In
a must-win match, Chennai Super Kings showed why they are the multiple
winners of the IPL, with a last ball victory. With five needed off the
last ball, Dwayne Bravo hit a teasing six off Rajat Bhatia to keep
Chennai's hopes of qualification alive.
KKR
who batted first looked keen on putting CSK out of the competition.
Gambhir and McCullum inflicted maximum damage with a partnership of 99
in 11.3 overs. Both of them followed in quick succession, which led to
the momentum getting arrested. The former making 62 and the latter 37.
Their dismissals was just the opening CSK needed as they strangled the
rest of the batsmen. Only some fine hitting from Debabrata Das late in
the innings could get the score to respectable proportions.
CSK's
innings began just the way KKR's had. Hussey and Vijay flayed the
bowlers to all parts of the ground and the game seemed to be headed for
an early finish. That changed when Sunil Narine got both of them in one
over. The innings stuttered further with Raina's run out. A seemingly
easy chase became tougher by the over as KKR tightened the noose, once
again through Bhatia and Narine. However, Dhoni pummelled Marchant De
Lange for a six and two fours in the penultimate over to bring it to 9
off the last over. Bhatia bowled an excellent first five deliveries, one
of which accounted for Dhoni. With five needed off one delivery, he
bowled the worst possible ball that anyone could, and Bravo hit a
towering six, which just managed to clear the long on boundary. That six
reignited Chennai's campaign, and the defending champs look set to
repeat what they have been doing in all the editions -- Rising from the
Ashes.
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