A total of 35 runs were required from the last two overs with two new batsmen at the crease against a certain Lockie Ferguson, someone who is dreaded for his deadly yorkers in the death. In such a situation, the bowlers will be favoured any day. Lockie too did well for the first three deliveries giving only three runs in them. But post that, it was all a Ravindra Jadeja show in Dubai.
With this win, Chennai not only satiated their hunger bowing out of the tournament with pride but also gave their fans a chance to celebrate as the franchise are still directly affecting the Playoffs and the Kolkata based team are the latest victim of that.
Apart from Jadeja, youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad and experienced campaigner Ambati Rayudu too contributed to the Chennai victory immensely.
On that note, let’s have a look at the Hits and Flops from the game.
Jadeja came to the crease when CSK were deep in troubled waters with its set batsman, Ruturaj Gaikwad having departed from the crease at the wrong moment. With 30 needed from the last two overs, it came down to Lockie Ferguson vs Jadeja.
He not only held his nerves to deposit Ferguson across the boundary thrice in that over and take away a total of 20 runs but also took the pressure from an off colour, Sam Curran, as well. Then it all came down to the last over and Kamlesh Nagarkoti bowled brilliant four deliveries to concede only four runs and 7 were required off two. It was Ravindra Jadeja once again who took the charge and hit two consecutive sixes off the young bowler to win it for his team.
While bowling, Jadeja had also picked up a wicket and was quite economical as well with figures of 1/20 in three overs.
Gaikwad carried on from where he had left in the last game, anchoring the innings while others played the role of the aggressor. Once settled, he took his chances and tried to accelerate the innings. He was successful in doing so, as after a slow 50 run partnership with Watson, he had a 37-ball 68 run partnership with Ambati Rayudu.
Even after the fall of Rayudu’s wicket, he kept on trying to score fast and in the process got out trying to play a premeditated scoop off Pat Cummins. His 48 ball 73 showed once again why deserved to open right from the start and not letting him open the innings in the initial phases of the IPL would be considered one of CSK’s worst mistakes from the seasons.
Rayudu joined Gaikwad in the middle when the team needed the run rate to move upwards as quickly as possible. He, paying heed to the demand started going bonkers from the word go and succeeded in achieving what he sought to when he came to the crease. The Andhra batsman hit 38 of just 20 deliveries at a strike rate of more than 190. But one shot too many also saw him back, although not before semblance was established in the CSK chase by him.
Banked to be the go-to man of the captain in the death, Ferguson disappointed today as he was taken for the cleaners by Ravindra Jadeja and conceded 20 runs off the penultimate over. It wasn’t his day at all, as there was not a single over in which the Kiwi looked like taking the wicket. And the fact that he finished with the figures of 0/54 in his quota of four overs, tells it all.
Morgan was probably the biggest flop of the game. He deserves the tag not only because of his batting but because of the decisions that he took in the entire game. Be it the promotion of Rinku Singh ahead of him and Karthik in the batting order or bowling Nitish Rana at a juncture when the pressure had been built on the CSK batsmen. Even his untimely interruption in the rhythm of Ferguson was something that a viewer couldn’t understand.
When Ferguson had bowled three flawless yorkers and was in his zone, what was the need for Morgan to disturb his rhythm and suggest changes? Plus his batting in which he scored 15 off 12 when the team needed him to score quickly was something that wasn’t on the expected lines from the Englishman.
As Morgan said in the post-match chat, there is nothing in KKR’s hand apart from getting a win against Rajasthan and then hoping that somehow the equations favour them.
Powered by Froala Editor
Powered by Froala Editor