Picture Courtesy : BCCI
Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni once again showed why he is an unmatched finisher as he blazed his way to a stunning 34-ball 70 and powered Chennai Super Kings to a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a high scoring match.
Chasing a stiff target was possible as opener Ambati Rayudu gave the momentum with a fine 82 off 53 balls, hitting eight sixes and three fours.
Chennai Super Kings got off to a bad start with Pawan Negi sending back Shane Watson with just eight runs on the board. A 42-run partnership between Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina, before Raina fell for 11 in the sixth over.
Sam Billings, while Ravindra Jadeja left without any impact and had CSK reeling at 74 for four.
However, Rayudu and skipper Dhoni taged a fine recovery bringing CSK right back into the game. Rayudu put on 101 for the fifth wicket with Dhoni. After he fell, Dwayne Bravo joined MSD to complete the finishing touches. CSK finished at 207 for 5 with 2 balls to spare
CSK needed 16 runs in the last over and Dhoni hit a six, his seventh of the night, to see his team through after Dwayne Bravo struck and a boundary and a six off Corey Anderson. The loss exposed RCB’s poor bowling at the death overs.
Earlier batting first ,the Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a stiff target of 205 for 8. The marauding Ab de Villiers was once again the star hitting a blazing 30-ball 68 and Quinton de Kock scored 53. 53 off 37 deliveries with the help of four sixes and a boundary.
From 138 for one at the start of 14th over, RCB slumped to 142 for four, following which Mandeep Singh (32 of 17 balls) and Washington Sundar (13 off 4) helped the side cross 200. For CSK, Tahir ( was on a hat-trick too ), Bravo and Thakur picked up two wickets apiece
