Dubai: The three-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ended their three-match losing streak with a massive 10-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the Indian Premier League at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
KXIP won the toss and elected to bat first in 18th match of IPL 2020. The KXIP had started strongly with Captain KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal putting together their third fifty-plus opening stand. Rahul cut out all risks and was on 46 off 44 balls at the start of the 15th over; the KXIP were 114 for 2 at that point. However, the big acceleration didn’t quite come to pass as Shardul Thakur had Rahul edging behind for 63 off 52 balls with a slower yorker. Thakur had also dismissed the big-hitting Nicholas Pooran in the same over to help limit the KXIP to 178 for 4.
After restricting KXIP to 178 runs, the MS Dhoni-led CSK reached the target in 17.4 overs courtesy a record-breaking unbeaten opening stand by Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis. Faf du Plessis (87 off 53 balls) and Shane Watson (83 off 53 balls) reeled off an unbroken 181 together for the first wicket – the highest partnership ever for the Super Kings – to hand the KXIP their fourth defeat. This is the second highest target a team has managed to chase down without losing a wicket. It is also only the second time that CSK have managed to win a match by 10 wickets. On the other hand, KXIP’s bowling attack had few new faces in the form of Chris Jordan and Harpreet Brar, but none maintained their line and lengths and offered freebies regularly.
Dhoni was all smiles after the victory and Thala fans rejoiced the victory on social media.
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