| 0.0 : Punjab started off staying in touch with the top four places but lately, it just hasn't gone their way. A fourth defeat in their previous match against Delhi means that Punjab now languish in the bottom half of the table. A defeat tonight might even send their opponents above them in the table. They will take some positivity from the fact that they have already defeated Chennai once this season and will look to turn the tide back in their favour. So, will Chennai get back-to-back wins for the fi |
| PITCH REPORT - Graeme Swann is pitchside. Swann says that one side is very, very small with the square boundary being 58 meters and the other side being 71 meters. Adds that KL Rahul did get a hundred on this wicket but other batters suffered and the surface is a bit tacky. He reckons varying the pace will be the key here and it is a 160-170 wicket. Ends by saying that the side winning the toss might look to bat first. |
| ... MATCH DAY ... |
| Hello and a warm welcome to match number 38 of the Indian T20 League. It's Punjab taking on Chennai at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and it is a crucial match for both sides. Chennai lost the reverse fixture by a huge margin earlier in the season but have found a new wind and have kept their hopes alive. With match-winning performances from Mukesh Choudhary and MS Dhoni, Chennai will look to build a bit of momentum with another win here tonight. |
| TOSS - Up goes the flip of the coin and it lands in favour of Chennai. They will have a BOWL first. |
| Ravindra Jadeja, the captain of Chennai, says that they don't know whether the dew will be a factor or not and that's why they are bowling first. Adds that they try to keep things simple and stick to plans. Mentions that they need to keep improving and he cannot put his finger on any one area where they need to improve specifically. Informs that they are going unchanged. |
| Punjab (Playing XI) - Mayank Agarwal (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (In for Nathan Ellis), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Rishi Dhawan (In for Shahrukh Khan), Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma (In for Vaibhav Arora) and Rahul Chahar. |
| Chennai (Unchanged XI) - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Mitchell Santner, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja (C), MS Dhoni (WK), Dwaine Pretorius, Dwayne Bravo, Mukesh Choudhary and Maheesh Theekshana. |
| Punjab's skipper Mayank Agarwal says that they don't mind having a bat first because they are playing on the same track from yesterday. Adds that they don't want to dwell upon the last game and just want to move on. Mentions that the energy is good in the side and it's just about executing their plans. Informs that they have made three changes with Sandeep Sharma, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Rishi Dhawan coming in. |
| We are ready for play! The two umpires make their way out to the middle and they are followed by the players from Chennai. Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan who is playing his 200th Indian T20 League match are the openers for Punjab. Mukesh Choudhary has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play... |
| 0.1 : Mukesh Choudhary to Mayank Agarwal, Mukesh Choudhary begins with a full delivery, around off, Mayank drives it wide of mid off and finds the gap. It's chased down in the deep by Jadeja and Punjab are away with a couple of runs. |
| 0.2 : Mukesh Choudhary to Mayank Agarwal, Good shape on this delivery. Attacks the stumps with a length ball, nipping in a bit, Mayank plays it near his front pad and keeps it out with an angled bat to point. |
| 0.3 : Mukesh Choudhary to Mayank Agarwal, Pitches it up and outside off, in the hope of some movement but there is none. Agarwal drives off the front foot but fails to beat Rayudu at covers. Ambati Rayudu seems to have hurt his left hand in the process and is going off the field. |
| 0.4 : Mukesh Choudhary to Mayank Agarwal, Risky single! Fullish and around off, Agarwal opens the face of his bat slightly and pushes it towards cover-point for a brisk run. A direct hit at the striker's end would have been interesting. |
| 0.3 : Ambati Rayudu seems to have got stung on the wrist on the previous delivery and is going off the pitch for probably an ice pack. |
| 0.5 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Lands it full and on off, Dhawan pushes it defensively in the gap at covers and opens his account with a quick run. |
| 0.6 : Mukesh Choudhary to Mayank Agarwal, Mukesh Choudhary goes a little bit wide of the crease and delivers it full and outside off, Mayank Agarwal plays a firm drive off the front foot but picks the cover fielder. 4 from the opening over! |
| Spin from the opposite end as Maheesh Theekshana shares the new ball with Mukesh Choudhary. |
| 1.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, 6000 runs in the Indian T20 League for Shikhar Dhawan, only the second batter after Virat Kohli to achieve this feat. Flatter and shorter around off, Dhawan goes back and taps it down towards point for a run. |
