In a high-scoring encounter at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowlers held their nerves to win the game by eight runs. On a batting paradise of a pitch as many as 33 sixes were hit. Skipper Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell shared a record-breaking 126-run partnership for the third wicket but it was not enough to take RCB home. Despite being an inexperienced player, 20-year-old Sri Lankan Matheesha Pathirana with an action similar to Lasith Malinga was accurate in his execution and kept the hosts at bay.
Early wickets, no problem
In the mammoth run chase, RCB lost Virat Kohli's wicket. Kohli went down the track against Akash Singh but inside edged it to the stumps. Early in the innings, Maheesh Theekshana dropped Mahipal Lomror's catch. But it did not turn out to be an expensive one. Tushar Deshpande got him out for a five-ball duck in the second over. Maxwell and Du Plessis fuelled the run chase with few big hits in the powerplay overs. Deshpande and Akash were smashed all over the park as Du Plessis went berserk. At the end of powerplay overs, RCB were 75/2 with Du Plessis batting on 45.
Glenn-Faf wreak havoc
20-year-old Sri Lankan Pathirana with an action similar to Lasith Malinga was brought into the attack. He was hit for a four and a six by Maxwell. In the ninth over, Du Plessis reached his half-century from just 23 balls. Maxwell reached his half-century with a boundary off Pathirana. At halfway stage, RCB were 121/2. Theekshana dropped another catch, this time of Du Plessis off his own bowling.
Big wickets
In his next over, Theekshana got the big wicket of Maxwell. He scored 76 runs from 36 balls including three fours and eight sixes. Dhoni took a brilliant catch as the ball went too high in the air. In the 14th over, Ali got hit for two sixes. But he got the wicket of RCB opener. The skipper scored 62 runs from 33 balls including five fours and four sixes.
Finishers couldn’t finish
Dinesh Karthik walked out to bat at no.6. Karthik showed glimpses of last season in his 14-ball 28 cameo. In the 17th over, Karthik could not hit a low full toss from Deshpande for a six. In the last three overs, 35 runs were needed. Pathirana came back into the attack and got the wicket of Shahbaz Ahmed (12). Impact player Prabhudesai hit a six off Deshpande in the 12-run penultimate over. RCB needed 19 runs off the final over. Two singles came off the first two balls. Prabhudesai used the pace and hit a six off the third ball. Pathirana came back well with a yorker. He finished well as CSK won by eight runs. Prabhudesai contributed with an 11-ball 19.
Rahane on song again
Earlier, Du Plessis won the toss and opted to field first. Mohammed Siraj started off well. He got the wicket of in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad in his second over. Gaikwad flicked it off his pads but got caught by Wayne Parnell on the boundary. Vijaykumar Vyshak who made a scintillating debut got a beating from Rahane as CSK crossed the 50-run mark in the fifth over. After powerplay overs, CSK had 62/1 on the board.
Conway leads the way
Rahane was hitting the ball well and finding boundaries with ease. Wanindu Hasaranga in his second over got the wicket of Rahane. He went for a slog but was beaten by the googly that crashed into the stumps. He scored 37 runs from 20 balls including three fours and two sixes. At halfway stage, CSK were 97/2. Meanwhile, Conway reached his half-century from 32 balls.
Six-hitting masterclass
Shivam Dube looked in fine touch from the start. He started off with a massive six of Maxwell. Conway took on Vyshak in the 12th over. In the next over, Dube hit Patel for a massive 111 metre-six. Dube was smashing the ball all over the park. Vyshak was taken on by Conway and Dube again as he conceded 19 runs. In the 16th over Patel got the breakthrough. The opener scored 83 runs from 45 balls including six fours and as many sixes. In the 17th over, Dube took on Parnell and reached his half-century from 25 balls with a six. Dube got out in the same over. He scored 52 runs from 27 balls including two fours and five sixes.
CSK finish well
In the death overs, Ali walked out with the intention of smashing everything. Ambati Rayudu had the same approach. Vyshak managed to get Rayudu's wicket but not before getting hit for a four and a six. Ali was dropped by Hasaranga in the 18th over as CSK reached 200. In the penultimate over, Siraj was hit for a six by Ali. But he came back well and conceded 10 runs. In the final over, Patel bowled two no balls and was taken off the attack. Jadeja smashed a six off Maxwell who completed Patel's over. He got Jadeja's wicket as well. On the last two balls, Dhoni and Ali took one single each as CSK posted 226/6.
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