IPL 2018: Qualifier 1st, Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Statistical Highlights

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stormed into the final of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) with a stunning two-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first Qualifier at iconic Wankhede.

Well, it looked like a lost battle for the Super Kings after they were reduced to 57 for five and later 113 for eight in the 18th over in pursuit of 140.

However, Faf du Plessis remained till the end, scoring an unbeaten 67 to take his side home with five balls remaining.

Earlier in the game, Carlos Brathwaite’s 43-run knock had helped the Sunrisers post a respectable 139 for seven. The Sunrisers kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and were reeling at 88 for six before Brathwaite played the handy knock.

With the game now done and dusted, here is a look at some interesting numbers and stats:

1. Deepak Chahar gave the Super Kings a flying start by dismissing Shikhar Dhawan on the first ball of the match. It was the first instance of a wicket falling on the first ball of an IPL knockout/playoff match.

2. The two-wicket win is the narrowest win in terms of the wicket by a side in an IPL knockout/playoff game.

3. Harbhajan Singh did not get a single over to bowl during the game. It was only the second time that the off-spinner could not bowl in a full 20-over game.

The first instance happened during Mumbai Indians’ (MI) opening game of the 2010 season against Rajasthan Royals (RR).

4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni came out to bat after just 3.3 overs. It was his third earliest arrival at the pitch in an IPL game. He came out to bat at No.3 after 1.3 overs for the Super Kings against Delhi Daredevils in 2010.

In 2016, he came out to bat at number five for Rising Pune Supergiant(s) (now defunct) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) after 2.3 overs.

5. Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu now have three ducks in the IPL playoff/knockout matches which are the joint most for any player.

This was the 9th innings in an IPL playoff/knockout for Dhawan while 15th for Rayudu. Suresh Raina also has three ducks in the 20 innings in the IPL playoff/knockout contests.

6. The loss extended Sunrisers’ losing streak to four games. This is their joint longest losing streak in the IPL leveling their previous records between 2015 and 2016 editions.

They had ended the 2015 season with two losses and started 2016 with two defeats.

7. Rashid Khan conceded only 11 runs off his four overs against Chennai Super Kings. It is the most economical figure by any player in an IPL playoff/knockout match.

Axar Patel also had figures of two for 11 in the 2014 IPL final against Kolkata Knight Riders while playing for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).