IPL 2018: 3 close encounters where CSK emerged victorious

#2 CSK vs KKR, Match 5

CSK returned to their fortress-the Chepauk, after two years in the fifth match of the tournament. No words would be enough to describe the reception that the home side received. Thousands of supporters thronged in and it was hard to spot any other color than yellow at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. After winning the toss, CSK opted to field first.

An absolutely destructive innings from Andre Russell propelled KKR to 202-6 after they were struggling at 89-5. The Jamaican hit 11 maximums and just the one four in his 36 ball innings. This destruction had the Chennai crowd silenced.

Though it wasn’t too late before the crowd found their voices back. Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu got CSK off to a flier as they scored 75-1 in the powerplay. All of a sudden, the CSK lineup started searching for answers against KKR’s bowling. After Shane Watson’s wicket, the first boundary came after 34 balls. Clearly, CSK were the team under pressure.

Chennai needed 75 runs in the last six overs. Billings’ attack in the 15th over reduced the equation to 58 off 30. Just when CSK started to pull things back, Karthik caught Dhoni off Chawla. There was pin-drop silence at the Chepauk.

Billings continued his fine innings before getting caught at long-off. CSK needed 17 off the last over. Some loose deliveries from Vinay Kumar and some excellent finishing skills from Jadeja and Bravo took CSK home on the penultimate delivery of the match.

The crowd erupted and they were deafening. There could not have been a better return for the Super Kings to the Chepauk. The "whistle podu" commenced and it was a night for the fans to remember.