Rahane and Dube get fifty propels CSK to a comprehensive win
In the second game of the doubleheader on Sunday, the Chennai Super Kings scored the highest IPL total at Eden Gardens to decisively defeat the Kolkata Knight Riders. Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, and Devon Conway all scored blazing half-centuries, and the team posted a whopping 235-4 as a result. The adequate bowling effort was more than made up for by the game-changing batting display. Let’s first discuss that.
A deceptively fortunate powerplay
After the field restrictions were lifted at the end of the sixth over, the score might have read 59-0, but Lady Luck had already begun to favor the Super Kings with a number of edged boundaries and even a top-edged six in the first six overs, which gave the visitors the drive to set the stage and start off strong. The new ball was swinging, and it was evident that KKR were agitated because full tosses, even high ones, were snatched up by the Super Kings, compounding the Knight Riders’ problems. The powerplay had little effect on the luck. It was pure stroke-making, especially from Gaikwad, who smacked teammate and dependable miser Sunil Narine. However, when Gaikwad was out, Rahane and Conway continued to push the score forward, managing only 36 runs in 27 balls before Conway was dismissed for a 40-ball 56. It was a calm period before a rage…
The Rampage of Rahane
At the end of the over, when Chakravarthy removed Conway, Dube launched two huge sixes that served as the catalyst for the entire event. At that point, Rahane launched the attack and wiped out everyone in his path. The first victim was Umesh Yadav, who was battered for 22 runs in an over with the score of 6,6,4,1,4,1. Although his teammate struck the final four, Rahane and Dube had both activated Turbo mode. They severely damaged the KKR bowlers, sparing mostly Suyash Sharma. 35 balls were used to score 85 runs, with Dube needing 20 balls and Rahane 24 to reach his fifty-run mark.
A brief reprieve and an additional surge
When Dube was ultimately fired by Khejroliya, it appeared that the show was ended. However, it was only a momentary respite for the Knight Riders, as Ravindra Jadeja and Rahane launched another merciless attack on KKR in the dying moments, scoring 38 runs off just 13 balls between them. Rahane closed with an amazing 29-ball 71*, which was a testament to his confidence as evidenced by his ramp shot over the third man to full delivery. During the Jadeja-Rahane stand, the carnage increased the CSK score above 200 and brought it dangerously close to a record total (their greatest IPL total is 246-5). 235-4 in 20 overs was their highest total at Eden Gardens, despite the fact that they fell short of the record.
A terrible beginning for KKR
They once again started the innings with their trusted No. 11-turned-opener Sunil Narine in an effort to get off to a fast start. As a result, Akash Singh returned Narine’s off-stump, and Deshpande dismissed Jagadeesan to leave KKR in trouble at 1-2. While Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana plodded along and kept the scoreboard going, they were well below the necessary rate. The ideal rate is just under 12 runs per over, however, Iyer was trapped in front by Moeen, and Rana soon left with the score at 70-4 and the run rate just under 9. For KKR, the situation seemed dire, and they were facing defeat in front of their home crowd.
A Roy-al murder spree
Jason Roy was hitting improperly. But it made no difference. Despite the fact that Moeen Ali was a teammate from England, he saw an off-spinner and hit three consecutive sixes off of him. However, a stand of 65 off 37 was still insufficient to maintain the insanely high necessary rate, and Roy eventually gave in under pressure as KKR’s run rate was still less than 10. Even Rinku Singh’s most recent exploits seemed insignificant in comparison to the Brobdingnagian target, but throughout Jason Roy’s Carnage, he had been quietly setting boundaries at the opposing end.
Unusual anticlimax
Given the recent IPL humdingers, it seems inevitable that another exciting conclusion would be written by the universe. Russell and Rinku were undoubtedly the pair to succeed. But it was not to be as Wiese and Russell abruptly left the scene. Even Rinku Singh, the team’s miracle worker, found the task too difficult when the required pace reached 30. Finally, KKR comfortably missed their goal by 50 runs, and CSK finished the weekend by topping the points table.
Next, what?
On Thursday, April 27, CSK will travel to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur to play the Rajasthan Royals after a last-over thriller in Chennai against the league leaders. On Wednesday, April 26, the Kolkata Knight Riders go for Bengaluru to take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore.