Press Trust of India
Chennai, May 4: A sensational bowling effort by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) saw them defend a modest total as they brushed aside Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 24 runs at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here Monday to regain their position at the top of the table.
Having posted a modest 148 for nine in 20 overs, CSK bowlers led by Ashish Nehra (3/19) and Dwayne Bravo (2/17) exhibited brilliant death over skills to bundle out RCB for 124 in 19.4 overs.
From a relatively comfortable position of 97 for three with another 52 runs to get, RCB’s slump started when Bravo effected a superb reflex run-out off his own bowling to get rid of opposition skipper Virat Kohli (48, 44b, 2×4, 1×6). Kohli had added 63 runs for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (23) after they were left tottering at 34 for three.
Once Kohli was gone, the procession started and the RCB batsmen were left asking for more as, barring David Wiese (17), none of the lower order batters could stand up to the CSK bowlers.
Earlier, Mitchell Starc (3/24) bowled brilliantly as RCB managed to restrict CSK below 150 for after MS Dhoni had decided to bat first. Starc was supported well by Harshal Patel (2/19) and David Wiese (2/29). Starc yorked Dwayne Smith (0) off the very first over that went for a maiden.
However, Brendon McCullum (20) was in his usual aggressive self as leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and seamer Wiese came in for some harsh treatment during that initial period. But, he was caught at the mid-wicket boundary by Iqbal Abdullah off Wiese’s bowling in the final over of the powerplay.
Suresh Raina (52, 46b, 5×4, 1×6) top-scored for CSK with a flurry of classic boundaries. He conjured a 64-run partnership with Faf du Plessis (24) as the pair took the team’s total near 100 before Patel’s double blow put paid to the hopes of a big total.
Brief Scores
CSK 148 for nine (Suresh Raina 52; Mitchell Starc 3/24) beat RCB 124 (Virat Kohli 48; Ashish 3/19) by 24 runs.
