2015 IPL, Match 24: Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab – As it happened...

Well-oiled Chennai Super Kings produced a clinical performance to thrash a clueless Kings XI Punjab side at Chepauk in 24th match of the 2015 Indian Premier League (IPL).  MS Dhoni's men won the match by a whopping 97 runs.

2015 IPL, Match 24: Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab – As it happened...

New Delhi: Well-oiled Chennai Super Kings produced a clinical performance to thrash a clueless Kings XI Punjab side at Chepauk in 24th match of the 2015 Indian Premier League (IPL).  MS Dhoni's men won the match by a whopping 97 runs.
 


Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab by 97 runs

KXIP Innings, Target 193

Over 20 || 90/9 (Karanveer 2; Sandeep 1)

The pain is over for the traveling Kings XI Punjab. Mohit Sharma also found himself amongst wickets by removing Anureet Singh off the first delivery of the final over. Ravindra Jadeja competed an easy catch at backward point.

Anureet Singh c Ravindra Jadeja b Mohit Sharma 10 (20b)

Sandeep Sharma is the last man.


Over 19 || 94/8 (Anureet 10; Karanveer 2)

Another tidy over from CSK. Dwayne Bravo has completed three overs in no time. Anureet and Karanveer took two singles each of Bravo to add four more runs in the KXIP's grand total.


Over 18 || 90/8 (Anureet 8; Karanveer 0)

Ashish Nehra got his second wicket of the day. In his four overs, the left-arm seamer conceded 16 runs. Saha tried to pull and the ball travel enough to backward square leg, where Ravichandran Ashwin completed a tough catch. CSK players have taken all the chances that came their way.

WICKET: Wriddhiman Saha c Ravichandran Ashwin b Ashish Nehra 15 (23b)

Karanveer Singh is the new man out in the centre.


Over 17 || 89/7 (Saha 15; Anureet 7)

Dwayne Bravo continued with a fast yorker, but Wriddhiman Saha escaped with a single despite taking a tumble. Suddenly, the Punjab innings appears to be lot more busier. Both Saha and Anureet are taking singles and doubles. They now need 104 runs from 18 balls at a rate of 34.66 per over.


Strategic Time-Out

Over 16 || 83/7 (Saha 12; Anureet 6)

Ravichandran Ashwin completed his quota of four overs with a four-run over. He conceded 14 runs taking two wickets. Today's performance will certainly silence his critics. With four overs remaining. Punjab need 110 runs to pull out an improbable win.


Over 15 || 79/7 (Saha 10; Anureet 4)

Dwayne Bravo got his chance to bowl. Little action in the centre as the both Wriddhiman Saha and Anureet Singh seem content to deal in singles and doubles. Bravo conceded five runs in his first over.


Over 14 || 74/7 (Saha 7; Anureet 2)

That's no contest. Kings XI Punjab lost the plot in Chennai and are looking for their fourth defeat in six matches. In contrast, Chennai Super Kings have applied themselves pretty well and are inching towards a good win. Mohit Sharma returned in the attack. Two runs conceded. Punjab now need 119 runs from 36 balls, with all the known batsmen gone.


Over 13 || 72/7 (Saha 6; Anureet 1)

Another wicket, and another great catch. Catches win matches! The fielder in Ashish Nehra managed to complete a difficult catch at the deep to send back Mitchell Johnson.

WICKET: Mitchell Johnson c Ashish Nehra b Ravindra Jadeja 1 (2b)

Jadeja has completed his four overs, giving away 22 runs and with a return of three wickets. Anureet Singh is the new batsman.


Over 12 || 68/6 (Saha 3; Johnson 1)

Axar Patel's adventure came to an end with a wild slog missing the ball and MS Dhoni completing a good stumping.

WICKET: Axar Patel st MS Dhoni b Ravichandran Ashwin 9 (10b)

Ravichandran Ashwin has completed a spell of three overs, conceding 10 runs for two wickets. Mitchell Johnson is the batsman.


Over 11 || 66/5 (Saha 2; Patel 9)

Patel is not certainly going to wait, or hang in there. The youngster heaved a six off Jadeja to make the 11th over an eventful one. With nine runs added, Punjab now required 127 runs from 54 balls. Som task ahead!


Over 10 || 57/5 (Saha 1; Patel 1)

Ravichandran Ashwin removed dangerous Murali Vijay for his first wicket of the day. Vijay came down the pitch and lofted the ball but his effort could only reach deep mid-wicket, where a jubilant Dwayne Bravo completed an easy catch. And the West Indies all-rounder did a gig, a jig.

