Hello and welcome to Sportstar 's live blog of Tuesday's Indian Premier League clash between between between the Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
To chase 176 required a special innings and Shane Watson put his hand up with a classy 96. Handful contributions from Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu ensured Chennai pockets a six-wicket win and get back to winning ways. They are now back at the top of the table once again.
Chennai Super Kings beats Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets.
Kedar Jadhav takes a very risky single and that's the game for Chennai Super Kings as they go to the top of the table. After back-to-back loses, they have bounced back in style and stay unbeaten at home.
WICKET - What drama! Ambati Rayudu offers a simple catch to Vijay Shankar at mid-off and he departs for 21.
A single towards mid-off and the scores are level. Chennai needs one run off three balls.
SIX - Kedar Jadhav comes down the track and smokes one and the fielder at cow corner comes up with a stunning effort but he touches the ground after crossing the ropes with the ball still in his hand.
Just a single off the first ball and the game isn't over yet, hanging by the thread. Chennai needs a boundary to calm down nerves.
Chennai needs 9 runs from 6 deliveries.
Kedar Jadhav and Ambati Rayudu are banking on singles and the game will head into the last over.
Kedar Jadhav joins Ambati Rayudu.
WICKET - Shane Watson misses a century by a whisker as Bhuvneshwar Kumar packs him off for 96 with a short delivery. Watson goes for the pull, gets a glove and Jonny Bairstow takes an excellent one-handed catch by diving towards his left.
SIX - Watson is in a hurry to finish things and is approaching towards yet another IPL century.
Chennai needs 26 runs in 24 deliveries and the manner in which Watson is striking it should be an easy one.
SIX - Shane Watson is on fire as he muscles Rashid over the long-on for a huge six. That was mammoth.
Chennai needs 51 runs in 36 balls and going by Watson's form and with MS Dhoni still to come, it looks very much gettable.
SIX - Classic shot by Shane Watson as he first collects a boundary and then smacks Rashid for a maximum. He has moved on to 66.
FOUR - Ambati Rayudu gets into the act as Rashid Khan drags one short and Rayudu latches onto it and pulls it through the mid-wicket for a boundary.
FIFTY for Watson - Excellent fifty from Shane Watson and he brings it up in some style as he pulls a Sandeep Sharma short delivery over the deep square leg for a maximum. His first fifty of the season.
WICKET - Stumped! Rashid Khan has his man as he bamboozles Suresh Raina and he is caught miles short of his crease as Jonny Bairstow removes the bails in a flash. Drives Raina forward and the batsman fails to read the googly and Raina was in no position to get back to his crease.
DROPPED - Jonny Bairstow drops Shane Watson and how costly will that be? Watson tries to whip Sandeep Sharma but only gets a thick edge, Baistow dives towards his right, gets hold of the ball but fails to catch it. Much needed luck for Watson.
FOUR - Suresh Raina uses the extra bounce from Rashid, opens the face of the bat and guides it past the slip fielder to third man boundary.
FOUR - Fuller from Rashid and Watson muscles it down the ground and the ball races away to the long-off boundary.
Alright here comes Rashid Khan.
SIX - Massive from Watson as this time he deposits Shakib's short delivery over the deep square leg boundary. Some power hitting from Watson.
SIX - Suresh Raina is in some touch as he now muscles Sandeep Sharma for a maximum and the ball just falls on the advertising cushion at deep square leg. 22 runs off the over.
Hat-trick of Boundaries: Raina is wasting no time here and he is trying to build some momentum for Chennai. He first collects a boundary at fine leg, then finds a vacant third-man boundary and then again finds the fine leg boundary.
FOUR - Sandeep starts with a short delivery and Raina was quick to adjust and pulls it in front of the square for a boundary.
Sandeep Sharma into the attack.
FOUR - Watson seems to have found his feet as he now drives Khaleel Ahmed uppishly over the covers for a boundary.
SIX - Magnificent shot from Shane Watson as he gets hold of a slightly short delivery and deposits it over the deep square leg fence.
FOUR - Shane Watson greets Shakib Al Hasan with a boundary and Watson will be relieved as he finally manages to find a boundary.
FOUR - Suresh Raina gets off the mark with a crisp drive as he presents the full face of the bat and drives it past mid-off for a boundary.
WICKET - Chennai suffers an early blow and it was pressure that resulted in the run out of Faf du Plessis. Drives a length delivery towards mid-off, sets off for a single but Deepak Hooda catches him just short of the crease. The bat was on the line and the third umpire decides it's Out.
Brilliant from Khaleel Ahmed as he gives just two runs and Chennai is under the pump in chase of 176.
First runs on the board as Faf du Plessis manages to squeeze in a single by tapping the ball towards the point region.
Khaleel Ahmed to partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar and he will eye to make use of the little bit of movement that is there.
Great start by Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he bowls a maiden over. He has managed to trouble Watson who has been beaten by pace and swing.
Four dot balls to start with and Watson is yet to get off the mark.
We are back and the run chase is just about to begin. Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson are out in the middle and it will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar who will start proceedings with Watson on strike.
