A good bowling performance from Chennai, They did not start off well but dominated the middle phase and had they been given a chance to restrict Punjab under 160 at the start of the game, they would have taken it. But where they were at halfway mark of the innings, they would feel they may have given away 20 runs more. 6 bowlers were used by Dhoni with the spin duo of Tahir and Jadeja giving away just 41 from their combined 7 overs and picking up one wicket a piece. Ngidi, though expensive in hi
Punjab's lone batting star of the moment, Deepak Hooda, is caught for a quick chat. Hooda says that he is pleased with the team score and his batting. Feels if they bowl well, they can defend it. Bowling variations will be the key, he adds. Mentions that he was just trying to stay positive and if it was in his range, he was going after it.
So Chennai need 154 to spoil Punjab's party and take them with them to the airport. Punjab will need to be at their best with the ball if they are to keep their hopes alive of qualification. Can Punjab defend it and stay alive for the playoffs? Join us for the chase to find out.ÂÂ
After being put into bat, Mayank and Rahul got them off to a good start. Once Mayank departed, runs started to dry up and it looked like the wheels started to come off. From 48/0 they were struggling at 72/4. It looked like the side from the North of India would struggle to get to 130 but a fantastic unbeaten 62 off just 30 balls from Deepak Hooda has seen Punjab recover well and breach the 150-run mark.
A very good performance from Deepak Hooda and that has helped Punjab recover and keep their hopes of a spot in the playoffs alive. Chennai though will back themselves to chase this down. At the halfway stage, one must feel that Chennai will be the happier of the two sides. But 40 from the last three overs sees Punjab head into the break with momentum.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, Just one off the last ball. Hooda gets across and looks to slam the full toss on the leg side. But he mistimes it to square leg. One run taken. PUNJAB FINISH ON 153/6.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! That takes Punjab to over 150. Superb shot. On middle, fullish, Hooda swings it well over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Jordan, NOT ! Full toss outside off, Chris swings for the heavens but misses. It goes through to Dhoni and the batters run for a bye. Dhoni misses to hit at the stumps, the ball goes through to Ngidi. The bowler effects a run out at his end as Jordan puts in the dive. The umpires take it upstairs to have a look. But one replay is enough to show that the batsman made it inside even before Ngidi effected the run out.
The umpires have gone upstairs to check for the run out. Naah... Well in, even before Ngidi could whip the bails off.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, Very full outside off, jammed out to deep point for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! Nice shot again. Deepak Hooda was across the line of off stump even before the delivery came. The ball was full and outside off, he lofts it over extra cover. Faf du Plessis comes running in from wide long off but has no chance in stopping that. A boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Jordan, Full and outside off, stroked uppishly but safely ahead of the man at sweeper cover. A single only.
Who will bowl the crucial last over for Chennai? Chahar has an over left, Curran has 2. Ngidi and Jadeja have one each. Cannot be the latter mostly. It is Lungi Ngidi to finish things off with the ball for Chennai.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Very full and outside off, Jordan moves to the leg side and jams it out to deep cover for a run.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Short ball, Chris pulls but does not get any timing at all. It comes back to the bowler off the inner half.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Shortish and on off, clipped through short mid-wicket for a couple.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, On middle, tapped to short fine leg for one. Hooda gets to his 50. This is some excellent rearguard batting from him and Punjab. It is his 2nd 50 in the League.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, ! WOW! That shot reminded us of Suryakumar Yadav. Full and on off and middle, the knuckle ball, Hooda goes inside out over extra cover and gets a boundary.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, On the pads, tucked to wide long on for a couple.
