IPL 2018 highlights, KKR vs CSK: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens. (Source: IPL)
IPL 2018 highlights, KKR vs CSK: Riding high on India U-19 star Shubman Gill’s unbeaten half-century Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets at the Eden Gardens. Gill’s unbeaten 57 (36 balls) guided his side to victory. With this win KKR are now third on the points table.
Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and chose to field against Chennai Super Kings. They were forced into bringing in Rinku Singh ahead of an injured Nitish Rana while CSK make no changes. CSK had Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis get off to a strong start but unable to turn it into a big knock. An off day for Ambati Rayudu and CSK were staring at a small score until MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 43 from 25 took them to a defendable 177/5. Despite the loss Chennai Super Kings are still at the top of the points table and two wins could all but assure them of a playoff spot which would be a sign of their sheer dominance.
IPL 2018 Live Score, KKR vs CSK: MS Dhoni-led CSK are top of the points table.
Highlights
It is all over here in Eden Gardens. Kolkata Knight Riders have beaten Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets. India U-19 star Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 57 (36) to guide his side to victory. KKR are now third on the points table.
Shubman Gill brings up his first IPL fifty. Such a beautifully timed innings by the U19 star. Promoted to number 4, he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Hopefully first of many 50's to come.
Rinku Singh is bowled and he walks back for 16 runs from 18 balls. Just when Sunny G talked about KKR needing a partnership, Rinky with a massive slog attempt and it is wayward and not controlled at all. Bowled quicker on leg stump and the full delivery takes away the fourth wicket of this KKR inning.
At the halfway stage in the chase, KKR are 90/3 after 10 overs. 10 runs from the Harbhajan over and KKR now need 88 runs from 60 balls.
After 9 overs, KKR are 80/3. More or less evenly poised at this juncture. KKR need 98 runs from 66 balls with Rinku on 10 and Gill on 13. KKR need the upcoming DK and Russell to get the team home else this side could go down in a heap and it could be quick. But for now, young Rinku and Gill are batting sensibly. But need to keep a boundary or two coming every now and then. Last came 15 balls back off Narine - now back in the dugout
Sunil Narine's luck runs out. He departs for 32 runs from 20 balls. It's been Jadeja and Narine all the way through. Dropped him twice, went for a six and now he has his wicket. Short of length and Jadeja is early into his shot. Looked to go deep but only ends up sending it to long-on.
Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack. Couldn't do much with the bat, had horror moments in the fielder. How about with the ball you wonder? A six on the second ball! Narine stands tall and smokes it over cow corner for a six
Twelve runs from Shane Watson's over. KKR 56/2 after the power play overs. Three boundaries from Gill's bat and KKR are still in it. Watson not pleased with how things are going and luck not favouring him either. Gill plays a shot on the up and it is in the air for a tantalising bit of time and yet finds the gap between two fielders
Not the brighest hour for CSK's fielding unit. After two dropped chances by Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh with an absurd dive at third man and the ball goes away for a four. Narine goes for a drive on a full length delivery outside off and it takes a thick outside edge. Bhajji tries to dive into the save but the jumping ball hits his body and goes away for a four. Narine probably saying thank you while Dhoni must be seething. On the inside, obviously.
Robin Uthappa walks back after scoring 6 runs from 8 balls. KM Asif's skiddy bouncers work once again. Short and quick delivery outside off, Uthappa goes for the pull but only ends up with a top edge which is taken by Bravo at mid-on. KKR's two key batsmen both in the hut.
Nope. This is not an error. Jadeja drops it once again. Consecutive balls and Jadeja drops it once again. What drama early on in this chase. CSK's best fielder, arguably the best fielder in the world has just dropped two simple catches. Narine goes hard at a shortish delivery and it is miscued to mid-off. Jadeja jumps up and lets it go. This is incredible stuff!
Ravindra Jadeja has dropped this one. Fairly straightforward. Narine survives on six runs from five balls. Comes into Narine and the pace forces Narine into slashing it straight to Jadeja at mid-off who slides into the catch and lets it go from his grasp.
Chris Lynn departs for 12 runs from 6 balls. What a dramatic start to KKR's chase! Angled in by Ngidi and there is a question mark over the edge on to the thigh before looping up to Watson at first slip. CSK players appeal, Dhoni goes for the review. On first looking, it seemed clean. But an inside edge is there and then it hits the pad before being lapped up by Watto.
First runs of the chase is a six from Chris Lynn! Picks the length early on this short ball and swivels quickly to pull it over square leg. Next ball, another six! What a start! This one is full length delivery on middle and Lynn middles it over the bowler's head for six!
Ambati Rayudu: "Unfortunately, I got out early today. I was surprised to see the wicket, it was stopping a bit when I went into bat. Definitely, we have got a good score as wicket is very slow today. We have a good enough score. Not only spinners, even fast bowlers should bowl well today if they vary their pace".
KKR resume their chase with Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine. Lungi Ngidi has the ball. LET'S GO!
Chennai Super Kings close on 177/5 with a boundary from MS Dhoni on the last ball. Dhoni remains unbeaten on 43 from 25 balls. KKR may be disappointed to not have CSK stopped at 160-165.
