In a crucial matchup on Wednesday, the marquee match-up for the day showcased defending champions Chennai Super Kings almost securing their playoff spot as South Africa’s Dewald Brevis scored a quick-fire fifty off just 22 balls, with CSK defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 2 wickets. This places the defending champions in severe risk of missing the championships.
During the chase of 180 runs, CSK found themselves in a deep hole at 60-5 within the first six overs, however, Brevis 52, coupled with 45 runs from impact substitute Shivam Dube, ensured that the team reached the target with two balls to spare at Eden Gardens, kolkata.
Highlights
Dhoni skewered one six for the last ball hitting the two scoring runs they needed, thereby claiming the required CSK victory points for this Franchise. Csk’s lower order bat, Anshul Kamboj, came into bat at number 10 with Dhoni and finished the innings undefeated on 17 runs, hitting the final scoring four off Andre Russell.
The result leaves Kolkota with a sliver of hope still available for making the playoffs but complicated as they now have to win both of their remaining matches and rely on other results shuffling their way.
Chennai, five-time champions, were already knocked out of contention for claiming the playoffs.
Noor Ahmad from Afghanistan sealed Kolkatas fate by claiming four wickets in an impressive spell that restricted the total to 179-6, while supporting Chennai.
In response, ayush and Devon, CSK’s openers faltered first ball in an attempt to drive the Kolkata attack, with IPL newbie Urvil Patel launching an onslaught on the KKR bowlers demolishing the Kolkata attack in the meagre 11-ball he faced, scoring an impressive 31.
Besides excluding him, the work of putting the score back on track was done by Dube and Brevis in the combination which they built in a carefully constructed partnership.
Before Arora could catch his breath, Brevis cut loose, scoring 30 runs in no time to propell him to third 50 of the tournament with 3 sixes and 3 fours in a single over.
Dube’s rampage was curtailed thanks to Chakravarthy, but the southpaw switched gears with Dhoni on the loose, and the two sailed along.
Kolkata were put in another deep hole with high hopes when singh scooped up a wobbly catch on his way to Nor involving Rinku, but in consolation for was able to trap Kamboj and Dhoni and with in 12 games, Kolkata earned their 3rd win.
Narine was in within stride with an early 11 point loss but had to cope-up further down the order with Kazakhstan’s skipper Ajinura who partnered up with Rahane to the tune of fetching a 58 run boost.
Noor stopped the spree when he was able to get Narine stumped by Dhoni and in addition 3 balls sent Raghuvanshi caught behind.
While Pandey got a freebie after Rahane, he couldn’t get his 50 as Jadeja, with a deep spin reverse left the back point expecting the ball, while the reigning point reaped to his arrogance and got to redefine the back.Noor managed to dismiss Rinku for nine runs, and, despite Manish’s presence, KKR’s total ended up being far too low to be competitive.
Russell managed to score 38 off 21 balls while Pandey managed to stand firm and add 46 runs onto the scoreboard with him, before Noor caught the big-hitter at long-off after striking again.