IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings Finish in Top-two After Five-Wicket Win Over Punjab

It was Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who won the toss and opted to field. Punjab got off to the worst possible start losing their first three wickets for just 16 runs.

It was a sensational display of bowling by Super Kings. Especially on a day when Punjab needed to beat Chennai by more than 52 runs, the loss of the three most important batsmen in the team almost ended the challenge of Punjab.

It was Lungisani Ngidi, who provided the maiden breakthrough in the form of Chris Gayle’s wicket. Deepak Chahar then came back to produce the second wicket when he sends back Aaron Finch for only six runs.

It was a great delivery from Ngidi which sent back Rahul to the pavilion. It was indeed a special delivery which breached through the defence and disturbed Rahul’s timbers.

With the score at 16 for three, it was some good batting by Manoj Tiwary and David Miller. The duo shared an impressive partnership before the dismissal of Miller. Tiwary was also dismissed in quick succession.

From there on, it was Karun Nair who played a terrific knock which propelled Punjab to a score of 150 in the end.

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Nair struck a magnificent half-century which included three fours and four hits over the fence.

Eventually, Punjab was skittled out for 153 in the final over. Lungisani Ngii produced a sensational spell and ended up bagging four wickets for just 10 runs in his allotted four overs.

Chennai needed to get off to a steady start on a difficult wicket. In the absence of Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis opened the innings with Ambati Rayudu. Chennai also lost three wickets in very quick time. Rayudu was dismissed for a solitary run off three deliveries by Mohit Sharma.

After smashing three boundaries during his knock of 14 of 15 deliveries, du Plessis was dismissed by Ankit Rajpoot.

With the score reading 27 for three, Harbhajan Singh was elevated up the order. He missed quite a few and couldn’t quite get the impetus which was required. After a brief partnership with Raina, it was Kings XI skipper Ashwin brought about an end to his inn of ings.

Yet again, Dhoni promoted Deepak Chahar up the order and the fast bowler didn’t disappoint. He struck some lusty blows during his sensational knock of 39 off 20 deliveries which included four and three sixes.

In the end, CSK skipper MS Dhoni smashed a quickfire 16 off seven deliveries which included a four and a six.

Eventually, Chennai chased the total down in the first delivery of the final over. Chennai eventually won by five wickets with five deliveries to spare.

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Brief Scores

Kings XI Punjab 153 all-out in 19.4 overs (Karun Nair 54, Manoj Tiwary 34, Lungisani Ngidi 4/10)

Chennai Super Kings 159/5 in 19.1 overs (Suresh Raina 61*, Deepak Chahar 39, Ankit Rajpoot 2/19)

Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets (with 5 to deliveries spare)