Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to clinch fourth IPL title

On Friday, the Chennai Super Kings defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 points in Friday’s summit conflict and won their fourth Indian Super League championship.

Faf du Plessis, in good condition, hit 59 balls and 86 wonderful shots, including seven four-pointers and three six-pointers, helping CSK hit 192-3 after they were invited to hit the ball. Pursuing the grand goal of 193, KKR can shoot 165 points in 9 of their 20 games.

The most loved and revered Indian captain of all time led a team of old warhorses with oodles of experience as they first posted a formidable target of 192 for 3 and then squeezed Knights for only 165 for 9 despite a promising opening stand of 91 between Shubman Gill (51 off 43 balls) and Venkatesh Iyer (50 off 32 balls).

It was canny captaincy that ensured 91 for no loss turned into 125 for 8 and before one realised, it seemed there was only one team on the park.

Josh Hazlewood (2/29 in 4 overs), Ravindra Jadeja (2/37 in 4 overs), Shardul Thakur (3/38 in 4 overs) got the wickets at regular intervals but it was the wily old Dwayne Bravo (1/29 in 4 overs), whose first two overs for eight runs with five dots which actually became a game-changer.

Dhoni and Bravo go back a long way. The skipper knows what his ‘Go To Man’ is capable of and the ‘Champion’ knew that he had to deliver.

Not many words were exchanged between the General and his loyal soldier as they had their blueprint ready.

Faf du Plessis, who had already reached his half-century, continued his onslaught of KKR bowlers and was joined by English all-rounder Moeen Ali in the middle. The duo scored 68 runs in 39 balls as CSK neared the 200-run mark. A tight last over by Shivam Mavi, where he conceded just seven runs and took the wicket of du Plessis, stopped CSK at 192/3.

News Source : Business Standard