| 1.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Mayank Agarwal, Fires it quicker through the air, full and around leg, Agarwal knocks it down to long on and rotates the strike. |
| 1.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, Flatter and around middle, at 94.6 kph, Dhawan drops it with gentle hands to covers and pinches a single. |
| 1.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Mayank Agarwal, Tossed up, full and outside off, Mayank Agarwal cuts but finds the short third man fielder. |
| 1.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Mayank Agarwal, FOUR! Finds the gap this time! Flatter again, short and just outside off, Mayank delays his shot as he goes on the back foot and guides it past short third man for a boundary - first of the match. |
| 1.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Mayank Agarwal, Wide! Full and around leg, skidding down the leg side, Mayank Agarwal tries to flick but misses. |
| Maheesh Theekshana to Mayank Agarwal, Another risky run. Full and floated, around off, Mayank Agarwal bunts it to mid off and takes on Ravindra Jadeja's arm. He makes it safely as Jadeja misses his shy at the bowler's end. 9 from this over! |
| Spin from both ends now as Mitchell Santner comes into the attack. |
| 2.1 : Mitchell Santner to Mayank Agarwal, Flighted delivery, full and around middle, Agarwal eases it towards mid off and sets off for a run. His partner is ball-watching initially but then races away to the other end. |
| 2.2 : Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan, Turning away from the batter, short and outside off, Dhawan cuts but finds the point fielder. |
| 2.3 : Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan, Very full on this occasion, around off, Dhawan goes hard and scuffs his shot off the inner edge. It rolls through square leg and they cross. |
| 2.4 : Mitchell Santner to Mayank Agarwal, Flatter and on off, skidding in, Mayank Agarwal mistimes his shot to covers. Dhawan wants a non-existent run and is sent back. |
| 2.5 : Mitchell Santner to Mayank Agarwal, Extra bounce this time! Flighted delivery, around off and straightening, Mayank Agarwal hangs back and tries to cut but it bounces over his bat and the off stump. |
| 2.6 : Mitchell Santner to Mayank Agarwal, Fires it in flat, short and on off, Mayank Agarwal is cramped for room and cuts it at the last moment towards point. A fine first over by the Kiwi! |
| Mukesh Choudhary to bowl from the opposite end now. |
| 3.1 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Up and over the infield! A length delivery, wide outside off, Dhawan plays the lofted shot but not from the meat of his bat. It flies just over Bravo at mid off and they get a couple of runs. |
| 3.2 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Another mistimed shot! Dhawan is itching to dominate the bowler here. Fuller and outside off, Shikhar advances down the track and skews his shot off the outer half. It falls in no man's land at point and they cross. |
| 3.3 : Mukesh Choudhary to Mayank Agarwal, Back of a length, around off, Mayank camps back and drags his attempted pull shot off the inside edge. It runs behind square leg and they cross for a run. |
| 3.4 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Play and a miss! Width offered this time, short and wide, Dhawan tries to cut it through the line but misses. |
| 3.5 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Angles in a length ball, around off, Dhawan plays near his body and taps it down towards point. They pick up a run. |
| 3.6 : Mukesh Choudhary to Mayank Agarwal, Wide! Sliding down the leg side, on a good length, Mayank Agarwal tries to tickle it fine but misses. |
| Mukesh Choudhary to Mayank Agarwal, Direct hit would have been curtains for Mayank Agarwal! Mukesh Choudhary delivers it on a length around middle, it stops a bit off the surface. Mayank Agarwal checks his shot and pushes it towards extra cover. He sets off for a run and then gives up but to his good luck, Mitchell Santner misses his shy at the bowler's end. |
| 4.1 : Mitchell Santner to Mayank Agarwal, FOUR! Easy pickings! Short in length, around off, Mayank Agarwal uses the crease to make room and slaps it through point for a boundary, only the second of this match. |
| 4.2 : Mitchell Santner to Mayank Agarwal, Quicker, around leg and skidding down, Agarwal fails to flick and it goes off his pads to square leg. They cross for a leg bye. |
| 4.3 : Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan, Flighted and around off, Dhawan drives aerially but it goes safely to the fielder at covers. |
| 4.4 : Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan, A touch short and wide outside off, Dhawan heaves it down to wide long on and takes a single. |
| 4.5 : Mitchell Santner to Mayank Agarwal, Quicker one at 99.6 kph, full and around off, it's stroked down to long off for a run. |
| 4.6 : Mitchell Santner to Shikhar Dhawan, Flatter and a touch shorter around off, Dhawan moves back and pushes it towards the bowler. 7 from the over! |
| 5.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Mayank Agarwal, Theeksana drops it a bit short, around middle and leg. Agarwal whips it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 5.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, SIX! Shikhar Dhawan loves the sweep and gets enough on it to get the maximum. Around off, Dhawan drags it and slog-sweeps it with the wind over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie and brings up 9000 runs in all T20s. It's turning out to be a fruitful 200th game for him in the Indian T20 League. |
| 5.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, This is pushed quickly through the air and on middle. Dhawan hangs back and pushes it out on the off side for a quick single. |
| 5.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Mayank Agarwal, Good shot for no run. Full and wide, Mayank Agarwal makes room and thrashes it straight to the man at covers. |
| 5.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Mayank Agarwal, OUT! CAUGHT! Mayank Agarwal got frustrated picking out the fielders on a couple of occasions and has ended up throwing his wicket away. This is short and wide, there to be hit but Agarwal goes a bit too hard at it and ends up slapping it straight towards Shivam Dube at point. Dube takes a sharp catch and Maheesh Theekshana has got the breakthrough for Chennai. |
| Bhanuka Rajapaksa is in next at number 3. |
| 5.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Around middle and leg, Rajapaksa lunges forward to defend. At the end of the Powerplay, Punjab are 37/1! |
| Change in bowling. Ravindra Jadeja brings himself into the attack. |
| 6.1 : Ravindra Jadeja to Shikhar Dhawan, Jadeja starts off with a length ball, on the pads. Dhawan tucks it away on the leg side and sets off for a quick single. |
| 6.2 : Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Rajapaksa is off the mark. Shorter this time, around the leg stump. Rajapaksa goes back in his crease to ease it towards mid-wicket for one. |
| 6.3 : Ravindra Jadeja to Shikhar Dhawan, Flatter delivery, sliding across off and Dhawan cuts it towards short third man for another run. |
| 6.5 : Ravindra Jadeja to Shikhar Dhawan, A touch shorter, on the pads. Dhawan tucks it off the back foot past square leg for one more. |
| 6.6 : Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, WIDE! Quicker delivery, darted down the leg side. Rajapaksa leaves it alone. |
| Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Around middle and leg, this is flicked away towards mid-wicket. A dot ball to end a tidy over. |
| Bowling change. Dwaine Pretorius replaces Maheesh Theekshana in the attack. |
| 7.1 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, WIDE! A length ball, from 'round the stumps and outside off. Shikhar Dhawan comes down the track and leaves it alone. Wide called. |
| Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, On off, this is pushed towards mid off for a single by Dhawan. |
| 7.2 : Dwaine Pretorius to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pretorious bowls this one a touch fuller and wide of off. Rajapaksa looks for the cover drive but doesn't make a connection. |
| 7.3 : Dwaine Pretorius to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nicely bowled! Dwaine Pretorius takes the pace off the ball and keeps it pretty wide outside the off pole. Rajapaksa has a slash at it but is beaten by the lack of pace. |
| 7.4 : Dwaine Pretorius to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Full and wide, driven towards deep point for one. |
| 7.5 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Top shot from Shikhar Dhawan and that brings up the fifty for Punjab. This is very wide of the off stump, Dhawan steps down the track and lifts it over the cover region. The fielder in the deep moves across to his left, puts in a dive but fails to keep it in. |
| 7.6 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, WIDE! Pretorius sees Dhawan charging and looks to bowl at his toes but ends up spilling it down the leg side. |
| Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, Full and wide again but Pretorious just holds back the pace this time. Dhawan steps out and drives it along the ground towards extra cover. |
| 8.1 : Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, This is angled across the left-hander, Rajapaksa stylishly drives it towards covers for a single. |
| 6.4 : Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dropped! Difficult chance this but Ruturaj Gaikwad should have taken it after getting there! On leg stump, Bhanuka Rajapaksa walks down the track and just lifts it high towards backward square leg. Gaikwad runs in from the deep and picks up the catch but can't keep a hold of it. Single taken. |
| 8.2 : Ravindra Jadeja to Shikhar Dhawan, Fuller and on middle, this is swept away nicely towards deep square leg for another single. |
| 8.3 : Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, WIDE! This is bowled a bit too wide outside off and Rajapaksa leaves it alone. |
| Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Speared into middle, Rajapaksa works it 'round the corner for one. |