WICKET: Murali Vijay c Dwayne Bravo b Ravichandran Ashwin 34 (32b)

With Punjab reeling, two new batsmen in Wriddhiman Saha and Axar Patel are in the centre.


Technical Time-Out

Over 9 || 55/4 (Vijay 28)

Blinder of a catch by Suresh Raina to sent back dangerous David Miller. Jadeja got his second scalp in the second over. Miller tried to play safe, pushing the ball through but Raina pulled off a brilliant low catch at leg-slip.

WICKET: David Miller c Suresh Raina b Ravindra Jadeja 3 (9b)


Over 8 || 48/3 (Vijay 28; Miller 2)

Dhoni called in Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack. And the offie soon able to turn the ball. The over went for six runs with the first delivery going for four wides. Punjab now need 145 runs from 12 overs. With Vijay still out there, they will still hope for a win. But by the look of it, Chennai are in drivers seat.


Over 7 || 42/3 (Vijay 27; Miller 1)

Kings XI are in trouble. Lost two wickets in two successive overs. Ravindra Jadeja removed Marsh in his first over. Good catch by Dhoni.

WICKET: George Bailey c MS Dhoni b Ravindra Jadeja 1 (3b)

A wicket conceding three runs, a great start from the spinner. David Miller is the new man for Punjab.


Over 6 || 39/2 (Vijay 23; Marsh 10)

Ashish Nehra got his man. Marsh tried to flick from the back-foot, but the delivery from Nehra beat the bat and found a successful leg before the wicket call.

WICKET: Shaun Marsh lbw b Ahish Nehra 10 (10b)

Four runs from the over. That brought Kings XI skipper George Bailey into the centre.


Over 5 || 35/1 (Vijay 23; Marsh 10)

Shaun Marsh found his first boundary with a whip off Mohit Sharma's first delivery of the match. Then some anxious moments followed. The Aussie almost holed out at mid-off, but the ball just landed ahead of an onrushing Faf du Plessis. The over went for seven runs. Punjab now needs 158 runs required from 15 overs.


Over 4 || 28/1 (Vijay 23; Marsh 3)

Vijay is in his elements. After punishing Pandey in the previous over, he dispatched Nehra for a four off the fourth delivery of fourth over. Nehra has conceded seven runs in his second over.


Over 3 || 21/1 (Vijay 18; Marsh 1)

Some lusty hitting from Vijay. The right-handed batsman first used picked up a loose delivery for a four through the mid-on cordon, then followed it up with a six over the over backward square leg. Pandey's second over went for 13 runs. Punjab require 172 runs from 17 overs.


Over 2 || 8/1 (Vijay 6; Marsh 0)

Dhoni introduced Ashish Nehra in the second over. The Delhi bowler's first delivery, however, went for a four with Vijay sending it through the cover. Then, the former CSK opener showed respect to former India bowler, fending off the remaining five deliveries for nought.


Over 1 || 4/1 (Vijay 2; Marsh 0)

Chennai opened their bowling with Ishwar Pandey and off to a great start. The 25-year-old removed veteran Virender Sehwag with good length delivery. Kings XI opener tried too hard to play a lofted shot, but ended up offering an easy catch to Faf du Plessis at mid-off.

WICKET: Virender Sehwag c Faf du Plessis b Ishwar Pandey 1 (2b)

Shaun Marsh joined Murali Vijay in the centre.


Kings XI Punjab batsmen will require to bat exceptionally well to win this match against a bowling attack which has the likes of an in-form Ashish Nehra, Mohit Sharma, Ishwar Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

After a brilliant start from Smith and McCullum, Chennai consolidated their footing with contributions from everyone. The total is just above the par and some poor fielding from the visitors helped their cause. At one time, CSK was cruising along for a 200+ total, but the final over from Sandeep somehow thwarted that plan.

CSK Innings

Over 20 || 192/3 (Dhoni 41; Jadeja 18)

Somehow, Dhoni and Jadeja failed to increase the total. Exceptional last over from Sandeep. He conceded only four runs, all singles. Nice way to end the fielding. But still, it's big total for any team.


Over 19 || 188/3 (Dhoni 39; Jadeja 16)

A huge over for Chennai as they push for a 200+ total. Mitchell Johnson, bowling his final over, conceded 17 runs with both Jadeja and Dhoni scoring runs at will. Jadeja started the over with a double, then a four , then a three, a four to Dhoni. Skipper finished the over with a pull over backward square leg, for a four.