End of Innings: Sunrisers Hyderabad post 175/3.
Excellent final over by Dwayne Bravo and he gives just eight runs and all have come in singles. But brilliant innings from Manish Pandey as he powers Hyderabad to 175/3. We will be back for the chase shortly.
Dot ball and the last three overs, Sunrisers has struggled to tee off. But it's important for Bravo to finish things without getting clubbed.
Dwayne Bravo to bowl the final over and Yusuf Pathan walks in.
WICKET - Deepak Chahar picks up a wicket and Vijay Shankar has to depart. Ravindra Jadeja makes no mistake as he takes a neat catch.
DROPPED - Suresh Raina spills an easy catch and Manish Pandey gets a life at a very crucial time. This is poor from Raina as Pandey gets a leading edge, Raina runs backwards gets both his hands onto the ball and then spills the catch.
Huge task for Deepak Chahar as he is assigned to bowl the penultimate over.
Given the form of the Chennai top-order, anything above 170 will be a difficult one to chase, especially against a quality bowling line-up.
Dwayne Bravo is bowling an excellent line but Vijay Shankar finds a boundary. Nine runs off the Bravo over the 160 is up for Hyderabad.
SIX - Drops it short and gets the treatment as Manish Pandey pulls it over the mid-wicket for a maximum.
Imran Tahir set to bowl his last over and it will be interesting to see how he approaches.
Five overs to go and Hyderabad will aim to post a score in excess of 170.
SIX - Vijay Shankar is off the blocks quickly as he smacks Imran Tahir for a maximum over long-on. He made that shot look so easy.
Vijay Shankar is the new batsman.
WICKET - Chennai has finally managed to get a breakthrough as David Warner departs. Warner makes room but fails to connect as Harbhajan bowls slightly away, Warner's backfoot was out of the crease and MS Dhoni doesn't miss those. The southpaw departs for a brilliant 57.
Fifty for David Warner - David Warner continues to pile runs and he gets to his half-century in 39 deliveries. This has been a knock of sheer class. Chennai needs a breakthrough.
Fifty for Manish Pandey - Fantastic knock from Manish Pandey and he gets to his fifty in 25 deliveries. Being promoted up the order, he hasn't put a foot wrong and gets to the landmark with a boundary.
FOUR - Manish Pandey is oozing class at the Chepauk as he drives Bravo through the covers for a lovely boundary.
SIX - Manish Pandey has clubbed the flighted delivery over the long-on boundary and he is fine touch this evening. After 10 overs, Hyderabad 91/1.
Dhoni brings in Imran Tahir and it will be an interesting battle.
SIX - There is no stopping David Warner as he gets down on his knee and smokes Ravindra Jadeja over the cow corner for a maximum.
Excellent over after the strategic time-out and Bravo just gives six runs in his first over. Clever bowling.
So far so good from Bravo as he is mixing his deliveries well and even surprised Warner with a short delivery.
Dwayne Bravo is introduced into the attack and Dhoni would hope the medium pacer breaks the partnership.
Ravindra Jadeja into the attack and Warner welcomes him with a boundary. Chennai needs to break this partnership.
FIFTY up for Hyderabad in 5.4 overs - The counter-attacking method from Manish Pandey and David Warner has worked and Hyderabad has recovered from the early loss of Jonny Bairstow.
FOUR - David Warner is looking dangerous as he times a length delivery down the ground for a boundary.
SIX - This time Manish Pandey gets into the act and this is very positive intent from both the batsmen. Just on the off-stump line and Manish Pandey smacks it over long-off.
SIX - Slightly fuller from Harbhajan and Warner clears his front foot and smacks it straight down the ground for a maximum.
FOUR - Short of length delivery from Chahar and Warner makes wonderful connection to pull the ball over the mid-wicket for a boundary.
Manish Pandey is off the mark straightaway as he lofts Harbhajan over the mid-off for a boundary.
Manish Pandey is the new man in.
WICKET - Harbhajan Singh strikes and the veteran off-spinner packs off Jonny Bairstow for a duck. Huge wicket given the way how the Englishman has tormented the bowlers. Quicker delivery and Bairstow ends up nicking it to MS Dhoni behind the stumps.
Spin into the attack and it will be Harbhajan Singh.
Excellent first over by Chahar as he gives just four runs and has managed to keep David Warner quiet.
First runs off the bat as David Warner tucks one round the corner and picks a couple.
Deepak Chahar will be starting proceedings for Chennai and it will be David Warner on strike. Here we go.
The wait is over and it's action time. The umpires walk out and the fiery opening pair of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow are out in the middle. The Chennai players make their way with Dhoni leading from the front.
Playing XI:
Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni(W/C), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir
Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Jonny Bairstow(W), Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Deepak Hooda, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar(C), Sandeep Sharma, K Khaleel Ahmed
Changes: For Chennai, Harbhajan Singh replaces Shardul Thakur. For Hyderabad, Manish Pandey comes in and Shakib Al Hasan has replaced Kane Williamson.