| 8.4 : Ravindra Jadeja to Shikhar Dhawan, Jadeja sees Dhawan stepping out and drags his length back. Dhawan pushes it through covers for one more. |
| 8.5 : Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, DROPPED AND SIX! Ravindra Jadeja has a second catch dropped off his bowling and Bhanuka Rajapaksa survives yet again. Around off, Rajapaksa gets low and connects the slog-sweep. The ball goes flat and hard towards the mid-wicket fence. Mitchell Santner comes in a bit too much and in the end, has to backtrack. Santner ends up spilling the catch as the ball bursts through his palms. It will be a maximum for Rajapaksa. |
| 8.6 : Ravindra Jadeja to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, On off, Rajapaksa drives it back past the bowler who sticks out a boot. The ball goes towards long off and a single is taken. |
| 9.1 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Full and wide from Bravo to start with. This is firmly driven towards deep point but just for a single. |
| 9.2 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, This is outside off and slower in pace. Dhawan strokes it through the cover region for one more. |
| 9.3 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Another slower delivery, on a length and outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa looks to drag it across the line but misses. |
| 0.0 : Strategic break. Steady going from Punjab! They didn't go too hard in the Powerplay against some disciplined bowling from Chennai. Mayank Agarwal eventually got frustrated and threw his wicket away and it would have been two down had Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mitchell Santner not dropped Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Two errors in the field from Chennai and they would hope that they don't return to haunt them. Dhawan will be looking to anchor the innings from here on, just like KL Rahul did the other evening an |
| 9.4 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, WIDE! Full and wide, spilled beyond the tramline. Wide called. |
| Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, FOUR! A juicy full toss from Bravo, outside off. Rajapaksa throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies past short third man for a boundary. |
| 9.5 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Bullet throw from Mitchell Santner but Bhanuka Rajapaksa is in. Fuller delivery around middle. Rajapaksa just nudges it into the gap at mid on and immediately calls for two. The batters race back and Santner is quick to attack the ball. He throws it at the keeper's end but the dive saves Rajapaksa. |
| 9.6 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, A bit of aggression shown here from Dwayne Bravo. Full and straight, it's the seam up delivery this time. Rajapaksa can't get it away and pushes it back. Bravo keeps the batter honest with a fake throw at the stumps. |
| Change in bowling. Dwaine Pretorius is brought back into the attack. |
| 10.1 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, Speeds in from 'round the wicket and delivers a yorker around off, Dhawan digs it back to the bowler. |
| 10.2 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, Dwaine Pretorius aims for another yorker but this time it turns out to be a low full toss on middle, Dhawan knocks it down to long on for a run. |
| 10.3 : Dwaine Pretorius to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Back of a length, around leg, Bhanuka Rajapaksa glances it down to fine leg for a run. |
| 10.4 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, Short and on off, Dhawan pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 10.5 : Dwaine Pretorius to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Slower one, on a length around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa once again pushes it with gentle hands towards mid on and eyes a couple. But Dwaine Pretorius chases it down and keeps the batters down to just a single. |
| 10.6 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, Good running between the wickets on this occasion! Fuller and on off, Dhawan uses his feet and eases it towards wide long on for a couple of runs. |
| Mukesh Choudhary (2-0-11-0) is back into the attack. |
| 11.1 : Mukesh Choudhary to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, A wide yorker outside off, Rajapaksa digs it out back past the bowler, towards long on. They cross. |
| 11.2 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Wide! Bowls it a touch short but quite wide outside off, Dhawan withdraws his bat and the umpire stretches his arms. |
| Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Another wide! Again Choudhary delivers it short but way wide outside off, Dhawan allows it through to the keeper. |
| Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Bang! This is why Mukesh Choudhary was scared of bowling in the half of the batter. He overpitches outside off, Dhawan attacks it and crunches it through covers for a sizzling boundary. |