Over 18 || 171/3 (Dhoni 31; Jadeja 7)

Another busy over with lots of running to do. Dhoni took a single off the first ball, Jadeja responded with a single after a couple of balls later, then Dhoni took a couple before hitting a six. Patel conceded 10 runs in his final over, with figures reading: 4-0-35-1.


Over 17 || 161/3 (Dhoni 22; Jadeja 6)

A tidy over from Anureet. ONLY eight runs from it. Dhoni and Jadeja busied themselves rotating the strike, taking singles and Saurashtra player found his boundary off the last ball of the over. Anureet completed his four overs, with a return of one wicket, conceding forty runs.


Over 16 || 153/3 (Dhoni 20; Jadeja 0)

Suresh Raina returned to pavilion, thanks to a brilliant follow through action from Karanveer. Dhoni after hitting a six off the first delivery for a huge six over the midwicket boundary, straight drove the second with some venom, but the ball crashed into the non-striker's stumps with faintest of touch from the bowler. On review, Raina was out of the popping crease.

WICKET: Suresh Raina run out 29 (25b)

Skipper is joined by Ravindra Jadeja.

The over went for 15 runs despite the fall of a wicket, with lots of doubles milked.


Over 15 || 138/2 (Raina 29; Dhoni 6)

Bailey brought in Anureet for the 15th over, and it leaked nine runs. Dhoni started with an ambitious heave, which resulted a couple, then a leg-by followed, before Raina got his fourth four with a pull. Two singles off the remaining three balls.


Over 14 || 129/2 (Raina 24; Dhoni 2)

Karanveer returned to contain the Indian ODI pair of Dhoni and Raina. His third over went for a mere three runs, which included a a leg-bye.


Second Technical Time-Out

Over 13 || 126/2 (Raina 24; Dhoni 1)

Axar finally removed dangerous McCullum. Bailey took a well judged catch at long off after McCullum tried to heave it over the boundary.

WICKET: Brendon McCullum c George Bailey b Axar Patel 66 (44b)

Then, captain cool MS Dhoni arrived. The fall of wicket allowed Raina to take the charge and soon started playing more aggressively. He hit Axar for two fours to make it a 10-run over.


Over 12 || 116/1 (McCullum 66; Raina 15)

Johnson continues and so thus McCullum. A relatively good over from the Aussie bowler, as only eight runs were scored from the over.


Over 11 || 108/1 (McCullum 59; Raina 14)

Johnson once again dropped Raina, this time off the bowling of Axar at mid-on boundary. It will go down as an easy catch. The other batsman, McCullum hit two fours to make it a 11-run over.


Over 10 || 97/1 (McCullum 50; Raina 12)

Punjab's premier bowler is taken to the cleaners by McCullum. After a quite start to the over, the Kiwi took charge of the proceedings hitting Johnson for a four and a six off successive deliveries. And with that McCullumg reached his 50, off 32 balls, with the help of five fours and three sixes.


Over 9 || 85/1 (McCullum 41; Raina 11)

Axar Patel joins the action with his first over of the match. One superb over from the young spinner though, conceding only four runs -- all singles.


Over 8 || 81/1 (McCullum 39; Raina 9)

South African umpire robs Sandeep the wicket of Suresh Raina. The CSK southpaw reached out to an angling delivery, only to make a faint connection, which ended up inside the waiting gloves of Wriddhiman Saha. But the umpire adjudged the batsman not out. After tidy four balls, a good length ball was lap-scooped by McCullum for a boundary behind the wicket. Seven runs from the over.


Over 7 || 74/1 (McCullum 33; Raina 8)

Anureet continues. This time McCullum starts with a single, off a well directed yorker. Raina added another single before a wayward bouncer resulting in five wides. A single, then another wide, a four from the blade of Raina -- over the midwicket area. McCullum signed off the over with a huge six, straight over long on. 20 runs from the over.


And first Technical Time-Out...

Over 6 || 54/1 (McCullum 25; Raina 2)

Double bowling change for Punjab. Johnson gets his first over and soon onto the business of short bowling. Raina takes a single off the first delivery, then McCullum consumed the remaining balls without doing much, even though, he did try all sorts of shots. Three runs from the over, which included a wide, make it the tidiest so far. Great start from the Aussie bowler.


Over 5 || 51/1 (McCullum 24; Raina 1)

First bowling change for Kings XI. Bailey brings in Anureet Singh for Karanveer. And it could have been a masterstroke from the skipper, but a drop catch robbed their first scalp. McCullum tried to dispatch the ball out of the park, but he produced a skier, which initially looked like travelling. Mitchell Johnson, usually one of the safest fielders, took an eternity waiting for the ball, then spilled the chance.