Shardul Thakur is back to bowl the penultimate over.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, A single. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, WIDE! Need to reload that. Fullish and well outside off, Deepak lets it be.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, This is worked to deep backward point for a couple.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! Goes on the off side again and gets a maximum. Ngidi bowls a full ball outside off, searching for the yorker. He misses his length and Hooda punishes him. Gets across the stumps and lofts it mightily over the deep cover region.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, NOT ! There is a shadow there and a gap between bat and ball, so not out. Very full and outside off, Hooda looks to dig it out but fails to do so. It goes through to the keeper and Dhoni takes it. Ngidi appeals feverishly for a caught behind but the umpire is not interested. He convinces Dhoni to take the review. MS takes it. The third umpire have a close look at Ultra Edge, there is a spike. But he wants a different angle, he gets one from behind the
Review time! Ngidi wants a review for caught behind and Dhoni flashes the 'T'. What does Ultra Edge have to say? It shows a spike but we have a different angle where there is a gap between bat and ball.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! That is hit to one of the bigger pockets in Zayed stadium. Full and outside off, Hooda moves a touch to the off side and swings it with all his might. Gets it well over the deep backward point fence.
Chris Jordan comes to the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to James Neesham, ! CAUGHT! Chennai showing their class, not just with the ball but also in the field. What a fantastic catch it was, by Ruturaj Gaikwad! Fullish on off, Neesham swings it high in the air. He wanted to clear the deep mid-wicket boundary but had more of the height and less of distance. It though looks to be falling safe in the mid-wicket region. But Ruturaj, who was at deep square leg, comes running in, dives and takes a splendid catch.
Imran Tahir is done for the day, with the ball. Lungi Ngidi is back to bowl now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Flatter on the pads, tucked to deep square leg. This time, Punjab get two runs.
Ravindra Jadeja to James Neesham, On off, clipped to deep square leg for one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tossed up on the pads, Hooda closes the face of his bat to flick it to deep mid-wicket. A single.
Ravindra Jadeja to James Neesham, Floated on off, knocked to long on for a single. James is off the mark straightaway.
James Neesham comes out to bat now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, ! TIMBER! Well bowled, Sir Jadeja. Dhoni persists with Jadeja and that has worked wonders in the form of a wicket. That of Mandeep Singh. Tossed up on off, it skids on, Mandeep gets down to sweep but misses. But not the ball. It hits the off pole.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Around off, pushed through short mid-wicket for a single.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, Just the single there. Tossed up on off and middle, this is stroked towards long on. Hooda takes one and strays out far, for the second. But Mandeep sends him back in the nick of time.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, ! That is an over 80m six. Tossed up outside off, Hooda comes down the track and lofts it mightily over deep cover.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up on off and middle, tapped to the leg side for a single.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, Catch is the call but it lands just short. Tossed up around off, Deepak swings it uppishly towards long on. It lands on a bounce ahead of the fielder there. A single taken.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, On off and middle, clipped to mid-wicket for two.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Floated around off, pushed to the off side for a single.
Imran Tahir to bowl out here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, A couple to finish, despite the confusion. On off, this is nudged to deep square leg. Some confusion between the two as they wanted to settle for the single, later one of them wanted two. Eventually they take a couple.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, The batsmen work this behind square on the leg side and take a couple.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up around off, pushed to point for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Flighted on middle and leg, Hooda looks to clip but inside edges it. The ball falls ahead of point. A single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Around off, nudged to short mid-wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, This is pushed to short third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Deepak Hooda, ! Looked like mid-wicket would get there, but he does not. Short ball, Hooda pulls at it. It was between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. While it looked like the latter would get to it, he fails to cut it off. A boundary results.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, Outside off, steered to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, On a good length outside off, stabbed to the off side. Mandeep wants one but Hooda sends him back. There never was a run there as the bowler got to it quickly.
Deepak Chahar to Deepak Hooda, Fullish and around off, Hooda taps it past the bowler, to the left of mid on. Takes one.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, Fullish and outside off, he guides it to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, ! He is an inventive player, Mandeep Singh. Good length ball around off, he swings across the line and sends it wide of the deep backward square leg fielder for a boundary.
Deepak Chahar is back to bowl.
DRINKS! Well, well, looks like Rahul's ambitions of getting a big total on the board are in serious jeopardy now. With the departure of both Gayle and Pooran, a big total now looks near impossible. Time for Mandeep and Hooda to decide what would pragmatically be a good total and steer their side to that. Their bowlers would have to step up today, by the looks of it so far. Punjab should avoid further collapses. Let's see how they go about in the final passage of play in the first innings here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tidy over from Jadeja! Just 4 off his first. Punjab have entered the deserted islands of boundaries as they are unable to find them at the moment. Quicker on off, Hooda plays it towards point. The filder misfields which allows the batter to run two.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tossed up on middle, Hooda plays it to Tahir at mid on.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, On the pads, Mandeep flicks it to square leg and rotates the strike.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, Quick and turning in. Mandeep goes on his back foot and manages t defend it.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Shorter on off, Hooda knocks it towards long on for one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Floated on off, Hooda pushes it to cover.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja gets the ball now.
