KKR v CSK: Top 5 Performers of the Match!

Chennai Super Kings (220-4) edged Kolkata Knight Riders (202) by 18 runs and rise to No.1 spot on points table. CSK openers built a solid foundation on which the innings propelled to high 200s. KKR struggled in the powerplay losing 5 wickets but thanks to Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell and Pat Cummins, the match went in to the final over.

KKR had 8 batsmen dismissed in single digits and that didn’t help the team chasing 221.

Here are our Top 5 performers of the KKR v CSK fixture:

Ruturaj Gaikwad – 64 (42)

The CSK opener sprung back to form with a 42 ball 64. He struck 6 fours and 4 sixes in his innings. He put on a 115-run partnership with Faf du Plessis in 12.2 overs.

Gaikwad returned the faith put in him in a rewarding fashion as he looked a whole lot confident in his stroke making.

Faf du Plessis – 95*(60)

Ruturaj’s opening partner crunched up an unbeaten 60 ball 95 powered by 9 fours & 4 sixes. This is Faf’s 2^nd highest score in IPL history (his highest being 96).

du Plessis reached his half century in 35 balls. The Proteas batsman was on 69 runs in 50 balls at the end of 18 overs with his team at 186-2. He then powered himself to 26 runs in the last 2 overs helping his team to 220-3 in 20 overs.

Deepak Chahar – 4/29

CSK swing bowler Deepak Chahar  wrecked the KKR batting order in the powerplay removing Nitish Rana (9), Shubman Gill (0), Eoin Morgan (7) and Sunil Narine (4). He ended with match figures of 4-0-29-4.

Chahar also affected 2 crucial run outs in the end to wrap up KKR innings which ran too close to win.

Andre Russell – 1/27 & 54 (22)

Andre Russell walked in to bat when KKR were at 31-5 in 5.2 overs, chasing a huge total of 221 runs to win. Russell bludgeoned the CSK attack with 3 fours and 6 sixes in his 22 ball 54. He put on a stunning 81 run partnership with Dinesh Karthik (40) for the 6^th wicket in 6 overs.

Sam Curran got the big wicket of Russell as the big man misjudged the ball on his legs and left it alone, which swung in to knock the leg stump. The score at his departure was 112-6 in 11.2 overs. KKR were truly still in the hunt at his exit.

Pat Cummins 66*(34)

Pat Cummins walked in after the fall of Andre Russell with KKR still needing 109 runs to win in 52 balls. The only problem for KKR was wickets in hand. Cummins put on a 34-run partnership with Dinesh Karthik for the 7^th wicket in 22 balls. At Karthik’s exit KKR still needed 75 runs to win in 5 overs.

The very next over Cummins hit 30 runs (2,6,6,6,4,6) off Sam Curran’s over to tilt the match upside down. Unfortunately, the KKR tail kept running out as Cummins waged a lone battle.

Cummins reached his half century in 23 balls as he pushed the match in to the final over with KKR needing 20 runs to win with just 1 wicket in hand. In quest of keeping strike, Cummins called for the second run but a throw from Deepak Chahar from long on was enough for Shardul Thakur to collect and run out Prasidh Krisha, ending the KKR innings at 202.

The Aussie bowling all-rounder remained unbeaten on 66 runs in 34 balls with the help of 4 fours and 6 sixes.

KKR v CSK – Match Summary:

CSK 220-3 in 20 overs

Ruturaj Gaikwad 64 (42)

Faf du Plessis 95*(60)

Moeen Ali 25 (12)

MS Dhoni 17 (8)

KKR 202 all out in 19.1 overs

Dinesh Karthik 40 (24)

Andre Russell 54 (22)

Pat Cummins 66 (34)

Deepak Chahar 4-0-29-4

Lungi Ngidi 4-0-28-3

CSK WON BY 18 RUNS

Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis