| 0.0 : Hello! Warm greetings to the first of the two games on Sizzling Saturday! 3rd takes on 4th in this clash which will also see an emotional return for the prodigal home son. Ravichandran Ashwin though will be walking out at Chepauk, leading the away team, Punjab against a side that helped him make his name in the first place. Chennai has given Ashwin everything in cricket but do not mistake that to be on his mind as he returns to the MA Chidambaram Stadium. He will plot against the MS Dhoni-led fr |
| PITCH REPORT - Brett Lee with the pitch reports says that it is really hot out there. He informs us that the wicket looks like it will be one which is full of runs and that the spinners have to be at their best today. |
| TOSS - Chennai win the toss and elect to bat first. |
| MS Dhoni, the Chennai skipper, says his decision is based on the fact that the wicket looks the best to bat on initially and hard on the top. He feels that a good start to the batting innings is really important in a T20 game. Reckons that they have played on a good batting pitch only once so far so he is watching the players carefully at the nets and reckons they are doing pretty well there. He informs us that there are three changes for them, Mohit Sharma, Shardul Thakur and Dwayne Bravo go ou |
| Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin, says he wanted to bat first as well, thinks the pitch looks hard on the top. He hopes the pitch will remain the same throughout the game. He mentions that it is an emotional moment for him to return to this place after having been a former Chennai player. He hopes that the crowd supports them as well but immediately laughs and mentions that might not be the case. Informs us that they have two changes in the form of Chris Gayle and Andrew Tye who come in to re |
| Chennai (Playing XI) - Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis (in), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK/C), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Scott Kuggeleijn (in), Harbhajan Singh (in), Imran Tahir. |
| Punjab (Playing XI) - Lokesh Rahul (WK), Chris Gayle (in), Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Andrew Tye (in), Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami. |
| We are all set for the first ball of the game. Faf Du Plessis and Shane Watson are the opening batsmen for Chennai. The fielders are in position and the new ball is in the hands of Mohammed Shami. All set to go, let's play!!! |
| 0.1 : M Shami to S Watson, Wide! A wayward start. Shami starts off by spraying one way down the leg side. The umpire has wided it. Chennai are off the mark. |
| M Shami to S Watson, On a length this time and at the middle and leg stump line, Watson misses his attempted flick. He gets rapped on the pads but there is no appeal as the ball was going down leg. |
| 0.2 : M Shami to S Watson, Watto is off the mark! The plan is clear here. To tuck Watson up and not give him any room. A short length ball on middle and leg, coming into the batsman. Watson pats it to the leg side and gets du Plessis on strike for the first time this season. |
| 0.3 : M Shami to du Plessis, Solid! A length ball on top of off stump, Faf du Plessis presents the straight bat in defense from the crease. |
| 0.4 : M Shami to du Plessis, Faf is off the mark too! A length ball wide outside off, du Plessis runs it down to third man and calmly gets to the other end. |
| 0.5 : M Shami to S Watson, Nice, tight line from Shami. On top of middle stump, Watson has no room so just pushes it towards cover standing tall. |
| 0.6 : M Shami to S Watson, A quick single as Watson plays this with soft hands towards mid on and runs to the other end. Keeps strike for the next over. Just 4 runs off the first over, a good start from Shami after conceding a wide on the very first delivery. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : R Ashwin to S Watson, Starts with a full toss on the pads, Watson flicks it to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 1.2 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, This one is tossed up on middle, du Plessis leans forward and flicks it on the leg side and takes a run. |
| 1.3 : R Ashwin to S Watson, FOUR! First boundary for Chennai! Ashwin bowls a fuller ball on the pads, Watson goes on his knees and sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary. |
| 1.4 : R Ashwin to S Watson, Flighted on off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 1.5 : R Ashwin to S Watson, Beaten! Beautiful delivery. Bowls a carrom ball outside off, the ball pitches and goes away, Watson there looks to slog but plays down the wrong line and gets beaten. |
| 1.6 : R Ashwin to S Watson, Shorter this time, Watson was ready for it as he rocks back and pulls it but straight to Sarfaraz at mid-wicket who stops it well. There was a bit of mix up between the two but no harm done. Six runs from Ashwin's first. |
