IPL 2018 : Final - Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Five Game-Changing Moments

After two months of riveting action, 60 hard fought games, it was MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings who lift the coveted Indian Premier League Trophy, with the help of their thumping eight-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

It was the old warhorse, Shane Watson who was sensational on the given day, as the Aussie single-handedly took the men in yellow to their third IPL win.

Here’s a look at the five game-changing moments.

Kane Williamson’s run-scoring spree

After losing the wickets of Goswami and Dhawan, captain marvellous Kane Williamson took it upon himself to lay a solid platform for the rest of the batsman behind him.

Orange Cap holder, Williamson, ended his IPL campaign this season with 735 runs to his name. Williamson scored a 36-ball 47 which consisted of five breezy boundaries and a couple of maximums.

Yusuf-Brathwaite onslaught

Sunrisers needed a final flourish with the untimely wickets of Hooda and Shakib al Hasan. Yusuf Pathan and Carlos Brathwaite provided the lusty blows in the end.

Experienced Yusuf, playing for his fourth IPL trophy smacked a 25-ball 45, which consisted of four boundaries and a couple of maximums.

Also, he was ably supported by Carlos Brathwaite who notched a priceless cameo of 21 off 11 balls, taking the Hyderabad score towards a par score of 178.

Lungi Ngidi spell

Interestingly, South African star, Lungi Ngidi, yet again came up with a splendid spell of bowling, conceding only 26 runs in his four overs.

Also, Ngidi was brilliant at the death, along with Shardul Thakur, to help restrict SRH to a nominal score. Their spells made a difference of almost 15-20 runs in the end.

Shane Watson’s Bossy knock

When we look back at the finals of IPL 2018, it was Shane Watson who made the difference in the end. Initially, the retired Australian appeared rusty, as he consumed ten balls to open his account.

But, once he did, he was unstoppable, as he struck his second century this season, fourth in IPL career, to help CSK cruise past the required score with overs to spare.

Watson, striking at a rate of 205, remained unbeaten on 117 off 57 balls, in a knock which consisted of 11 boundaries and eight sixes.

Additionally, Watson also suffered a hamstring injury midway through the innings, to make it even a more special knock.

Sandeep Sharma over

The watershed moment for Watson and CSK during the run chase came during Sandeep Sharma’s over which went for a whopping 27 runs and killed the game for Sunrisers instantly.

Also, Watson smacked three consecutive sixes off Sandeep Sharma, apart from the two boundaries he hit. Sunrisers could not quite recover from the onslaught from Watson in the 13th over.