Toss: MS Dhoni wins the toss and elects to bowl first. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back for the toss as Kane Williamson misses out for this fixture due to personal reasons.
Pitch Report: Darren Ganga reckons spinners will come into play and there is absolutely no grass on the wicket. There is moisture on the wicket and he opines it will be a challenge for the batsmen to tackle spinners.
There's the King of Chepauk - MS Dhoni who almost did the unthinkable against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday night. He is at the peak of his prowess and is currently warming up by playing football.
Last time the two teams met, Warner and Bairstow helped Sunrisers register an emphatic six-wicket victory over the then table-topper Chennai Super Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium| Warner, Bairstow fifties lead rout of CSK
M.S. Dhoni's career-best T20 score of 84 brought CSK on the cusp of an unlikely win against RCB before it went down by one run in an eventful last-over finish. Here's how the events folded| When Dhoni's magic took CSK home, nearly
Both David Warner and Jonny Bairstow have been in scintillating form in this year's IPL with the bat, scoring 962 runs between them in nine matches including eight fifties and two hundreds| Warner, Bairstow to open for Sunrisers Hyderabad one last time this season
David Warner and Jonny Bairstow have been running the Sunrisers show this season but Chepauk is synced with Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s brain.
Read our correspondent Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya's preview:
Focus on top order as Chennai hosts Hyderabad
Around 30 metres from the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, lies a shop named ‘Dhoni Sports’. Chennai Super Kings skipper M.S. Dhoni is yet to pay a visit to the store — filled with cricket merchandise and equipments — but the owners aren’t complaining; brand ‘Dhoni’ is a great pull.
Some yards ahead, there is a gargantuan advertisement board with Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo endorsing a food delivery app. All the posters in and around have been ripped off, but this one stands bright without a wound.
Dhoni and Chennai define unconditional love.
And now that the Captain Cool is back for the home fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad here on Tuesday, the worshippers will hope he carries the mortal combat approach unleashed on Sunday night against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Though Chennai lost by a run, Dhoni operated on freak mode smashing an unbeaten 84 off 48 balls — his highest score in T20 cricket.
Fairly successful against Sunrisers at home, Chennai does not have an instant worry as such, but as head coach Stephen Fleming pointed out, the side is too dependent on Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu. The top-order has been largely inconsistent. In the current edition, Sunrisers beat Chennai by six wickets in its first encounter.
Opening woes
Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson — who scored a century in the IPL final in 2018 against Sunrisers — is still hunting for the magic tricks. The initial opening combination, Watson and Rayudu, failed on four occasions; 21 was the highest they could stitch.
Fleming tinkered with the order a bit to search for a better start. Faf du Plessis has been effective. The South Africa batsman smartly hid Watson’s shortcomings and helped him out of the shell.
“We have been bordering on being reckless trying to find form. I am not too happy with the way we have achieved all the wins,” Fleming told reporters after the narrow defeat to RCB.
Chepauk strip
The pitch has been under scanner for not playing up to the potential.
The opening game of the season saw RCB fold for 70. Kolkata Knight Riders could not get past 108; 175 has been the highest total so far this season.
Read: Ageing Tigers make a loud statement in the IPL
The spinners have been on full throttle for Chennai, led by Imran Tahir (16 wickets). Ravindra Jadeja (9 wickets) and Harbhajan Singh (7 wickets) have been menacing in crunch games.
Seamer Deepak Chahar (13 wickets) has stood out in the pace department. Sunrisers spinners Rashid Khan and Shahbaz Nadeem will be excited to bowl on this strip.
Bairstow finale
On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad has been driven by its openers — David Warner (517 runs) and Jonny Bairstow (445 runs).
The brotherhood is about to end as Bairstow will leave for England’s World Cup camp after April 23. The game against Chennai will mark his farewell in this season.
Sunrisers’ middle-order has been a talking point, specially when the openers have fired in most of the games. World Cup-bound Vijay Shankar will be hungry for some runs. Yusuf Pathan and Deepak Hooda have been quiet too.
Kane not available
Skipper Kane Williamson, not in the best of form, will not be available for the fixture. He flew to New Zealand on Monday morning due to a personal tragedy in the family.
Williamson will be back for the game against Rajasthan Royals on April 27. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is likely to lead the side in his absence.
The India pacer did not have a great start to the tournament, returning without any wicket in the first three games, but he has found his mojo.
Also read: The Jonny Bairstow-David Warner partnership for SRH
As an overseas recruit, Shakib Al Hasan may get a call-up as Kane's replacement.
After the disastrous loss to Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers have bounced back with two wins on the trot to earn 10 points.
Currently on 14 points, Chennai will look to add more to its tally to maintain distance from Mumbai Indians and Delhi.
The groundsmen at Chepauk have been watchful throughout Monday as there was a drizzle in the afternoon, but the sky is expected to clear in 24 hours.
Since the IPL 2019 final has now been moved to Hyderabad, the cricket-crazy people of Chennai will ensure to have a slice of every game at the ground.
The match will be streamed live on Hotstar
Comments
SHARE