| 2.1 : M Shami to du Plessis, On the money once more from Shami on top of middle, du Plessis tucks it away to square leg and picks up a single. Wanted the second there but it would have been suicidal. |
| 2.2 : M Shami to S Watson, Mistimed! But it is safe in the end. A length ball on middle, Watson looks to pull it over mid-wicket coming slightly ahead. The ball comes off the top of the blade and goes slightly in the air towards the left of mid-wicket where Sarfaraz makes a tumbling stop. Single taken. |
| 2.3 : M Shami to du Plessis, FOUR! Beautiful use of the feet by the South African! A length ball on middle, du Plessis preempts and runs down the track before lifting this over mid off for a boundary. Good timing! |
| 2.4 : M Shami to du Plessis, FOUR! Two in two! This is even better timing! A short length ball outside off now, du Plessis was down the track and then adjusts in the end as he places it through the cover-point region. Finds the gap and picks up another boundary. |
| 2.5 : M Shami to du Plessis, Good comeback from Shami! Yorker on middle, Faf does well to bring his bat down in time and dig the ball out towards the bowler. |
| 2.6 : M Shami to du Plessis, SIX! That is such smart cricket! In these hot conditions, energy conservation is a must. Faf du Plessis is experienced enough to know that and does exactly the same. A length ball on off, Faf comes inside the line, scoops it over fine leg for a maximum. Just used the pace there. Brilliant batting! 16 runs off the over, expensive! |
| Sam Curran is introduced into the attack. |
| 3.1 : Sam Curran to S Watson, Starts with a full ball outside off, Watson tries to cut but fails to connect. |
| 3.2 : Sam Curran to S Watson, Changes the length this time and bowls it short and angling in to Watson's body, Watson just ducks under it and lets it go. |
| 3.3 : Sam Curran to S Watson, Another full ball outside off, Watson drives it to mid on and takes a run. |
| 3.4 : Sam Curran to du Plessis, Bowls the same length to Faf du Plessis, he flicks it to mid-wicket and changes strike. |
| 3.5 : Sam Curran to S Watson, Bowls it slower than the previous one, Watson drives it uppishly but straight to covers. |
| 3.6 : Sam Curran to S Watson, In the air... safe! Curran bowls a length ball on middle, Watson pulls it over mid-wicket and the ball falls just short of the deep mid-wicket fielder who runs in to take it on a bounce. Three runs from Curran's first, a tidy first over to start his spell. |
| Andrew Tye to bowl now. |
| 4.1 : A Tye to S Watson, FOUR! This is now the highest opening partnership for Chennai this year. Tye starts off with a full length ball on the pads, Watson flicks it over fine leg for a boundary. |
| 4.2 : A Tye to S Watson, SIX! Four first, now six! Watson has suddenly found his timing out of nowhere here. A fuller length ball outside off, a half-volley to be honest. Watson goes through the line and deposits it over long off for a biggie. |
| 4.3 : A Tye to S Watson, Short length slower ball outside off, SW pulls it away to deep mid-wicket for a single. Smart batting! |
| 4.4 : A Tye to du Plessis, Slower in pace outside off on a length, Faf du Plessis fails to time his attempted cut as the ball goes off the inner half and back towards the bowler. |
| 4.5 : A Tye to du Plessis, SIX! That has just been lifted by du Plessis as he uses his blessed, magical wrists. A full length ball on middle and leg, Faf clears his front leg before putting this deep over the long on boundary. That is the second six of the over and Tye looks spellbound by this treatment meted out to him. |
| 4.6 : A Tye to du Plessis, Short and wide outside off, du Plessis looks to cut it away but gets it off the inner half of the bat. Missed out there! A single is taken though. FdP will keep strike for the next over. 18 runs off Tye's first! |
| 5.1 : Sam Curran to du Plessis, Starts with a full ball outside off, Faf drives it straight to long off for a run. |
| 5.2 : Sam Curran to S Watson, Bowls a length ball outside off and coming in with the angle, Watson plays it to point for a single. |
| 5.3 : Sam Curran to du Plessis, 50 up for Chennai. Short ball this time, du Plessis looks to pull but gets it off the inner half to mid-wicket for a run. |
| Looks like the Ashes has already begun! Curran looks in some pain as he hurt himself near the right shoulder trying to take that return catch. The magic spray is out though and he should be okay to continue... |
| 5.4 : Sam Curran to S Watson, DROPPED! Sam Curran drops a catch in his followthrough. It was hit back hard by Watson. Bowls a back of the hand slower ball, Watson drives it straight back to Curran who gets his fingers to it and the ball hits back on his chest. He is in some pain there but looks fine. |
| 5.5 : Sam Curran to S Watson, Full ball, driven straight to mid off. |
| 5.6 : Sam Curran to S Watson, FOUR! A good end to the powerplay for Chennai. This boundary spoils a good over from Curran. He bowls it pitching full and on the pads, Watson goes on his knees and sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary. |
