‘FAF’ULOUS WATSON
Riding on commanding performances from Watson and du Plessis, Chennai thrashes Punjab by 10 wickets
DUBAI: After suffering three defeats in a row for the first time since 2014, three-time champion Chennai Super Kings roared back to form with a thumping 10-wicket win over a dismal Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday.
The Super Kings romped to its target of 179 in 17.4 overs with the imperious Faf du Plessis unbeaten on 87 (53b, 11x4, 1x6) and the imposing Shane Watson not out on an equally entertaining 83 (53b, 11x4, 3x6). This is the Super Kings’ second win in five matches this season, while the Kings’ has slumped to a fourth loss in five games to remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
The Super Kings’ opening duo of Watson and du Plessis made mincemeat of what looked a challenging total running roughshod over a clueless Kings XI attack.
Having come in for a lot of criticism for its conservative batting in the Powerplay overs in the last three games that led to a hat-trick of defeats, the Super Kings’ made amends in telling fashion. Right from the first ball the aggressive intent was there for all to see with the 39-year-old Watson setting the tone with a flurry of boundaries. His 36-year-old partner, du Plessis, wasn’t to be left behind and he jumped on the boundary-hitting bandwagon to give no respite to the Punjab bowlers.
Both were particularly harsh on Chris Jordan, who was making a comeback after missing out on the last three games. His first over went for 19 runs. There was no let-up in the CSK openers’ intensity and when spin was introduced both Watson and du Plessis carried on in the same vein punishing the loose deliveries. At the completion of Powerplay, the Super Kings was sitting pretty at 60 for no loss, well ahead of the asking rate. When not dealing in boundaries, the impressive duo was on the look out for singles and kept the scoreboard ticking without consuming too many dot balls. In the process, the team 100 was raised in 9.5 overs. Soon after Watson reached his first half-century in this year’s IPL with a sumptuous four off Jordan. Just two balls later, in the same over, du Plessis got to his own half-century off 33 balls.
Earlier, highly effective deathover bowling from Shardul Thakur and Dwayne Bravo helped the Super Kings restrict Kings XI to 178/4 after the latter looked set for a total close to or beyond the 200-run mark.
Brief scores: Kings XI Punjab 178/4 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 63, N Pooran 33) lost to Chennai Super Kings 181/0 in 17.4 overs (Faf du Plessis 87*, S Watson 83*)