| 11.3 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Dhawan is batting beautifully! Just toying with the fielder in the deep. Short in length and outside off, Dhawan rocks back and steers it through backward point. The sweeper runs across to his right but has no chance. On the last delivery, he was speeding across to his left. |
| 11.4 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Very full and on off, Dhawan pushes it back off the toe end of his bat. |
| 11.5 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Dhawan is smartly playing with the field at the moment. Too full in length, around off, Shikhar shuffles across the stumps slightly and tickles it through the gap between backward square leg and short fine leg. |
| 11.6 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Bowls it short and wide outside off, Dhawan slaps it to deep cover, this time straight to the fielder. Only a single to cap off a 16-run over. |
| 12.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, A touch short in length, around middle, Dhawan moves back and turns it to mid-wicket for a run. He turns for the second run but Bhanuka Rajapaksa lets out a big no. |
| 12.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, FOUR! Misfield in the deep! Too full in length and outside off, turning away, Bhanuka Rajapaksa drills his drive to deep cover where the fielder (Dwaine Pretorius) fumbles and concedes a boundary. |
| 12.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Short and outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa plays late and dabs it towards short third man. The fielder makes a sliding stop and they cross. 100 up! |
| 12.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, Quicker and around off, Dhawan pushes it back. |
| 12.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, Wide! Quicker one, sliding down the leg side, Dhawan tries to flick but misses. |
| Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, Tucks it off his pads to square leg for a run. |
| 12.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Floated and full on off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa flicks it to deep mid-wicket and retains strike with a run. 9 from the over, 25 in the last two. |
| Dwaine Pretorius (2-0-14-0) is back on. |
| 13.1 : Dwaine Pretorius to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, A low full toss outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa goes down on one knee and sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 13.2 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, Very full and wide outside off, Dhawan steps down and pushes it to long off for a single. |
| 13.3 : Dwaine Pretorius to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, SIX! Goes the distance! Bhanuka Rajapaksa is making use of the lives granted to him. A low full toss outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa latches onto it and smashes it over long off. Great strike! |
| 13.4 : Dwaine Pretorius to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Almost drags it on! Slower one, full and wide outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa goes down and across to sweep but drags it off the inner edge. It beats the stumps and rolls towards short fine leg. They cross. |
| 13.5 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Fine shot! Second fifty in this edition for Shikhar Dhawan! Fuller and around off, Dhawan walks across and sweeps it through the gap at backward square leg for a boundary. He has anchored the innings well and now will look to finish on a high! |
| 13.6 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, Fullish outside off, pushed through covers for a single. 14 from this over, 39 in the last three. Punjab are on the charge! |
| 14.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, Flatter and shorter on off, Dhawan goes back and eases it to long on for a run. |
| 14.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Skidding down the leg side, Rajapaksa tries to sweep but fails to middle it well. It goes off the inner half and the short fine leg fielder stops it to his left. They cross for a run. |
| 14.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, Very full and around off, Dhawan helps it gently to square leg and scampers back for the second run. |
| 14.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, Walks down the track and then finds the length not conducive for a big shot. He pushes it out to covers and takes a single. |
| 14.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Short and on off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa stands back and pulls it to deep square leg for a run. |
| 14.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Shikhar Dhawan, Swing and a miss! Maheesh Theekshana delivers it flat and short outside off, Dhawan stays back to cut but is beaten. 4-0-32-1, Maheesh Theekshana is done with the ball. A decent effort from the Sri Lankan. |
| Strategic break. This has been a brilliant phase of play for Punjab and Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa have provided the perfect platform to have a launch now. Chennai will be aware of the power-hitters to come and will look to pick up wickets in order to keep the scoring rate in check. One of the two set-batters has to go big now because there's no point in having nine wickets in hand and just ticking along. |