| Strategic break! After a sedate start in the first couple of overs, the two Chennai openers have pressed the gas pedal. They have picked up boundaries at will in the last few overs and added 50-plus at the end of the Powerplay. Chennai will look to accelerate even further from here on whereas Punjab will desperately look for a breakthrough to slow down things. If they don't get one soon, they could on a leather hunt today! Meanwhile, it is Murugan Ashwin to bowl after the break. |
| 6.1 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Flatter one on off stump, du Plessis pushes it towards cover from the crease. |
| 6.2 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Slightly fuller but flat on middle and off. A little turn away from the right-hander but Faf adjusts and defends it towards the left of cover. No run though. |
| 6.3 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Very full on this occasion, du Plessis looks to hit it back hard towards long on but fails to time his shot. |
| 6.4 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Top nut! A flighted ball on middle, du Plessis goes for the sweep but the ball turns away from him and beats the bat. 4 dots in a row! |
| 6.5 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Short and wide outside off, cut away by Faf du Plessis to deep cover for a single. Finally a run off the over. |
| 6.6 : M Ashwin to S Watson, Another play and a miss! This time from Watson. A flatter one outside off, Shane looks to cut it away but fails to put bat on ball. Just a single run off the over, remarkable stuff. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin is back on. |
| 7.1 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, Tossed up ball on middle, Faf flicks it to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 7.2 : R Ashwin to S Watson, OUT! CAUGHT! The local lad strikes and Watson has to depart. This was a slower ball on middle, Watson goes on his knee and slog sweeps it over square leg. Sam Curran at deep mid-wicket, runs to his right and takes a good catch. Watson goes for 26. That's the opening that Punjab needed. Can they make the most of it and stop the run flow? |
| Suresh Raina walks out at number 3. |
| 7.3 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, Round arm from Ashwin, flatter outside off. Du Plessis pushes this ball to deep cover off the back foot and gets to the other end. |
| 7.4 : R Ashwin to S Raina, Raina off the mark straightaway! A flatter one on off, Suresh goes back and punches it wide of the bowler to long off for a run. |
| 7.5 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, Seam up delivery! Bowled short outside off, du Plessis hits it to deep cover for a single. |
| 7.6 : R Ashwin to S Raina, Wide! Another delivery bowled with a different action. This time the ball is too wide outside off and the umpire wides it. |
| R Ashwin to S Raina, Raina has punched the ball off the back foot. The ball goes to cover and no run can be taken. |
| 8.1 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Short ball on middle, Faf pulls it to mid-wicket for a run. |
| 8.2 : M Ashwin to S Raina, Tossed up on middle to Raina, he plays a forward defense and keeps it out. |
| 8.3 : M Ashwin to S Raina, Full on off, Raina guides it straight to short third man. |
| 8.4 : M Ashwin to S Raina, Floated outside off, Raina lofts it over mid off and takes a run. |
| 8.5 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Full and on the pads, du Plessis flicks it to the leg side and changes strike. |
| 8.6 : M Ashwin to S Raina, Ends with a half-tracker turning in, Raina goes on the back foot and pulls it to mid-wicket for a single. Just 4 runs from the over. |
| Andrew Tye is back on. |
| 9.1 : A Tye to S Raina, On the hips, tucked away to mid-wicket for a single by Raina. |
| 9.2 : A Tye to du Plessis, Short of a length, du Plessis waits for the ball and pulls it away for a single to deep square leg. |
| 9.3 : A Tye to S Raina, On a length outside off, Raina looks to place it between backward point and short third man but fails to find the gap. |
| 9.4 : A Tye to S Raina, Slower bouncer outside off, Raina lets the ball go. |
| 9.5 : A Tye to S Raina, FOUR! Excellent placement! A length ball wide outside off, Raina just reaches out and puts the ball in the gap past the short third man fielder to his left. No chance stopping that once it beat that man. |
| 9.6 : A Tye to S Raina, Worked off the pads to deep square leg for a run. Raina keeps strike for the next over. Chennai are 71/1 at the halfway mark. |
| 10.1 : M Ashwin to S Raina, Bowls a googly on middle and going away, Raina flicks it off his back foot to the on side. A run taken. |
| 10.2 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Another half-tracker this time, du Plessis pulls it to mid-wicket for a run. |
| 10.3 : M Ashwin to S Raina, Tossed up outside off, Raina drives it to long off for a run. |
