Press Trust of India
Mohali, May 16: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) produced a clinical performance to demolish wooden spooners Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by seven wickets in an IPL-VIII match here Saturday. By virtue of the win, CSK took the top spot in the league table and became the first team to qualify for the play-offs.
After restricting KXIP to 130 for seven in 20 overs, the CSK pair of Faf du Plessis (55, 41b, 5×4, 1×6) and Suresh Raina (41 n o, 34b, 4×4) added 92 runs for the third wicket to ensure an emphatic win. Skipper MS Dhoni (25 n o, 2×4, 2×6) delivered the coup de grace in style.
It was indeed a sad end to the campaign of last year’s runners-up. KXIP have been very ordinary this season and Saturday was no exception at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. Things started on a sour note for the hosts when during warm-up, a shot from David Miller crashed through the side nettings and hit a young boy on the chest. He fainted immediately and was shifted to a hospital where the kid is stated to be out of danger.
This is the second incident of this type involving Miller. The first time, a six from his blade hit policeman Alok Aich ‘thud’ in the eye during KXIP’s match against KKR, May 9 at the Eden Gardens. According to information available, Aich, 53, is set to lose vision in his right eye.
Problems plagued KXIP batsmen right from the word go. The stars once more failed with George Bailey (12), Glenn Maxwell (six) and David Miller (11) contributing a mere 29 among themselves. The crowd had gathered hoping ‘Mad Max’ to come good in KXIP’s last game. But Ravindra Jadeja (1/18) cleaned in him with a beauty that spun away across the bat to hit the top of off.
The hosts would have never even crossed the 100-run mark, if not for a stand of 44 in 35 balls between Axar Patel (32, 29b, 2×4, 1×6) and Rishi Dhawan (25 n o, 20b, 1×4, 2×6). But they had too much to do against a bowling attack that looked disciplined and constantly probed away at the batsmen’s weaknesses.
CSK finished their league engagements on top of the eight-team table with 18 points from 14 games, which can’t be surpassed by any other team in the tournament. Finishing on top of the table ensures that CSK will be playing the first Qualifier and even if they lose, they will get another shot at summit glory facing the winner of the ‘Eliminator’ between teams placed third and fourth.
Brief scores: KXIP 130 for seven (Axar Patel 32, Pawan Negi 2/25) lost to CSK 134 for three in 16.5 overs (Faf du Plessis 55, Suresh Raina 24 n o) by seven wickets.