| 15.1 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, A low full toss on middle, Rajapaksa drills it straight back past the bowler. The fielder from long on runs around to his right and keeps it down to a couple of runs. |
| 15.2 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Slower delivery, on a length and outside off. Rajapaksa gets it off the toe end of the bat towards mid off. Single taken. |
| 15.3 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, NO BALL! Seam up from Bravo, full and wide, very wide. The umpire initially signals for a wide but then has a word with his partner and consults upstairs. The ball has pitched just beyond the cut strip and hence a no ball is called. Free Hit to follow. |
| Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan makes full use of the freebie and picks up a boundary. Another low full toss, on off. Dhawan drills it hard and along the ground, past mid off for a boundary. |
| 15.4 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Up and over, glorious from Shikhar Dhawan! Pitched up on off, Dhawan picks up the length and effortlessly lofts it over mid off for another boundary. 12 already off the over with a couple of deliveries to go. |
| 15.5 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, Slower delivery, this time Bravo just drags back his length and bowls it around off. Dhawan taps it towards covers for one. |
| 15.6 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nails the yorker this time does Dwayne Bravo. This is on middle and Rajapaksa just about jams it out. A dot to end the over but it is a productive one for Punjab. |
| 16.1 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Full toss to start with from Mukesh Choudhary. This one is angled into the off stump line and Dhawan can only manage to hit it down towards long on for a run. |
| 15.6 : Change in bowling. Maheesh Theekshana is done with his spell and Mukesh Choudhary (3-0-27-0) replaces him from this end. |
| 16.2 : Mukesh Choudhary to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Full and sliding into middle and leg. Rajapaksa clips it towards deep square leg for one. |
| 16.3 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Innovation from Shikhar Dhawan and he is now toying with the bowler. Very full, on middle. Dhawan shuffles across his stumps and ramps it over short fine leg. He picks up a boundary. |
| 16.4 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Good comeback from Choudhary. Gets the yorker in on middle stump. Dhawan jams it out back towards the bowler. |
| 16.5 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Very full again, on middle. Dhawan drives it through wide mid on and there's a huge gap over there. The fielder from long on charges in but the batters pick up a brace. |
| 16.6 : Mukesh Choudhary to Shikhar Dhawan, Length this time, angled into the body. Dhawan gets an inside edge back onto the pads as he looks to tuck it away. The ball rolls onto the off side and they pick up a single. |
| 17.1 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, NO BALL! Yet again the umpires have a word and it is a no ball again from Dwayne Bravo. Full and wide, pitching beyond the cut strip yet again. Free Hit coming up. |
| Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, Brilliant effort in the deep from Mitchell Santner and he saves three runs for his team. Full toss from Bravo, around off. Shikhar Dhawan with a short-arm jab to the left of long on but Santner sprints across and dives to cut it off. Single taken. |
| 17.2 : Dwayne Bravo to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, OUT! CAUGHT! Bhanuka Rajapaksa knew he had to go for the big shot but has to depart now. Slower delivery at 105.4 kph, on a length and going across the left-hander. Rajapaksa steps down the track, looking to lift it over long off. The ball though goes off the toe end and flies towards the extra cover region. Shivam Dube over there settles under it and takes the catch. Dwayne Bravo picks up a wicket and Rajapaksa departs after a good comeback knock. |
| Liam Livingstone arrives. The situation is tailor-made for his style of batting. |
| 17.3 : Dwayne Bravo to Liam Livingstone, Angled into middle and leg, Livingstone steps out and flicks it past square leg for a single. |
| 17.4 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, Full and wide, Dhawan reaches out and slices it towards deep point for a run. |
| 17.5 : Dwayne Bravo to Liam Livingstone, WIDE! Shorter this time from Bravo but down the leg side. Liam Livingstone misses the pull and Bravo has an appeal for a caught behind. The umpire though signals a wide. |
| Dwayne Bravo to Liam Livingstone, Good slower ball, pushed wider. Livingstone has a wild swing across the line but gets no timing on it. The ball goes towards mid on and a single is taken. |
| 17.6 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, Nicely bowled! Shikhar Dhawan walks down the track and Bravo bowls a loopy slower ball this time, outside off. Dhawan cue-ends it towards short third man and they scamper through for a run. Just 7 runs and a wicket off it. |