| 10.4 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Full toss outside off, Faf drives it but straight to deep cover. One run added to the total. |
| 10.5 : M Ashwin to S Raina, Slower ball outside off, Raina pushes it to covers and runs hard for the first one. He thinks of a second but the fielder collects the ball quickly and keeps them down to one. |
| 10.6 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Driven! Faf drives this tossed up ball through the covers almost finds the fence but Tye, at long on, runs to his left and covers good ground to save two runs for his side. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin is back on. |
| 11.1 : R Ashwin to S Raina, Flighted one on middle, tucked away to deep mid-wicket for a single by Raina. |
| 11.2 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, SIX! Down the track and the full flow of the bat! Boom! The secret was to try not to over hit the ball there. A flighted ball on middle, du Plessis runs down the track and lifts it over the bowler's head. It goes over the rope. |
| 11.3 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, Another one to which du Plessis comes down the track but Ashwin smartly bowls this one wide outside off. Faf gets a bat on it or else he would have been stumped there. |
| 11.4 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, FdP has driven it through mid on. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 11.5 : R Ashwin to S Raina, This flatter one on middle is punched back by Raina off the back foot for a single. Another single is taken. |
| 11.6 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, Shortens the length seeing Faf come down the track again. The batsman smartly pats it back to the bowler. |
| 12.1 : M Ashwin to S Raina, Flighted ball on middle, Raina drives it straight over the bowler. Long on runs in and keeps it to one. |
| 12.2 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, SIX! 10th fifty for Faf du Plessis and he gets there in some style. Murugan Ashwin bowls it on his pads, Faf du Plessis gets on his knee and slops sweeps it flat over the square leg fence. |
| 12.3 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Tossed up on off, driven straight to covers. |
| 12.4 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Bowls it way outside off. The umpire signals a wide. |
| M Ashwin to du Plessis, Flighted on the pads, Faf flicks it to mid-wicket for a run. |
| 12.5 : M Ashwin to S Raina, The batsman has driven it through mid-off. They pick up a single. |
| 12.6 : M Ashwin to du Plessis, Ends his spell with a full ball outside off, du Plessis plays it to mid-wicket for a run. Murugan Ashwin ends with figures of 4-0-23-0. |
| 13.1 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, Flatter one outside off, turned away to deep mid-wicket for a single by du Plessis. |
| 13.2 : R Ashwin to S Raina, In the air... and lands in no man's land. A flighted ball wide outside off, Raina looks to hit it over cover but fails to time the ball well. It goes high but luckily for him lands in the region between extra cover and deep cover in between 2 fielders. A single is taken. The 100 comes up for the hosts. |
| 13.3 : R Ashwin to du Plessis, OUT! Faf holes out! The second wicket for Ashwin and his 50th in Chennai. A carrom ball landing on off, du Plessis looks to get under it and lift it over long on. He does not get enough power and ends up giving a simple catch into the hands of David Miller at long on. Huge relief for Punjab! |
| MS Dhoni walks out at number 4 to a huge roar from the crowd. |
| 13.4 : R Ashwin to S Raina, OUT! Two in two! Cleans Raina all ends up! A flatter one on middle, lands and straightens slightly. Raina goes for a swipe across the line coming on his knee but fails to put bat on ball. It goes on to disturb the timber! Raina's struggling innings in the middle comes to an end. He never looked in peace out there. Ashwin is pumped up and the crowd is silent here! Hat-trick ball coming up! |
| Ambati Rayudu is the new man in. He will be facing the hat-trick ball. |
| 13.5 : R Ashwin to A Rayudu, Oooh... almost! A carrom ball on off, Rayudu did not look like he picked that one. The ball goes off the leading edge as he tried to push it down the ground. It rolls towards cover. |
| 13.6 : R Ashwin to A Rayudu, Flighted outside off, driven to deep cover for a single. Rayudu off the mark and will face the first ball of the next over. What a brilliant one this though, 3 runs and 2 wickets off it in the end. Ashwin ends with figures of 4-0-23-3. |
| Mohammed Shami is back into the attack. |
| 14.1 : M Shami to A Rayudu, Starts with a full ball outside off, Rayudu drives it through covers for a single. |
| 14.2 : M Shami to MS Dhoni, Another full ball outside off, Dhoni punches it straight to covers. |
| 14.3 : M Shami to MS Dhoni, Bowls a back of a length ball on middle, Dhoni keeps it out. |
