and two wickets respectively to make short work of the Royal Challengers’ innings.

The batsmen then totally complimented the bowlers’ effort, chasing down the total with two overs remaining. Cameos from Ambati Rayudu (25-ball 32), Suresh Raina (21-ball 25) and captain MS Dhoni’s 23-ball 31 too the two-time IPL champions home comfortably.

Asked to bat first, the Royal Challengers were off to a disastrous start as Brendon McCullum departed after scoring just 5. However, a 42-run stand between Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli calmed the nerves and steadied the ship. Patel did the bulk of scoring during the stand while Kohli contributed only 8.  Jadeja then opened the floodgates by castling Kohli.

Chennai, Ravindra Jadeja IPL 2018
Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets against RCB in Pune. Image Courtesy: BCCI

From thereon, the Royal Challengers batting lineup fell like a pack of cards. The middle-order completely failed to deliver as AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Colin de Grandhomme were out for single digits. At one point, it looked as if the visitors would not even cross the 100-run mark after they were reduced to 89 for 8. However, Tim Southee played a handy knock of 35 to give the bowlers something to bowl at. Patel top-scored for Royal Challengers with 53.

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In reply, Super Kings were off to a poor start as they lost in-form Shane Watson for just 11. However, Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu all but sealed the game by adding 44 runs for the second wicket. Royal Challengers took three quick wickets but it did not make much difference.

IPL 2018: Suresh Raina Hails Team Performance After Impressive Win Over Royal Challengers Bangalore
Credits: BCCI

MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo steadied the ship and brought down the equation to 22 off the last 3 overs. Dhoni then hit Yuzvendra Chahal for three sixes in an over to take his team home with two overs remaining.

Following the game, Suresh Raina took to Twitter to laud the perfect team effort, tweeting:

“Brilliant beginning, Impactful Interval and a fearless finish!! A total team effort to win against @RCBTweets this evening in Pune. Keep the whistles blowing!!”

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