Earning two bites at the cherry
LEAGUES AHEAD CSK give themselves the best possible chance of making the final, secure top spot by beating KXIP
Chennai Super Kings trooped into the PCA stadium as table toppers. And, true to their character and standing in the league, they toyed with Kings XI Punjab to register a comfortable seven-wicket win in their last league match. The Super Kings thus finished the league stage as toppers and will now get two shots at making it to the final.
It was an all-round effort and despite losing two quick wickets, Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina’s 92-run partnership ensured a Super Kings victory. Towards the end of the chase, skipper MS Dhoni (25 n.o.) showed some vintage form, carting young domestic bowler Anureet Singh for consecutive sixes to help his side romp home with 19 balls to spare.
Defending a below-par score of 130 after yet another batting collapse, Punjab started brightly. Pacers Sandeep Sharma and Beuran Hendricks removed Michael Hussey (1) and Brendon McCullum (6) in consecutive overs to raise hopes for Punjab. But Du Plessis and Raina combined to plug the breach. Initially both the batsmen soaked up the pressure but opened up later to play some delightful shots. Du Plessis was bowled for 55 off 41 balls, while Raina, who was dropped at 20 by Glenn Maxwell off his own bowling, remained unbeaten on 41.
“It was a good day for us. A true professional performance, something which we will carry into the playoffs,” CSK coach Stephen Fleming said.
YET ANOTHER COLLAPSE
Earlier, Punjab capped off their season with another insipid batting performance. Against a CSK line-up, Punjab’s hopes of a win rested on making a big score. But CSK bowlers, led by spinner Pawan Negi, ensured that Punjab were bundled out for a sub-par score. In a surprise move by Dhoni, Negi opened the bowling and managed to peg Punjab back, removing Wriddhiman Saha for 15. Thereafter, the CSK bowlers struck at regular intervals. Skipper George Bailey and Manan Vohra departed in quick succession leaving the hosts tottering at 35 for 3. Glenn Maxwell’s struggle with the bat continued and he was clean bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for six off 14 balls. But the late-order cameos by Axar Patel and Rishi Dhawan helped Punjab reach 130. Axar scored 32, while Dhawan remained unbeaten on 24.