Top 5 close encounters won by Chennai Super Kings

CSK have always had the reputation oftakingthe game down the wire. While there are a few instances they have not succeeded, more often than not they cruised their way past the finishing line. Here are the top 5 heists pulled off by CSK in the past.

#5 Dwayne Bravo\'s last ball six

Bravo hits a six off the last ball to see CSK home

IPL 2013 had been a very patchy tournament for the men in yellow. To keep things afloat, CSK needed a victory against KKR in their own backyard by hook or crook. Chasing 159 for victory, CSK were well on track until the departure of MSD had the equation to be 5 to get off one ball. Rajat Bhatia was bowling very cleverly and mixing it up very well. Bravo had no option but to slog and it became easier when Bhatia bowled a juicy full toss. CSK fans still had their hearts in their mouth as Manoj Tiwary was getting underneath it, but it was CSK who had the last laugh as it sailed over for a six.

#4 RP SIngh\'s no-ball sees Jadeja take CSK home

RP's no-ball sees Jaddu take CSK home

After a cliffhanger between both the teams in 2012, the crowd witnessed another such encounter in 2013. CSK chasing 166 for a victory, had everything going their way. They needed 2 runs off the last ball with RP Singh bowling to Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja sliced it straight to third man as RCB started their celebrations; which stopped when they saw umpire Anil Chaudhary extend his right arm to signal a no-ball. CSK won the game, a very unlikely heist; thanks to the huge overstepping by RP Singh.

#3 Monstrous Morkel

Albie Morkel smashed Virat Kohli for 28 runs to seal the game for CSK

Chasing 206 for victory against RCB in their first head to head encounter in the 2012 edition, CSK batsmen began the run chase in a calculative manner until things went a bit out of control with CSK needing 43 off 12. Virat Kohli chose to bowl the 19th over as Albie Morkel took him to the cleaners ransacking 28 from the over. Albie got out in the last over as Bravo and Jadeja completed the formalities but it was Albie who turned out to be the albatross for CSK.

#2 MS Dhoni\'s field setting for Pollard

Hayden takes a stunning catch a straightish mid off to dismiss Pollard

Thanks to MSD’s heroics against the Kings XI in the league stage, CSK booked an encounter versus Mumbai Indians in the finals of IPL 2010. CSK posted a challenging 168. The MI chase began in a not-so-good way and with Pollard being held back, the required rate was climbing. With 55 required off 18, Pollard scored 22 off a Bollinger over to bring the equation down to 33 off 12. Captain cool Dhoni set a very unlikely field by placing Matthew Hayden at straightish mid off and provoked Pollard to play Morkel straight down the ground and Pollard fell for the ploy. The catch sealed the game for Chennai as they went on to lift the cup by beating MI by 22 runs.

#1 MS Dhoni takes CSK into the IPL 2010 semi-finals

Captain Cool takes CSK home

With nothing to lose, Kings XI played fearlessly to get to 192/3. It was a virtual knockout game for CSK. The run chase began with Raina and Badrinath both chipping in with some crucial runs. But the target still seemed daunting. With 44 required from 18 and all set batsmen out, MSD and Morkel managed to turn the tide in CSK’s favor as they needed 16 off the last 6 balls. The skipper did give a chance to the opposition, but finished the match with 2 balls to spare guiding CSK into the semi finals in 2010, the edition which they won eventually beating Mumbai Indians in the finals.