| 14.4 : M Shami to MS Dhoni, Again bowls it fuller outside off, Dhoni drives it straight back. Miller from mid off runs to his right and saves a certain boundary. One run taken. |
| 14.5 : M Shami to A Rayudu, FOUR! First boundary for Rayudu. Shami bowls it full outside off, Rayudu goes on the back foot and drives it on the up over covers.Miller runs across to stop the ball but the ball beats him to the fence. Boundary signaled. |
| 14.6 : M Shami to A Rayudu, Full and on the pads, Ambati flicks it to the leg side for a single. |
| Strategic break! Chennai were coasting along with just one wicket lost and looked like they got the perfect platform for the final flourish. The local lad, Ravi Ashwin though has picked a couple of wickets in the same over and that too of both the set batsmen. The current duo of MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu which is out in the middle will have to get their eyes in quickly and also go for quick runs in the last five overs. Punjab meanwhile will hope to bowl dot balls and also pick wickets to restri |
| 15.1 : A Tye to A Rayudu, Length ball on the pads, Rayudu flicks it to square leg for a single. |
| 15.2 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, There is a mix up between the two but luckily no trouble there. Dhoni pushes this length ball towards mid-wicket and goes off for a run. Rayudu responds to it but then stops mid way and shouts no. Dhoni hears the call loudly and hence no trouble there. |
| 15.3 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Full ball outside off, Dhoni goes for the drive but misses the line completely. |
| 15.4 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Back of a length ball, Dhoni pulls it but straight to mid-wicket. |
| 15.5 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Bouncer! Tye bowls a bouncer on middle, Dhoni picks it up early and lets it go. Four consecutive dots. Can he end it well? |
| 15.6 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Yes, he can. Keeps it down to one. Full ball on middle, Dhoni punches it off the back foot to the off side and takes a run. After going for 25 runs from his first two, that's a good comeback by Tye as he just concedes 2 runs in this over. |
| Sam Curran is back on now. |
| 16.1 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, Fuller one outside off, almost a low full toss. Dhoni hits it hard towards long on for a single. |
| 16.2 : Sam Curran to A Rayudu, Played with soft hands towards point for a single by Rayudu. Good running. |
| 16.3 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, Slower ball landing on off and spinning way away from the right-hander. The ball takes ages to come and Dhoni who was lining up the ball ends up playing it past the bowler. Two runs taken, excellent running. |
| 16.4 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, Bouncer on middle, Dhoni pulls it away to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 16.5 : Sam Curran to A Rayudu, Cross seam delivery full and wide outside off, Rayudu looks to take it from there and slog it through mid-wicket but fails to put bat on ball. Excellent bowling this! |
| 16.6 : Sam Curran to A Rayudu, Full and pacy on middle this time, all Ambati can do is to push it to long on and keep strike for the next over by running to the other end. Just 6 runs off this one, brilliant from Curran. |
| 17.1 : A Tye to A Rayudu, Length ball outside off, Rayudu cuts it to point and takes a run. |
| 17.2 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Excellent fielding! The youngster, Sam Curran, certainly saves two runs for his side. Tye bowls a length ball on middle, Dhoni flicks it to mid-wicket. Sam Curran in the deep runs to his right and saves it form going into the fence. Two runs taken. |
| 17.3 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Wide! Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. Wide signalled by the umpire. |
| A Tye to MS Dhoni, Back of a length ball on middle, Dhoni pulls it to mid-wicket and takes a run. |
| 17.4 : A Tye to A Rayudu, Another length ball, Rayudu goes on the back foot and pulls it but couldn't connect well as the ball goes off the inside half of the bat towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 17.5 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, FOUR! That's powered straight down the ground. Tye bowls a full ball on off, Dhoni powers it straight back towards the bowler and the ball reaches the fence in a jiffy. |
| 17.6 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Short ball on middle, Dhoni pulls it to the leg side for a run. |
| 18.1 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, Wide! Too full and down the leg side. Dhoni tried to run it fine on the leg side as fine leg was up in the circle but fails to put bat on ball. Ashwin seems to have heard something there and takes the review. The replays show us that there is nothing, no contact. The Snickometer shows a blank line. The wide remains. |
