CSK SPIN OUT KINGS XI
Led by seasoned Harbhajan Singh, Chennai Super Kings spinners put on a dominating show to post a thumping 22-run win over Kings XI Punjab in an IPL match on Saturday.
South Africa’s Faf du Plessis struck a brisk half-century in his first Indian Premier League game of the season to help Chennai Super Kings post 160 for three before the spinners restricted Punjab to 138 for 5 despite half centuries from K L Rahul (55) and Sarfaraz Khan (67).
Du Plessis made 54 off 38 deliveries at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. The South African captain, who was included in the XI after sitting out of Chennai’s four previous matches, hit two fours and four sixes on a sluggish pitch for batting.
“Just glad to be playing back in the homeground. I’ve been waiting in the sidelines and it is always good to get an opportunity,” Du Plessis said after his knock.
“I had been hitting the ball well in the nets.”
The visitors scored at a low pace and required to score 26 off the last over, bowled by IPL debutant Scott Kuggeleijn. The Kiwi paceman had no trouble defending those runs and also dismissed Sarfaraz.
Harbhajan was the best bowler for the hosts with the figures of
4-1-17-2. In a brilliant spell, he bowled a maiden and grabbed two wickets, including that of the ‘universal boss’ Chris Gayle.
Ravindra Jadeja (4-0-24-0) and Imran Tahir (4-0-20-0) also helped CSK put the brakes on the rival batsmen.
They, along with Harbhajan, conceded only 61 runs in 12 overs even as the required runrate kept mounting. Kuggeleijn did not start very well, being hit for a six off his very first ball, but did well to finish with 2 for 37 in his 4 overs.
Harbhajan struck a huge blow to rivals by dismissing the Gayle, having him caught behind by M S Dhoni for 5 in the second over.
Two balls later, he had the stylish Mayank Agarwal, caught by Faf du Plessis near the boundary with the batsman going for a big hit. Harbhajan started off with a double wicket maiden to put Kings XI on the backfoot early.
In the 13th over, Rahul’s missed sweep saw Dhoni flick the ball on to the stumps but the bails didn’t come off though the LED lights lit up, ensuring the batsman survived despite being short of his crease.
The century partnership for the third wicket between Rahul and Sarfaraz was a productive one but they consumed a lot of balls and stymied the Kings XI chase as the CSK bowlers kept things tight. —