IPL 8 KXIP vs CSK: Suresh Raina (41), Faf du Plessis (55) steer CSK to easy victory
Mohali: After losing both their openers early in the chase, Chennai Super Kings cruised to an easy victory as they outclassed Kings XI Punjab by 7 wickets, here in the Indian Premier League on Saturday. Faf du Plessis (55) and Suresh Raina (41) could have taken the side home on their own but du Plessis was bowled by Rishi Dhawan and in the end skipper MS Dhoni finished things off in style with consecutive sixes.
(Photo: BCCI)
It was a terrible batting performance by Kings XI Punjab, who finished at 130-7. KXIP lost just too many wiclets, and in turn the CSK bowlers took control of the entire innings even when Axar Patel and Rishi Dhawan seemed set in the end. It should be an easy task for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his side to chase down this score.
. @faf1307's livewire effort #KXIPvsCSK #IPL https://t.co/ZYJ9lHevCf
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 16, 2015
Kings XI Punjab won the toss and elected to bat against MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings in Mohali on Saturday.
Here's how the action unfolded.
CSK 134-3 (16.5 overs)
WICKET! It was a case of too little too late as Rishi Dhawan cleaned up Faf du Plessis (55) to break the partnership. But the damage is already done as CSK are on the verge of victory. Faf played a spledid knock, that included 5 boundaries and one huge six from the 41 balls he faced.
(Photo: BCCI)
WICKET! It's a dream start for KXIP as this time Beuran Hendricks has crashed danger man Brendon McCullum's woodwork. The Kiwi star added just 6 runs to the total.
(Photo: BCCI)
WICKET! Young Sandeep Sharma has continued to impress everyone in the IPL this season and has been providing the early breakthrough at all times. He didn't miss out this time though to send Mr Cricket Michael Hussey back to the dressing room for just 1 run.
KXIP - 130/7 in 20 overs.
WICKET! After a brave effort, Axar Patel fell prey to a typical slower delivery by Dwayne Bravo. The KXIP batsman tried to slash it away but only found the top edge of the blade and looped it to an easy catch to skipper Dhoni behind. Axar scored 32 runs.
WICKET! Kings XI Punjab lost Saha as Pawan Negi slower one gets the better of him.
WICKET! Ashish Nehra, who made a comeback to the playing XI, struck in the fifth over to dismiss KXIP skipper George Bailey. The Australian poked at a ball and Dhoni made no misktake behind the wicket to catch it.
WICKET! Manan Vohra went for that one but he could not cross the boundary rope as Nehra caught him off Ishwar Pandey's bowling.
WICKET! Kings XI Punjab lost Gurkeerat Singh in the nineth over. He danced down the track to clobber Ashwin. But the off-spinner kept his cool and foxed him with extra spin. Dhoni made no fuss as he stumped Gurkeerat.
(Photo: BCCI)
WICKET! Glenn Maxwell's horrible IPL 8 comes to an end. Jadeja's fooled him with one that turned sharply and squared him up.
WICKET! Pawan Negi got his second wicket as Jadeja took a fine catch to dismiss David Miller.
. @imjadeja holds on to a brilliant catch #KXIPvsCSK #IPL https://t.co/FshM8LLWNx
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 16, 2015
The playing XIs.
KXIP XI: M Vohra, W Saha, G Maxwell, G Bailey, D Miller, GM Singh, A Patel, R Dhawan, B Hendricks, Anureet Singh, Sandeep Sharma
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 16, 2015CSK XI: B McCullum, M Hussey, S Raina, F du Plessis, MS Dhoni, R Jadeja, DJ Bravo, P Negi, R Ashwin, A Nehra, I Pandey
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 16, 2015Not in a mood to leave anything to chance, table toppers Chennai Super Kings would be gunning for a win against bottom-placed Kings XI Punjab in their last league match to seal their place in the play-offs of the IPL 8.
CSK are presently leading the eight-team points table with 16 points from eight wins out of 13 games, and a victory against KXIP would guarantee their place in the top two.
But a loss against Kings XI can jeopardise CSK's play-off hopes because as many as five teams are breathing down their neck and in that scenario the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side's fate will depend on the outcome of the remaining league matches.
Kings XI, on the other hand, have nothing to lose and would look to spoil CSK's party.
Having registered only their third win in the tournament by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 22 runs here on Wednesday, Kings XI would look to finish their disappointing IPL 8 campaign on a high.
But it would be easier said than done as Kings XI were mauled by 97 runs by CSK in their previous encounter this season.
Going by past record and present form, CSK will definitely start as overwhelming favourites against Kings XI.
After finishing runners-up last year, nothing seems to have gone right for Kings XI this season as they slumped to one defeat after another.
