Punjab Kings kept CSK in defeat 3 consecutive IPL matches
Punjab Kings kept CSK in defeat 3 consecutive IPL matches
Punjab Kings became the first squad in the Indian Premier League season to successfully defend a total in seven night matches in Mumbai. Chennai Super Kings(CSK) lost half of their team to Punjab's seamers in no time, losing for the third game in a row, this time by a mammoth 54-run deficit. Liam Livingstone's first IPL half-century propelled a sluggish line-up to 180 runs.
The white ball rarely moves for more than a couple of overs, but Punjab, particularly debutant Vaibhav Arora from Himachal Pradesh, got it to swing throughout the Powerplay. CSK was dropped to 36 for 5 by the eighth over of the pursuit.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's edging slipped thanks to Kagiso Rabada's perfect shape. Arora, who was bending the rules in both directions, generated enough confusion for Robin Uthappa to take the lead. Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja were both killed by inside edges as a result of the batsmen's hesitancy. Odean Smith came in to bounce one into Ambati Rayudu's chest and force a fend from the wicketkeeper after a Powerplay of 27 for 4 compared to Punjab's 72 for 2.
With Mahendra Singh Dhoni trapped at the other end, Shivam Dube smashed 57 off 30 balls, but the asking rate was continuously rising. The definitive knockout strikes came in the 15th over, when Livingstone's spin removed Dube and Dwayne Bravo in two balls.
Livingstone's six-hitting skills astonished the cricket world, earning him Rs 11.5 crore at this year's IPL auction. But, before Sunday night, he hadn't truly set the IPL on fire in his few appearances. At 14 for 2, the Englishman followed Punjab's strategy of having at least one middle-order batsmen go after everything this season. Bhanuka Rajapaksa had played that position in their previous two matches, but the Sri Lankan was knocked off early against CSK.
Livingstone moved down the track to his second ball, which he flicked for three to Chris Jordan. For seven of his ten boundaries, he pounded Mukesh Choudhary's left-arm angle. He stepped out and smashed the ball over mid-off, or he stayed solid on off stump, cleared his front leg, and smashed sixes down the legside, the longest of the season. Rayudu at short third man off Jadeja and then Dhoni off Dwaine Pretorius both dropped Livingstone on 45. Rayudu ultimately got him off Jadeja, by which point he'd advanced to 60 off 32.
Even CSK's 210 in the previous match at Brabourne Stadium wasn't sufficient. So, despite losing wickets, Punjab could not be blamed for hitting. However, they had lost steam against KKR in their attempt to set a large objective, and they did so again. They managed 180 for 8 from 72 for 2 in the Powerplay and 109 for 2 in the 10th over. The dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan and Livingstone in consecutive overs shattered Punjab's hopes, and they could only muster 33 runs in the final five overs.
Jordan's addition provided CSK a lot more depth at the end of the game. Jordan's full lengths were too much for Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith to handle. One issue was the lack of dew, as the chemical used to keep the moisture out had been applied later. Only near the end of the first inning, according to Jordan, did a smidgeon of dew appear.
The white ball rarely moves for more than a couple of overs, but Punjab, particularly debutant Vaibhav Arora from Himachal Pradesh, got it to swing throughout the Powerplay. CSK was dropped to 36 for 5 by the eighth over of the pursuit.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's edging slipped thanks to Kagiso Rabada's perfect shape. Arora, who was bending the rules in both directions, generated enough confusion for Robin Uthappa to take the lead. Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja were both killed by inside edges as a result of the batsmen's hesitancy. Odean Smith came in to bounce one into Ambati Rayudu's chest and force a fend from the wicketkeeper after a Powerplay of 27 for 4 compared to Punjab's 72 for 2.
With Mahendra Singh Dhoni trapped at the other end, Shivam Dube smashed 57 off 30 balls, but the asking rate was continuously rising. The definitive knockout strikes came in the 15th over, when Livingstone's spin removed Dube and Dwayne Bravo in two balls.
Livingstone's six-hitting skills astonished the cricket world, earning him Rs 11.5 crore at this year's IPL auction. But, before Sunday night, he hadn't truly set the IPL on fire in his few appearances. At 14 for 2, the Englishman followed Punjab's strategy of having at least one middle-order batsmen go after everything this season. Bhanuka Rajapaksa had played that position in their previous two matches, but the Sri Lankan was knocked off early against CSK.
Livingstone moved down the track to his second ball, which he flicked for three to Chris Jordan. For seven of his ten boundaries, he pounded Mukesh Choudhary's left-arm angle. He stepped out and smashed the ball over mid-off, or he stayed solid on off stump, cleared his front leg, and smashed sixes down the legside, the longest of the season. Rayudu at short third man off Jadeja and then Dhoni off Dwaine Pretorius both dropped Livingstone on 45. Rayudu ultimately got him off Jadeja, by which point he'd advanced to 60 off 32.
Even CSK's 210 in the previous match at Brabourne Stadium wasn't sufficient. So, despite losing wickets, Punjab could not be blamed for hitting. However, they had lost steam against KKR in their attempt to set a large objective, and they did so again. They managed 180 for 8 from 72 for 2 in the Powerplay and 109 for 2 in the 10th over. The dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan and Livingstone in consecutive overs shattered Punjab's hopes, and they could only muster 33 runs in the final five overs.
Jordan's addition provided CSK a lot more depth at the end of the game. Jordan's full lengths were too much for Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith to handle. One issue was the lack of dew, as the chemical used to keep the moisture out had been applied later. Only near the end of the first inning, according to Jordan, did a smidgeon of dew appear.