IPL 2018, SRH vs CSK: 5 talking points

Chennai Super Kings registered their fourth win of the tournament by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 4 runs at Hyderabad.

CSK were off to a slow and shaky start as openers Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis were dismissed early. However, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, and MS Dhoni steered CSK to 182/3 in their 20 overs.

In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad lost three early wickets in Ricky Bhui, Manish Pandey, and Deepak Hooda. However, some hard hitting by skipper Kane Williamson and Yusuf Pathan kept them in the chase. Following the dismissals of Williamson and Pathan, Rashid Khan’s pinch-hitting kept SRH alive but Dwayne Bravo’s final yorker made sure CSK won the game by four runs.

Here are five talking points from the match.

#5. Rashid Khan’s occasional aggression

Rashid Khan had a pretty dull day with the ball today. He began well by dismissing Faf du Plessis. However, he conceded 44 runs from his remaining three overs which was a below-average performance from a bowler of his stature.

When Rashid Khan came in to bat, SRH required 26 runs from 8 deliveries. In his first delivery, the Afghan smashed a six of Shardul Thakur to take the equation to 19 from 6 deliveries. When he got the strike in the final over, SRH needed 16 from 3.

The 20-year old heaved a short delivery from Bavo over deep backward square leg for a six. In the following delivery, he somehow managed to get an outside edge for a boundary and keep SRH in the game. With 6 needed off the final ball, Rashid could get only a single thanks to Bravo’s sensibility and SRH fell short by 4 runs.

Nevertheless, Rashid Khan’s 4-ball cameo of 17 showed that he can be pretty handy with the bat and like Sunil Narine, he might be promoted up the order in some match.

#4 Bravo’s few deliveries sealing the match for CSK at the end

Bravo managed to defend 19 runs in the final over

Dwayne Bravo was extremely expensive with the ball today, giving away 37 runs from his three overs. However, a few decent deliveries from the Trinidadian went as long as winning the match for Chennai Super Kings.

Yusuf Pathan smashed Bravo for two sixes in his opening over. In his second over, Bravo conceded 9 runs from 5 deliveries and with Williamson and Pathan well set, it looked like SRH had a very good chance of taking the match.

However, in his final delivery, Bravo dismissed Williamson thanks to a wonderful catch by Ravindra Jadeja.

Bravo was given the responsibility of defending 19 runs in the final over with Wriddhiman Saha and Rashid Khan at the crease. Bravo bowled three wonderful deliveries, conceding just three runs. He conceded 10 runs in his next two deliveries which kept SRH in the game. However, he bowled a brilliant yorker to win the match for CSK by 4 runs.

#3 Kane Williamson playing a true captain’s knock

Williamson smashed a brilliant 84

Kane Williamson may not have led his team to victory today but he sure delivered when the going got rough for SRH. They were struggling right from the beginning of the run chase as they lost Ricky Bhui, Manish Pandey, and Deepak Hooda early.

However, Kane Williamson kept his team alive by playing brilliantly right from the beginning of the innings. When it seemed that CSK would register a comprehensive win, Williamson kept SRH in the match through his hitting. He stitched a quick partnership of 79 from 39 deliveries with Yusuf Pathan. He went on to score 84 from 51 deliveries before being dismissed.

#2 Deepak Chahar’s damaging spell

Deepak Chahar took a brilliant spell

Sunrisers Hyderabad were off to a shaky start in their run chase and the only reason behind that was Deepak Chahar. Chahar opened the bowling for CSK with a wicket-maiden, dismissing Ricky Bhui. In his second over, Chahar got rid of Manish Pandey thanks to a brilliant out-swinger which Pandey edged towards third man where Karn Sharma took a simple catch.

In his third over, Chahar dismissed Deepak Hooda to worsen the 2016 winners’ misery. He could have bowled another wicket-maiden but Kane Williamson smashed a six in that over which was the only runs he conceded. Chahar ended his final over by giving away only five runs. He ended his spell with 3/15 from four overs.

#1 The terrific partnership between Rayudu and Raina

Ambati Rayudu smashed 79 from 37 balls

CSK were off to a shaky start as openers Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis went out early. Their run rate was pretty low as well. However, Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina began stitching a partnership with the former being the aggressor.

While Raina was keeping his calm, Rayudu was smashing the SRH bowlers all across the ground. The duo added 112 runs for the 3rd wicket from 57 deliveries and steered CSK to a strong position. Rayudu went on to score 79 from just 37 deliveries before being dismissed. Raina batted till the end and managed to score 54 from 43 deliveries. The 112-run partnership between Rayudu and Raina was a key factor in determining CSK’s win. Rayudu was rightfully adjudged the Man of the Match.