Three places in the playoffs were to be decided and three matches had to be played in the last weekend of the league stage this season, out of which the least significant was the encounter between the potential table toppers and the team that had been out of form this season.
MS Dhoni and the Chennai Super Kings were looking to finish at either of the top two spots on the table and the team had an opportunity to do on Saturday evening in Mohali. On the other hand, George Bailey-led Punjab were looking to finish an awful campaign with a win.
But on Saturday evening at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium, the toss was the only thing that didn’t go the Super Kings' way.
Bailey wanted to bat first and had expected their batting unit to put a decent show, for one last time this season.
Did they?
Kings XI Punjab's poor showing with the bat continued. The Chennai Super Kings attack looked complete as their spinners kept troubling the opposition.
Dhoni was in his element and he wanted to try out unusual combinations on the field. He gambled by opening the bowling attack with his new found favorite ‒ Pawan Negi. The results were imminent as Negi took his first wicket with a slow flighted ball and sent Kings XI Punjab batsmen Wriddhiman Saha back.
The Chennai charm continued with Nehra’s come back. Dhoni couldn't have asked for more from the Indian veteran, who returned from his short one-match break, as he ended Bailey’s short stay at the crease.
Ishwar Pandey, with Manan Vohra’s wicket, added to the batting woes of the opposition. The scoreboard read 41/3 at 6 overs. Kings XI was on course to yet another batting failure.
A mismatch
Maxwell vs Ashwin was one of the most anticipated encounters last season. This season though, especially in Saturday's match, the face-off was a mismatch. Glenn Maxwell had struggled with the bat this season while Ravichandran Ashwin had been brilliant with the ball. Saturday evening’s case was no different as Maxwell struggled against the quality Chennai spin attack. He was castled after he failed to read the line of a Ravindra Jadeja delivery.
David Miller couldn’t exhibit his attacking instincts as he was once again sent in to consolidate the innings. Jadeja, this time at deep mid-wicket took a blinder of a catch end Miller’s stay.
Punjab’s innings never had any momentum. Chennai's spinners made full use of the track that assisted spin. They never let the KXIP batsmen settle and as a result the Pubjab unit managed a meager total of 130 runs.
Faf-Raina show
Imagine, your team has lost two early wickets without scoring much. In such situations, you have to be extremely lucky to have a player like Faf du Plessis in your side. The South African middle-order batsman loves such situations. On Saturday, he did what he does best- play an anchor role and pull the team out of trouble.
Chennai Super Kings had lost their openers early in the innings. Michael Hussey who wore yellow for the first time this season failed with the bat. Brendon McCullum, playing his last match of the season, failed to play a fitting farewell knock.
And then, the match-winning Du Plessis-Raina partnership occurred. Du Plessis, who made 55 of 41 deliveries, was the more attacking partner while Raina was happy playing the second fiddle. Both the batsmen gave no chances to KXIP bowlers and notched a 92-run partnership that sealed the game for the men in yellow.
Dhoni, who came in after Du Plessis exit, had an easy job at hand. The Mohali crowd witnessed some Dhoni magic in the end, as the Chennai Super Kings skipper hit two big ones off the seventeenth over of which one was a scoop over the fine leg. Chennai Super Kings fans and the dugout must have been happy to see the skipper’s attacking intent that might set the tone for the team in the playoffs.
The Super Kings exhibited a dominant show on Saturday. With two more points in their kitty, Chennai Super Kings have finished the league stages as table toppers.
Potential champions
Chennai Super Kings will miss the services of Brendon McCullum in the coming matches as he goes off to do duty for New Zealand on their tour of England. In spite of this, they have good chance of regaining the title. The team is counting on Michael Hussey to give the team a Super King-ish start. The fielding unit, as always has been the game changing factor for the men in yellow. The bowling unit has put up decent performances throughout the season. Dwayne Bravo and Ashish Nehra will resume their battle for the purple cap in a few days time. Chennai Super Kings will be the favorites when they play the first qualifier at the Wankhade.
The Super Kings now have an extra chance to make it to the ultimate stage of the tournament just in case they have a bad day or if someone in the opposition has a good day.
