IPL 2018: Stephen Fleming Thanks Pune Fans for 'Adopting' CSK 'Warmly'

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach, Stephen Fleming recently thanked Pune fans for the warmth and love after their last match at the Maharastra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Sunday (May 20 0night.

Meanwhile, Chennai have already qualified for the playoffs and will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday (May 22).

However, after a stunning defeat against Delhi Daredevils (DD), they came back to winning ways against KXIP. A clinical CSK team thrashed visitors by five wickets – to finish the league on a high.

Punjab had the worst possible start losing the first three wickets within 16 runs. Their big guns in the form of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle were already back in the hut.

However, some timely partnerships in the middle-order ensured they give something to their bowlers. Karun Nair made amends for a bad season with a fifty while Manoj Tiwari (35) played the second handle. As a result, Punjab posted 153 runs on the board with David Miller also contributing with 24.

South Africa seamer, Lungi Ngidi, had his best game in this edition, as he returned with four for 10 in his four overs. The tall and lanky pacer was brilliant, as he derailed the Punjab batting line-up.

Chennai, in reply, got off to a healthy start, courtesy Suresh Raina, after losing their top-order early.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni made some changes in the batting-order pushing Harbhajan Singh and Deepak Chahar up the order. Although Harbhajan failed to utilise the opportunity, Chahar used it to full.

The bowling all-rounder clobbered the ball to all parts of the ground notching 39 runs off 20 balls including three sixes. Raina (61*) saw his team partneringM Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on 16 runs.

Fleming thanks the Pune crowd:

Meanwhile, Chennai had to shift their base from Chennai to Pune in the wake of the Cauvery Water Dispute. They played only one game at Chepauk, known to be the den of the yellow brigade.

Although they suffered in the first few games, CSK players adjusted to it quite beautifully. The crowd was also terrific turning out in huge numbers and supporting the home franchise.

The former Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming thanked Pune crowd for showing such warmth and adopting them very well.

“Our support wherever we have been this year has been sensational but a special thank you to the people of Pune for adopting us so warmly this season. Winning your home games is vital#whistlepodupune,” Fleming tweeted.

Our support wherever we have been this year has been sensational but a special thank you to the people of Pune for adopting us so warmly this season. Winning your home games is vital??#whistlepodupune

— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) May 21, 2018

Chennai will look to continue the momentum and lift the much-coveted trophy this season. The players will be desperate to win the title after returning from a suspension of two years.

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