Ravindra Jadeja departs for 13 runs from 12 balls. Received lion's share of luck to get a four on the previous ball but this time he has to walk back. Short and quick one by Piyush Chawla, takes the top edge and simple catch for DK
MS Dhoni survives on 29 runs. That is dreadful fielding from Shubhman Gill. Looked too relaxed on the boundary rope and he's just let go of the big fish. How costly could this be? Shortish delivery around off by Kuldeep Yadav, wrong one and Dhoni pulled it straight at Gill at deep square leg. Goes through Gill's fingers and back for a six. At the end of the over, Kuldeep couldn't hide his frustration. With that, Dhoni has the most sixes this IPL (24) to go past Chris Gayle
MS Dhoni with a remarkable hit. Bowled with plenty of pace and it goes back with plenty of pace as well. On length on middle and leg, Dhoni maintains his balance to send it over the long-on boundary. Rinku Singh there on the boundary but his only job here would be to take the ball from someone in the stands and pass it back to Johnson. Single on the final ball and that's 15 runs from the over. Johnson proves extremely expensive with figures of 4-0-51-0.
Short of length on leg stump by Mitchell Johnson and MS Dhoni swivels to pummel it for a flat six towards the square leg boundary. No time to react for any of the fielders around
MS Dhoni sends it soaring to deep mid-wicket for an 88 metre six! Banged in short and this is bowled in with decent pace but Dhoni is on it and connects beautifully to send it into the stands. Welcome six for CSK!
Ambati Rayudu walks back for 21 runs from 17 balls. No luck this time around for Rayudu. Tries to play this one down towards third man but it spins in off the surface to sneak in between bat and pad. Pre-meditated shot that and Rayudu pays for it
Ambati Rayudu gets a touch lucky here. Goes after Sunil Narine in the 15th over but doesn't connect off the middle of the bat. It takes the bottom part of the bat and lands just short of the fielder at wide long-on on the practice pitches.
Second strategic time-out of the match. CSK seem to have lost the momentum with the wickets of Watson and Raina. But who better to have at this juncture than MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu - two of the best batsmen for the table-toppers this season.
Suresh Raina departs for 31 runs from 26 balls. Kuldeep Yadav strikes and Mitchell Johnson takes a simple catch on the boundary rope. Another CSK player departs after plenty of promise and a decent start. Two wickets in two overs and KKR are eyeing a turnaround. Well flighted delivery outside the off stump, Raina goes down and connects but only with the toe end of the bat. Comfortable take for Johnson at long on
Ambati Rayudu, the new CSK batsman in, is back as the Orange Cap holder. Goes past Rishabh Pant with the sixth run of his knock
Shane Watson departs for 36 runs from 24 runs and the CSK opener looks surprised and disappointed at the same time. More of anguish than anything else to be fair. Landed short by Sunil Narine and Watson goes on the backfoot to send it flat towards Shivam Mavi on the boundary. Almost like he forgot the fielder was stationed there.
SIX! Shane Watson rings in 10 overs with a lovely, meaty hit down the ground. Pitched up by Kuldeep Yadav, outside off and plenty of time and room to relax his arms. CSK are 90/1 after 10 overs
In the sixth over, Piyush Chawla's delivery continued to spin away from the left-handed Suresh Raina. Suggestion that it took an edge. Chawla looked convinced that it did take the edge. DK couldn't hold on with no first slip on offer. UltraEdge has just confirmed that it did take the edge. Could prove costly. Raina on 8 then
After the first startegic time-out, CSK are 69/1 in 7 overs. They were 57/1 after the power play overs. Andre Russell going for 12 runs in his first over. Hasn't been much to celebrate for KKR yet. CSK were put in to bat and they have batted well. Faf started well after not looking convincing in the last appearance. Watson has been careful so far and Raina has started smartly.
After that sweet delivery to beat Faf, Piyush Chawla loses his line. Gifts Raina a sweetner to open his account. Well outside off and Raina is on to in a flash to loft it over cover for a four. A ball later, he goes down the leg and swept past short fine leg
Despite the wicket, CSK fans have had plenty to cheer for.
Faf du Plessis departs for 27 runs from 15 balls. Cleaned up completely by Piyush Chawla. Dropped short by Piyush and the googly completely hoodwinks Faf who fails to read it. Stayed back expecting it to turn away but it came in and Faf could do nothing about it. Eden roars in its approval.
Faf du Plessis smacks the first six of the match. Spots a short ball, backs away a touch and gets underneath to send it soaring over deep backward square leg stand. Something for the crowd to try and catch!
Last ball of the over, Watson goes maximum this time! Short by Johnson with little substance behind it. Watto swivels and pulls it over short fine leg. Sweetly struck!
What a thundering hit back by Watson and it almost takes away Johnson's hand! Both the left-arm seamer and the umpire had to react quickly to avoid being hit. Full and Watson is on to it with a bang. Johnson gets his hand to it, somehow, but it only acts as a deflection to still run off to the boundary. What a hit!
After just one run from Sunil Narine's first over, Watson spots the short ball early and is quick to latch on to it. Picks his spot and spanks it for a four to the right of the deep mid-wicket fielder. Goes for a one bounce four
Second over, by Piyush Chawla, also produces double boundaries. Flat and quick outside off by Chawla to Faf and it is punched towards Uthappa at cover-point who puts in a half-hearted effort to let it through for a four. Chawla not pleased.
Adds another boundary to the over and his tally. No fielding error this time. Lofted over mid-off for a comfortable four