Mumbai: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) completed a fairy tale comeback from disgrace to glory, clinching their third IPL title after imposing all-rounder Shane Watson (117 n o, 57b, 11×4, 8×6) single-handedly hammered Sunrises Hyderabad (SRH) into submission with a blazing unbeaten century in the final of the 11th edition of the tournament at the Wankhede Stadium here, Sunday.
Reinstated into the IPL after a two-year ban for their team management’s role in the 2013 spot-fixing scandal, CSK outplayed SRH by eight wickets in a high-pressure game being the icing on the cake.
The Australian struck his second century of the campaign as CSK raced home with nine balls spare after SRH posted a challenging 178 for six while batting first, courtesy Kane Willamson (47, 36b, 5×4, 2×6) and Yusuf Pathan (45 n o, 25b, 4×4, 2×6).
The other in-form CSK batsman, Ambati Rayudu (16 n o), hit the winning four that led to wild celebrations. Watson also shared a 117-run partnership with Suresh Raina (32, 24b) for the second wicket, ensuring a smooth chase for CSK.
Such was CSK domination over an otherwise formidable SRH that they beat the Willamson-led side four times in as many games this season.
The MS Dhoni-captained side had entered a seventh IPL final and their stellar campaign ended with a record equalling third title, tying them up with Mumbai Indians. And the star of the night was one and only Shane Watson.
The 36-year-old, who previously won the title with Rajasthan Royals in the league’s inaugural season in 2008, struggled initially and got up to the mark on his 11th delivery he faced after 10 dot balls before muscling his way to 50 in only 33 balls and then smashed Sandeep Sharma for 26 runs in the 13th over to make it a virtual no-contest.
It was not surprise that he ended with 555 runs in the season including two hundreds and as many half centuries.
Earlier, Williamson missed out on yet another fifty in a highly successful season as SRH piled on a challenging score after a slow start.
Williamson led his side from the front once again before Pathan pummelled the opposition bowlers in the death overs along with Carlos Brathwaite (21) who came up with the much needed big hits towards the end.
CSK kept a tight rein on the Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen initially while also taking a wicket through a run-out. After 17/1 in four overs, SRH raced to 42/1 at the end of powerplay.
Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan added 53 runs for the second wicket before Ravindra Jadeja (1/24) dismissed Dhawan. The run-rate dropped a bit after his departure and at the half-way mark Sunrisers were 73 for 2.
The promoted Shakib Al Hasan then joined his skipper at the middle and the duo took the score past 100-run mark before the skipper’s dismissal. Shakib too departed shortly before Pathan and Brathwaite took the score close to 180.
