A brutal 181-run opening stand between Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis ensured that Chennai Super Kings [CSK] snapped their three-match losing streak with a ten-wicket drubbing of Kings XI Punjab [KXIP].
Chasing 179, CSK needed a good start from their opening duo of Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis, and the intent was clearly visible from Watson from the very first over.
Watson smashed Sheldon Cottrell for three boundaries in his first two overs before taking Harpreet Brar downtown for a four to race to 20 off 16 balls.
Faf du Plessis too joined the party as he smashed four boundaries off Chris Jordan’s first over to ensure that for the first time in the tournament, CSK made optimum use of the powerplay by scoring 60 runs.
Birthday boy Chris Jordan was once again greeted with back-to-back boundaries by a Vintage Watson as he completed his 20th IPL fifty.
The carnage continued throughout the innings as the duo brought up the 150-run-stand with disdain to eventually break CSK’s record of highest opening stand, surpassing the 159-run partnership between Mike Hussey and Murali Vijay in the 2011 IPL final against RCB.
And, to further stamp their authority, Du Plessis finished off the proceedings with a couple of audacious strokes
KL scores his slowest IPL fifty as KXIP scored 4-178 vs CSK
Batting first, the opening duo of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal once again continued with their brilliant run-of-form, taking the attack to CSK’s new-ball bowlers, especially Sam Curran.
The duo brought up their 50-run-stand in 7th over and in the process they also completed 350 partnership runs this season. The partnership was eventually broken by Piyush Chawla on the very first delivery of his spell after Mayank mistimed a pull-shot straight to Sam Curran at deep mid-wicket. Mandeep Singh impressed in his first IPL 2020 outing during his enterprising 16-ball 27 as he took the attack to Piyush Chawla, smashing him for two sixes in the 11th over.
Ravindra Jadeja, however, brought an end to his innings in the next over thanks to a fine low catch by Ambati Rayudu. Jadeja bowled really well today but he couldn’t complete his spell on a good note as Nicholas Pooran laid on him in his last two deliveries, smashing him for a four and six.
Nicholas Pooran, for the first time this IPL, looked in the mood today as he stroked some monstrous sixes during his 17-ball 33 before a stunning catch by Ravindra Jadeja at deep midwicket brought an end to his innings. KXIP lost two in two as KL Rahul (63 off 52 balls) failed to slice the ball to third-man and MS Dhoni completed a brilliant catch to add another feather to his cap as he notched up his 100th catch as keeper in IPL cricket- only the second to do so after Dinesh Karthik (103).
Thakur nearly got the hattrick but the 1st slip was too deep to take the outside edge.
Sarfaraz Khan scored two boundaries during his 9-ball 14 but the lack of intent by KL Rahul throughout his knock and the wicker of a dangerous-looking Nicholas Pooran meant that KXIP could not make use of the platform, eventually finishing at 4-178 in 20 overs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to CSK’s 10-wicket-win over KXIP:
Fantastic come back by #csk bowling was so much better on this flat deck. #Shardul #watson #faf
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 4, 2020
An emphatic win by @ChennaiIPL in Match 18 of #Dream11IPL.
Second 10 wickets win for #CSK. Their first one was also against KXIP in 2013.
