MS Dhoni’s 23-ball 31 ensured a six-wicket win for the Chennai Super Kings after Ravindra Jadeja’s 3-18 restricted the Royal Challengers Bangalore to 127-9.
CSK put RCB in to bat and it proved to be the perfect decision from their skipper Dhoni.
Quinton de Kock was replaced at the top of the order by Parthiv Patel, with the Proteas wicket-keeper batsman returning home for a wedding.
The return of AB de Villiers, who missed the last two games due to a viral infection, was meant to boost RCB’s chances in the match. However, it was not to be.
CSK managed to knock over RCB’s top three hitmen with Lungi Ngidi dismissing Brendon McCullum (five), Virat Kohli (eight) getting bowled by Jadeja and De Villiers (one) falling for Harbhajan Singh’s trickery for a stumping. RCB were in trouble at that point, at 53-3 (7.4 overs).
Patel tried to carry his side but he only managed a 41-ball 53 (five fours, two sixes) before losing his wicket.
RCB lost eight wickets for 89 runs in 15 overs but a brilliant innings-saving unbeaten knock from Tim Southee (36 off 26 balls) salvaged hope for RCB who posted 127-9.
Jadeja was the chief destroyer for CSK with figures of 3-18, which included the dismissal of Patel.
RCB managed to throttle the start of CSK’s chase. They managed to break Ambati Rayudu (32 off 25) and Suresh Raina’s (25 off 21) 44-run partnership as they lost four wickets for 80 runs.
Dwayne Bravo (14) and Dhoni then shut down RCB’s hopes. The CSK skipper hit three sixes and a four for his 23-ball 31 as they sealed a six-wicket win with 12 balls remaining.
The loss for RCB has made their hunt for a playoff spot near impossible, while CSK moved to the top of the log with 14 points.
Photo: Prashant Bhoot /SPORTZPICS for BCCI
