Rayudu notches ton, powers Super Kings to easy victory
Dhawan, Williamson fifties in vain as Rayudu and Watson take CSK closer to playoffs
PUNE: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) snapped Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) six-match unbeaten run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and got closer to sealing a playoff spot, riding Ambati Rayudu’s maiden century on Sunday.
CSK brought out their best opening stand this season of 134 between Shane Watson (57) and Rayudu (100*), responding in style to the 123-run partnership between Shikhar Dhawan (79) and Kane Williamson (51) earlier in the day.
This was CSK’s second century stand for the first wicket this season, whereas it was for the first time in five matches that SRH failed to defend a strong target of 180. Sunrisers produced a fine batting show after being asked to bat, to which CSK came out all guns blazing against arguably the best bowling attack.
WATSON-RAYUDU SHOW
Watson set the tone early on when he launched an attack against Sandeep Sharma, hitting the bowler for a four in his first over followed by two sixes in his next. Rayudu picked the in-form Siddharth Kaul, hammering two fours and a six off his first over to put pressure on Sunrisers.
Watson brought up his second half-century of the season off 31 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. Rayudu followed suit, again picking Kaul for a six that helped him reach his third fifty of IPL 2018, and taking CSK past the 100-run mark in the 11th over.
The partnership was broken in the 14th over when Williamson and Shreevats Goswami combined to run Watson out for a 35-ball 57. Suresh Raina’s dismissal brought MS Dhoni whose catch was spilled by Manish Pandey in the 16th over.
Rayudu, who had earlier powered CSK to a win over SRH in their previous meeting with a 37-ball 79, smashed seven sixes and as many fours to bring up his 500th run of the season. Williamson achieved a similar feat earlier in the SRH innings.
Deepak Chahar returned to the CSK ranks and produced a brilliant spell of 4-0-16-1, moving the new ball both ways and troubling the batsmen. In their previous meeting, it was Chahar’s opening three-wicket burst that had troubled SRH at Hyderabad, the bowler ending with 4-1-15-3.
Earlier, SRH set themselves up after posting 179/4 in their 20 overs. Alex Hales’ (2) early fall ensured another opportunity for the pair of Dhawan and Williamson to put up a strong stand.