| Dwaine Pretorius (3-0-28-0)Â to bowl the 19th over. |
| 18.1 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, Full and straight, clipped away towards deep square leg for a single. |
| 18.2 : Dwaine Pretorius to Liam Livingstone, FOUR! Full and straight, Livingstone with another wild heave across the line and this time the ball goes off the inside half of the bat and races away to the backward square leg fence. |
| 18.3 : Dwaine Pretorius to Liam Livingstone, SIX! This time it's a clean strike from Liam Livingstone. Full and wide, very wide. Livingstone walks outside the off stump and whacks it over long off for a maximum. |
| 18.4 : Dwaine Pretorius to Liam Livingstone, SIX! BANG! Short this time from Pretorious and Livingstone has clobbered it over the wide long on fence for a huge hit. He can hurt the opposition even with just a couple of overs to go. |
| 18.5 : Dwaine Pretorius to Liam Livingstone, Slower yorker this time, well outside off. Livingstone has to reach out for it and gets an inside edge past the stumps. It rolls behind and they go for a quick single. |
| 18.6 : Dwaine Pretorius to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Another boundary to end the over and 22 runs come off it! Back of a length, around off. Shikhar Dhawan shuffles across and gets inside the line of the ball to pick it up and get it over the man at short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 19.1 : Dwayne Bravo to Liam Livingstone, OUT! TAKEN! Crucial hold from Mukesh Choudhary and Dwayne Bravo has his man. This is a slower ball from Bravo, at just 97.7 kph. Liam Livingstone steps down and has to force the big shot as he has no pace to work with. Livingstone goes a bit too hard at it and ends up getting a top edge towards short third man. Mukesh Choudhary settles under it and makes no mistake. A handy cameo though from Livingstone. |
| 19.2 : Dwayne Bravo to Jonny Bairstow, Full and straight but it's the slower ball again. Jonny Bairstow squeezes it towards cover-point for a single. |
| 19.1 : Who is coming in next? It's Jonny Bairstow. Jitesh Sharma could also have been a great option with 5 balls to go. |
| 19.3 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, SIX! Shikhar Dhawan picks up the slower ball and takes advantage of the short boundary on the leg side. This is around off, Dhawan gets down on one knee and smokes it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum. |
| 19.4 : Dwayne Bravo to Shikhar Dhawan, Seam up from Bravo, full and outside off. Dhawan drives it down to long off for a single. |
| 19.5 : Dwayne Bravo to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! Poor delivery from Bravo and this is a gift for Bairstow. Full toss, around middle. Bairstow dispatches it behind square on the leg side for a boundary. |
| 19.6 : Dwayne Bravo to Jonny Bairstow, OUT! RUN OUT! They just had to push for the second but Jonny Bairstow is miles out. Full and straight, almost in the slot. Bairstow heaves it on the bounce to Mitchell Santner at wide long on. Dhawan calls him for the second and Santner fires in a good throw at the keeper's end. MS Dhoni whips off the bails and Bairstow isn't even in the frame. Punjab end with 187/4! |
| It's a strong finish from Punjab - amassing 35 runs off the last two overs! It was a well-planned innings from them and they have posted a very challenging total on the board. If we divide this innings into four phases, 37 runs came in the Powerplay, 35 in the next four, 51 in the following 5 and 64 in the remaining overs at the death. |
| Bhanuka Rajapaksa comes up for a quick chat. The Lankan says that the wicket is a bit slow and he and Shikhar Dhawan were looking to get a score around 170 but have got more than that on the board. Mentions that the ball is gripping in the wicket and they are happy with the score. About his knock, he says that the two left-arm spinners were bowling when he came in and that allowed him to settle in. About the short boundary on one side, he says that Liam Livingstone was able to take advantage |
| Right then, Lucknow defended 168 on this surface last evening but that was against a struggling Mumbai team. Punjab have managed more than that but will have to bowl really well against a resurgent Chennai unit. Should be a riveting chase. Stay tuned... |
| ... CHASE TIME ... |
| Welcome back! The players of Punjab spread on the field. Robin Uthappa and Ruturaj Gaikwad are the openers for Chennai. |
| Chennai started well, bowling disciplined lines and keeping Punjab in check inside the Powerplay. They also bagged the wicket of Mayank Agarwal but then dropped the two chances offered by Bhanuka Rajapaksa. The Sri Lankan punished them for those errors, by stroking 42 runs, and more importantly by forming a strong alliance of 110 runs with Shikhar Dhawan. Talking about Dhawan, he assessed the conditions superbly. Took his time initially and then upped his game, especially after the halfway mark. |
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