Chennai Super Kings (134 for 3 in 16.5 overs) beat King XI Punjab (130 for 7 in 20 overs) by seven wickets.
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MS Dhoni and the Chennai Super Kings were looking to finish at either of the top two spots on the table and the team had an opportunity to do on Saturday evening in Mohali. On the other hand, George Bailey-led Punjab were looking to finish an awful campaign with a win.
But on Saturday evening at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium, the toss was the only thing that didn’t go the Super Kings' way.
Bailey wanted to bat first and had expected their batting unit to put a decent show, for one last time this season.
Did they?
Kings XI Punjab's poor showing with the bat continued. The Chennai Super Kings attack looked complete as their spinners kept troubling the opposition.
Dhoni was in his element and he wanted to try out unusual combinations on the field. He gambled by opening the bowling attack with his new found favorite ‒ Pawan Negi. The results were imminent as Negi took his first wicket with a slow flighted ball and sent Kings XI Punjab batsmen Wriddhiman Saha back.
The Chennai charm continued with Nehra’s come back. Dhoni couldn't have asked for more from the Indian veteran, who returned from his short one-match break, as he ended Bailey’s short stay at the crease.
Ishwar Pandey, with Manan Vohra’s wicket, added to the batting woes of the opposition. The scoreboard read 41/3 at 6 overs. Kings XI was on course to yet another batting failure.
A mismatch
Maxwell vs Ashwin was one of the most anticipated encounters last season. This season though, especially in Saturday's match, the face-off was a mismatch. Glenn Maxwell had struggled with the bat this season while Ravichandran Ashwin had been brilliant with the ball. Saturday evening’s case was no different as Maxwell struggled against the quality Chennai spin attack. He was castled after he failed to read the line of a Ravindra Jadeja delivery.
David Miller couldn’t exhibit his attacking instincts as he was once again sent in to consolidate the innings. Jadeja, this time at deep mid-wicket took a blinder of a catch end Miller’s stay.
Punjab’s innings never had any momentum. Chennai's spinners made full use of the track that assisted spin. They never let the KXIP batsmen settle and as a result the Pubjab unit managed a meager total of 130 runs.
Faf-Raina show
Imagine, your team has lost two early wickets without scoring much. In such situations, you have to be extremely lucky to have a player like Faf du Plessis in your side. The South African middle-order batsman loves such situations. On Saturday, he did what he does best- play an anchor role and pull the team out of trouble.
Chennai Super Kings had lost their openers early in the innings. Michael Hussey who wore yellow for the first time this season failed with the bat. Brendon McCullum, playing his last match of the season, failed to play a fitting farewell knock.
And then, the match-winning Du Plessis-Raina partnership occurred. Du Plessis, who made 55 of 41 deliveries, was the more attacking partner while Raina was happy playing the second fiddle. Both the batsmen gave no chances to KXIP bowlers and notched a 92-run partnership that sealed the game for the men in yellow.
Dhoni, who came in after Du Plessis exit, had an easy job at hand. The Mohali crowd witnessed some Dhoni magic in the end, as the Chennai Super Kings skipper hit two big ones off the seventeenth over of which one was a scoop over the fine leg. Chennai Super Kings fans and the dugout must have been happy to see the skipper’s attacking intent that might set the tone for the team in the playoffs.
The Super Kings exhibited a dominant show on Saturday. With two more points in their kitty, Chennai Super Kings have finished the league stages as table toppers.
Potential champions
Chennai Super Kings will miss the services of Brendon McCullum in the coming matches as he goes off to do duty for New Zealand on their tour of England. In spite of this, they have good chance of regaining the title. The team is counting on Michael Hussey to give the team a Super King-ish start. The fielding unit, as always has been the game changing factor for the men in yellow. The bowling unit has put up decent performances throughout the season. Dwayne Bravo and Ashish Nehra will resume their battle for the purple cap in a few days time. Chennai Super Kings will be the favorites when they play the first qualifier at the Wankhade.
The Super Kings now have an extra chance to make it to the ultimate stage of the tournament just in case they have a bad day or if someone in the opposition has a good day.
Chennai Super Kings (134 for 3 in 16.5 overs) beat King XI Punjab (130 for 7 in 20 overs) by seven wickets.