WICKET: Dwayne Smith b Anureet Singh 26 (13b)

Then, luck returns the favour to Anureet two balls later. Smith, who was in sublime touch, dragged one in to disturb his own stumps.

Imperious Suresh Raina is on.


Over 4 || 47/0 (Smith 26; McCullum 21)

After that third over carnage, Sandeep did try to restore the bat-ball parity, but McCullum found enough room to hit a four and a six. Then a rare single for Chennai to make it 11-run over. And Chennai are scoring at over 11 runs rate.


Over 3 || 36/0 (Smith 26; McCullum 10)

It seems, Smith has not taken to the idea of spinners starting the proceedings. He punished Karanveer in the spinner's second over with some lusty hits all over the park. 0,4,6,6,2,4 was the scoring sequence, all to the West Indian. Huge over for Chennai, 22 runs from it.


Over 2 || 14/0 (Smith 4; McCullum 10)

Both the Chennai openers started with boundaries. Brendon McCullum was lucky enough to find the boundary off a thick outside edge. Good bowling from Sandeep Sharma though. Then, as expected, the Kiwi batsman finished the over with a four, after taking a double in the penultimate delivery.

In between, before the start of the match today, all the players and match official observed a minute's silence in respect to the lives lost in the earthquake.


Over 1 || 4/0 (Smith 4; McCullum 0)

Surprise, surprise for Dwayne Smith. George Bailey opted to start a spinner in Karanveer Singh. The opener from West Indies, however, found it rather enticing and hit for a four over the covers. But the young Indian spinner was upto the task and he completed the over without conceding further runs.


TOSS: Mahendra Singh Dhoni wins the toss and Chennai Super Kings will bat first. CSK are fielding an unchanged playing XI, while a fit George Bailey returns to lead KXIP and he replaces Aussie compatriot Glenn Maxwell.


CSK playing XI: Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt, wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, Ishwar Pandey, Ashish Nehra

KXIP playing XI: Murali Vijay, Virender Sehwag, Shaun Marsh, David Miller, George Bailey (capt.), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Axar Patel, Mitchell Johnson, Anureet Singh, Karanveer Singh, Sandeep Sharma


Squads (from):

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (capt, wk), Ashish Nehra, Baba Aparajith, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Faf du Plessis, Ishwar Pandey, Matt Henry, Mithun Manhas, Mohit Sharma, Pawan Negi, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Samuel Badree, Suresh Raina, Ronit More, Michael Hussey, Rahul Sharma, Kyle Abbott, Ankush Bains, Irfan Pathan, Pratyush Singh, Andrew Tye and Eklavya Dwivedi.

Kings XI Punjab: George Bailey (capt), Anureet Singh, Parvinder Awana, Rishi Dhawan, Yogesh Golwalkar, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Beuran Hendricks, Mitchell Johnson, Karanveer Singh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Nikhil Naik, Axar Patel, Thisara Perera, Wriddhiman Saha, Sandeep Sharma, Virender Sehwag, Shivam Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Murali Vijay, Manan Vohra.


Preview:

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) host Kings XI Punjab at the historic Chepauk in Chennai amidst rumbling of new controversy surrounding the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-lead team. In the back-drop of such an tense time, the focus, however, will be on the players themselves. So expect a good show from the Chennai-based franchise. They have in fact won four of the five games played thus far and a win today will help them leapfrog table topper Rajasthan Royals in the 2015 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).

Also read: IPL 2015 Points Table

As usual, Dhoni would want a solid foundation from their openers in Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Bravo. With a proven batting line-up, posting a big score or chasing down a stiff target should not be problem for them. And with veteran Ashish Nehra doing the talking with hands, the team is on for some good spell.

Also read: IPL 2015 Fixtures

For the visiting KXIP, it's an important match. They have only managed to win two from five outings and are lying in the seventh place. Their predicament is such that, with a famed line-up, the Punjab team doesn't really know where the chink is?

Also read: IPL 2015 Full Coverage

However, all is not lost for the last years' finalists. The likes of Virender Sehwag, Mitchell Johnson, David Miller, Glenn Maxwell and Axar Patel can win big matches.


Today's officials:

Umpires: Johan Cloete (SA) and Chettithody Shamshuddin (IND)
TV umpire: PG Pathak (IND)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
Reserve umpire: VK Sharma (IND)