IPL 2019 highlights: Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab by 22 runs
Harbhajan was the best bowler for the hosts with the figures of 4-1-17-2. In a brilliant spell, he bowled a maiden and grabbed two wickets, including that of the 'universal boss' Chris Gayle.
 "IPL 2019, CSK vs KXIP")
R Ashwin and MS Dhoni. Photo: PTI
In Match 18 of VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL 2019), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinners led by seasoned Harbhajan Singh put on a dominating show to help the side reclaim the top position in IPL points table 2019 with a 22-run win over Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. Defending 160 for three, CSK restricted Punjab to 138 for 5 despite half centuries from K L Rahul (55) and Sarfaraz Khan (67). The visitors scored at a snail pace and required to score 26 off the last over, bowled by IPL debutant Scott Kuggeleijn. The Kiwi paceman had no trouble defending those runs and also dismissed Sarfaraz.
Check 2019 IPL points table hereIPL 2019, Match 18: CSK vs KXIP Live scorecard
Harbhajan was the best bowler for the hosts with the figures of 4-1-17-2. In a brilliant spell, he bowled a maiden and grabbed two wickets, including that of the 'universal boss' Chris Gayle.
Ravindra Jadeja (4-0-24-0) and Imran Tahir (4-0-20-0) also helped CSK put the brakes on the rival batsmen. They, along with Harbhajan, conceded only 61 runs in 12 overs even as the required run-rate kept mounting.
Kuggeleijn did not start very well, being hit for a six off his very first ball, but did well to finish with 2 for 37 in his 4 overs.
Harbhajan struck a huge blow to rivals by dismissing the Gayle, having him caught behind by M S Dhoni for 5 in the second over.
Two balls later, he had the stylish Mayank Agarwal, caught by Faf du Plessis near the boundary with the batsman going for a big hit. Harbhajan started off with a double wicket maiden to put Kings XI on the backfoot early.
In the 13th over, Rahul's missed sweep saw Dhoni flick the ball on to the stumps but the bails didn't come off though the LED lights lit up, ensuring the batsman survived despite being short of his crease.
The century partnership for the third wicket between Rahul and Sarfaraz was a productive one but they consumed a lot of balls and stymied the Kings XI chase as the CSK bowlers kept things tight.
Earlier, du Plessis hit a fine half-century up the order while skipper Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu provided the late flourish to help Chennai Super Kings post a competitive 160 for three.
Du Plessis made 54 off 38 balls with the help of two fours and four hits over the fence and together with Shane Watson (26) added 56 runs for the first wicket after opting to bat.
But it was some late hitting by Dhoni (37 not out) and Rayudu (21 not out) and their unbeaten 60-run fourth wicket partnership in 30 balls helped the defending champions reach a respectable total.
Thanks to Dhoni and Rayudu, CSK scored 52 runs in the last five overs after a rather quiet middle period.
Kings XI skipper Ravichandran Ashwin was the best bowler for the visitors, picking up three wickets for 23 runs from his four overs. He was on a hat-trick in the 14th over after getting half-centurion Du Plessis and Suresh Raina off successive deliveries.
Watson fell against the run of play, attempting a big shot off Kings XI captain Ashwin to be well caught by Sam Curran in the deep.
Raina (17), who came in at No.3, strung together an useful 44-run partnership with Du Plessis, who kept the scoreboard ticking with a mix of attacking shots and judicious running between the wickets.
The partnership was broken when Du Plessis perished while going for a big hit off Ashwin, caught at long-on by David Miller and then a ball later the off-spinner cleaned up Raina as the batsman went for a sweep.