| 0.0 : Review time... wait what??? Ashwin seems to have taken this upstairs because he reckons there is a nick on that one going down leg from Dhoni. Only replays can tell us! |
| 18.1 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, SIX! That has brought the crowd alive! An attempted yorker on the pads goes wrong. It ends up being a full length ball and Dhoni gets under it, deposits it deep into the empty stands at deep mid-wicket. Huge! |
| 18.2 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, On a length outside off, cut away to deep cover for a single by Dhoni. |
| 18.3 : Sam Curran to A Rayudu, Shot! But only one run. A length ball outside off, Rayudu carves this one aerially towards the deep cover fielder. Single taken. |
| 18.4 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Curran errs in length again. Delivers a half-volley on middle and MSD again gets under the ball and goes through mid-wicket. The ball goes to the rope on a few bounces. Shami at deep mid-wicket does not pick that up and reacts late, allowing the boundary. |
| 18.5 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Two in two! Pressure on young Curran! The veteran Dhoni just beautifully lofts this one on a length outside off over covers for a boundary. These are vital runs on a track which is slowing down with every passing moment. |
| 18.6 : Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, Low full toss outside off, Dhoni opens the face of the bat and drives it wide of point for a couple of runs. 19 runs taken off this over! A huge one for Chennai. Sam Curran ends with figures of 4-0-35-0. |
| Mohammed Shami to bowl the final over of the innings. |
| 19.1 : M Shami to A Rayudu, SIX! Rayudu into the act now. It's also the 50 partnership between the two. Shami bowls a length ball on middle, Rayudu clears his front leg and muscles it over long on for a maximum. |
| 19.2 : M Shami to A Rayudu, Full ball on off, Rayudu drives it through covers for a quick run. |
| 19.3 : M Shami to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Dhoni is hitting them everywhere. This time it's a short ball so Dhoni rocks back and pulls it behind square for a boundary. |
| 19.4 : M Shami to MS Dhoni, Another short ball, Dhoni pulls it to the on side for a single. |
| 19.5 : M Shami to A Rayudu, Rayudu goes for the reverse sweep but Shami sees him early so bowls a full toss on middle. Rayudu could not connect properly and the balls goes towards backward point for a single. |
| The umpire is having a word with MS Dhoni in the middle of the pitch. Not sure for what exactly... Reckon it was about Rayudu backing up too far! |
| 19.6 : M Shami to MS Dhoni, Ends with a full ball on the pads, Dhoni flicks it to mid-wicket and takes a run. 14 runs from the last over and 44 runs from the last three. This could prove vital for Chennai in the end. CHENNAI FINISH WITH 160/3. |
| What a terrific finish this has been from Chennai! At the end of the 17th over, it looked like they would end up with a below par score but the fireworks off the bat of MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu has ensured a total that now looks pretty formidable on this wicket. The former especially got into the mood and ended up with 37 runs off just 23 balls! Sam Curran bore the brunt of this brutal attack as did Andrew Tye and Mohammed Shami in the final overs. |
| After opting to bat first, Chennai got off to a flying start as they added 54 in the first 6 overs at a run rate of 9. The next nine overs though saw them just add 54 at the run rate of 6. That gives us a fair idea of how the pitch has slowed down. Post that, Punjab wrested control even further as the duo of Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina perished while going to attack, though the former not before getting to a half ton. The runs were hard to come by for the new batting duo of Ambati Rayudu and |
| Coming to the bowling, one look at the figures and it does not take a genius to tell us that the track suited the spinners more. The standout performer was Ravichandran Ashwin as he picked up 3 wickets while conceding at less than run-a-ball. He was well supported by Murugan Ashwin as well. The pacers took stick as they missed their lines and lengths. Thus, in the end, Chennai would be pretty happy to have reached here after where they were at one stage, struggling to find quick runs. Punjab, on |
| Faf du Plessis says he is happy to be playing again and at the home ground. Reckons it is nice to play after staying out few games. Feels that it is a par score and hopes that their spinners can do the job. Informs us that it is a two-paced wicket and they have an extra spinner which might help them in the second innings. |
| So, 161 to win. One would have to say advantage Chennai but the visitors do have the firepower to chase this down. The spinners will matter a lot in the second innings and how Punjab play them will have to be seen. Back for the chase in a bit... |
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