They are also the first team in #Dream11IPL 2020 to win batting second in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/qh77Wrc27J
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 4, 2020
Dhoni doesn’t have much choice than to back #Watson once more and he played a match winning innings. Not for the first time . #CSKvKXIP #IPL2020
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) October 4, 2020
Welcome back @ChennaiIPL Super win tonight and well played @faf1307 and @ShaneRWatson33 Guess the selection team know best..:-) #iwaswrong #notaselector #opinions😂
— Simon Doull (@Sdoull) October 4, 2020
That’s a much better performance from @ChennaiIPL. Hopefully they can get on a bit of a winning run now and then peak at the right time
— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel) October 4, 2020
WINTAGE YELLOVE! 🦁💛#WhistlePodu #WhistleFromHome #Yellove #KXIPvCSK pic.twitter.com/ebmiJSeU79
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 4, 2020
Kings from Chennai have arrived in the UAE. #CSK roared. And how. #KXIPvCSK
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 4, 2020
@ChennaiIPL finishing of in style !! What’s display of strength of character @faf1307 @ShaneRWatson33 !! Amazing !! Totally outplayed & outclassed @lionsdenkxip … tough luck tonight .!!#CSKvsKXIP #IPL2020 https://t.co/hwuomH6ipO
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) October 4, 2020
Runs from the openers and #CSK look a different team altogether!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 4, 2020
Well this is a way to make a statement! @ChennaiIPL are back baby!! #IPL2020 #CSKvsKXIP
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) October 4, 2020
And that’s the way to do it 💪 Superb Innings 🏏 All my love to @chennaiipl . Great WIN, well played boys! 💛 congratulations & love all the way to Dubai 🇦🇪 #yellove #whistlepodu
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) October 4, 2020
Jai and Veeru all over again….. #CSK
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 4, 2020
Kings XI Punjab have not looked like taking a single wicket. They have problems aplenty, mainly because of the lack of options. They need to be better at the next mega auction #KXIPvCSK #KXIPvsCSK #CSKvsKXIP #KXIP #csk #ipl2020 #cricket
— Chandresh Narayanan (@chand2579) October 4, 2020
Look forward to next season when Chris Gayle will be old enough to play for CSK.#ipl2020 #CSKvsKXIP
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) October 4, 2020
Young guns are performing remarkably well in many @IPL teams, but when it comes to @ChennaiIPL the older players are in no way behind in performance. Thats the beauty of this game. Wow 150 runs opening partnership 👏 👏 Take a bow!! #Watson #FafDuplessis #CSKvKXIP #IPL2020
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) October 4, 2020
200 bat first wicket this one. Hitting through the line.
CSK back in the business.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) October 4, 2020
Well this has been a different gear from Faf and Watto tonight. Can @ChennaiIPL get the balance right between the first half of their batting and the finishing touch.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) October 4, 2020
That is some response from @ChennaiIPL – And from the department which had to fire.. As they so often do when it’s most needed.. #CSKvsKXIP
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) October 4, 2020
Game is on @ChennaiIPL , @ShaneRWatson33 & @faf1307 looking good brothers 💪 #WhistlePodu #CSK
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) October 4, 2020
Romba Nalla.
Thokar khaakar hi aadmi Thakur banta hai. Great bowling in the end from Chennai.
And What a start with the bat.
Loving it. This is what was missing.#KXIPvCSK— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 4, 2020
Scene in strategic timeout, when CSK crosses 36 runs in powerplay. 😭 #IPL pic.twitter.com/YSZQkyKC64
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 4, 2020
One sliced shot to third man for 4, another 4 from a stroke resembling a forehand down the line smash. Faf du Plessis playing tennis with Jordan or wot? #IPL
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 4, 2020
Right @ChennaiIPL now that is a power play….
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 4, 2020
49 runs from the last 12 balls Chris Jordan’s bowled in #IPL2020.
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 4, 2020
Like the intent from #CSK openers. This was missing in the earlier games and therefore, the pressure kept mounting. The recipe for a successful run-chase is pacing it well. Bishnoi is Rahul’s trump card. Get him in. He won’t let you down 🙌🙇♂️ #KXIPvCSK
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 4, 2020
Comprehensive win by @ChennaiIPL. @klrahul11 and @nicholas_47 played well to put a decent total on the board but the way @ShaneRWatson33 & @faf1307 batted, they’ve made this chase look rather easy. Well done #CSK.#KXIPvCSK #IPL2020
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 4, 2020
Full paisa Vasool , no losses #KXIPvsCSK #IPL2020
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) October 4, 2020
That was comprehensive from @ChennaiIPL . Not just the victory but the bowling skills looked sharper and the opening partnership was relentless
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) October 4, 2020
Without taking any credit away from the two world class batsmen for #csk I felt they looked superior because of the ordinary bowling effort from #kxip. #ProGyaan #ipl2020 #KXIPvCSK
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) October 4, 2020
I'm sure @msdhoni will have a good sleep tonight!
Sheer ஆதிக்கம் நா என்னனு கேட்டிங்கனா… Chennai Super Kings oda இன்னியோட Perfomance a சொல்லுவேன் 👏👏#IPL2020 #CSKvsKXIP
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) October 4, 2020