Over 20; Chennai won by 22 runs
Kuggeleijn continues and Sarfaraz picks a couple of runs off the first ball. A bouncer and Sarfaraz misses. Another DOT. Sarfaraz holed the 4th ball to mid-wicket fielder. Sarfaraz Khan c du Plessis b Kuggeleijn 67(59) [4s-4 6s-2]. Sam Curran, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Mandeep takes a single off the 5th ball. A couple of runs for Sam Curran off the last ball and with this CSK win by 22 runs and go top of the table
Over 19; CRR: 7.11 REQ: 26
Deepak Chahar [3.0-0-27-0] is back into the attack and bowls a slow full toss at chest height and Sarfaraz hits it to third-man boundary for FOUR. FREE HIT and Deepak Chahar bowls the same delivery, Sarfaraz picks a couple of runs. A perfect yorker, and Sarfaraz picks a single. Miller squeezed the 2nd ball to long-off for a single. A single for Sarfaraz off the 3rd ball to deep square leg. A single for Miller off the 4th ball. A single for Sarfaraz off the 5th ball. Deepak Chahar castles Miller off the last delivery.
Over 18; CRR: 6.78 REQ: 19.5
Scott Kuggeleijn [2.0-0-27-0] is back into the attack and Rahul picks a single to long-on. Sarfaraz hits the 2nd ball uppishly to long-off for a single. Rahul holed the 3rd ball to mid-wicket fielder. Rahul c Jadeja b Kuggeleijn 55(47) [4s-3 6s-1]. David Miller, left handed bat, comes to the crease
A single for Sarfaraz off the 4th ball to fine leg. Miller hammers the 5th ball to long-off boundary for one bounce FOUR. DOt to end the over
Over 17; CRR: 6.76 REQ: 15.33
Tahir continues and Rahul picks a single off the first ball towards deep point. Sarfaraz hits the 2nd ball to mid-wicket for a single. Rahul hits the 3rd ball towards long-on for a single. A big swing and miss from Sarfaraz. A single for Sarfaraz off the 5th ball. A single for Rahul to end the over.
Over 16; CRR: 6.88 REQ: 12.75
Harbhajan Singh [3.0-1-12-2] is back into the attack and concedes only 5 runs in his last over of the match.
Over 15
Imran Tahir continues and concedes 5 runs.
Time-out
Over 14; CRR: 7.21 REQ: 10
Harbhajan Singh [2.0-1-8-2] is back into the attack and Sarfaraz picks a single to deep backward point. Rahul picks a single towards square leg. DOT..DOT and single for Sarfaraz. A single for Rahul off the last ball.
Over 13; CRR: 7.38 REQ: 9.29
Jadeja continues and Sarfaraz pick a single off the 2nd ball. A couple of runs for Rahul off the 3rd ball towards mid-wicket. Rahul tucks the 4th ball to leg side and goes for a single but comes back to the crease and in a mean time Dhoni backflicks the ball onto stumps light's is on but bails doesn't come off. Rahul is safe. A single for Sarfaraz off the 5th ball. DOT to end the over.
Over 12; CRR: 7.58 REQ: 8.75
Scott Kuggeleijn [1.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack and flicks the first ball to deep fine leg for a couple of runs. Sarfaraz plays a perfect Dil'scoop over keeper for FOUR. WIDE down the leg side. Sarfaraz picks a single off the 3rd ball towards point region. A single for Rahul in the same direction off the next ball. STAND and DELIVER from Sarfaraz as he plays and an extended extra cover drive for SIX follows by a single.
Over 11; CRR: 6.82 REQ: 9.56
Jadeja continues and Rahul picks a single off the first ball. A single for Sarfaraz off the 2nd ball. Rahul collects a single off the 3rd ball. TWO DOTS and a single for Sarfaraz t0 end the over
Over 10; CRR: 7.08 REQ: 9.05
Tahir continues after time-out Sartaraz beaten off the first ball while picks a single off the 2nd ball. DOT... Rahul tucks the 4th ball to mid-wicket for a single. Sarfaraz picks a single off the 5th ball. A single for Rahul to end the over
Over 9; CRR: 7.44 REQ: 8.55
Jadeja continues and Rahul picks a single off the first ball. Sarafarz guides the 2nd ball to third-man boundary for FOUR follows by a single. Rahul cuts the 4th ball to point boundary for FOUR and takes a single off the next delivery. A single for Sarfaraz to end the over.
Over 8; CRR: 6.88 REQ: 8.83
Imran Tahir, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack and concedes 2 runs before Sarfaraz cuts the last ball to point boundary for FOUR
Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel
First Published: Apr 06 2019 | 1:30 PM IST