Deepak Hooda comes to the middle.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, A single to finish. Around off, pushed to the right of mid on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, ! LBW! Up goes the finger. Gayle reviews that but on finding that he has not knicked that, he starts walking. Does not even bother to wait for the Ball Tracker to come in. Floated on middle and leg, it is the striaght ball, the one that does not turn. Gayle lunges to sweep but misses to get hit on the pads. Chennai appeal for a LBW and the umpire gives it. Gayle takes it upstairs but on seeing he did not nick it, starts walking. Three Reds further on the Ball
Review time! Gayle takes a review for the on-field LBW decision against him. To the naked eye, there appears to be no bat. Ultra Edge confirms that. THREE REDS on the Ball Tracker.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Full toss on the body, glanced to wide long on for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted around off, clipped to long on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up on off, Singh prods forward to defend but gets it off the inner half to the leg side. One run.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Flatter ball around off, tapped to the off side.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full and well outside off, but within the tramline. Gayle lets it be.
Shardul Thakur to Mandeep Singh, Outside off, punched to deep point for a single. Mandeep is away rightaway.
Mandeep Singh comes out to the middle now, at No. 5.
Shardul Thakur to Nicholas Pooran, ! TAKEN! There is a wicket. Chennai are turning the match around. Shortish ball around off, not that short enough to go for a pull shot. Pooran though does that. He swivels and looks to pull. The ball has a touch of away shape as well. It takes the underedge of Pooran's blade and goes to the keeper. MSD takes a good catch. He and Thakur appeal for a caught behind and the umpire gives it. Nicholas does not opt for the review, he starts walking.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Shortish ball on the body, half-pulled to deep square leg for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Nicholas Pooran, Full and outside off, stroked uppishly but safely ahead of sweeper cover. A single.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full and on off, driven down to long on for a single.
Shardul Thakur is back to bowl.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted on off, knocked to wide mid off for one.
Imran Tahir to Nicholas Pooran, Floated on middle, clipped to mid-wicket for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Looped up around off, this time he gets a single. Drives it down to long off for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Fuller on off this time, pushed back to Imran again.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flatter outside off, hit back to the bowler.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Tossed up around off, defended to the off side.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Just a run and a wicket, what an over! Full and around off, pushed back to the bowler.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Outside off, Pooran looks to cut but connects with thin air.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Full and around off, driven to mid off. Chris Gayle wants a single but the younger West Indian says no.
Another West Indian, Nicholas Pooran, walks out to the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, ! TIMBER! It is a beautiful ball. A beautifull ball! Low full toss on off, KL Rahul swings across the line. It was not the right length to go for that shot but Rahul does not realize that. He goes for the shot and misses it altogether, and the off pole is knocked out.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, Swing and a miss! Fullish and around off, the Wakhra Squad skipper looked to go big over the bowler's head but fails to connect.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Outside off, Gayle swings across the line but gets it off the inner half towards short fine leg. Picks up a single.
Lungi Ngidi replaces Shardul Thakur in the attack.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Just 5 from the over. Tossed up around off, KL rocks back and cuts but finds point. A dot.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Looped up outside off, driven down to long off for one.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Full and around off, bunted down to long on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted on off, Gayle looks to go big on the leg side but mistimes it through the carpet to mid-wicket. One run.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Tossed up outside off, driven to cover for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Floated on the pads, flicked to deep square leg for a single.
Jersey No. 99, Imran Tahir, to bowl now.
DRINKS! Punjab are 56/1 and have 13 overs still to go. With the Universe Boss and KL Rahul out in the middle, they should go big. The objective is not just to get a big total but also to win big, as NRR could become a very crucial factor, later on. For Chennai, it is about taking these two out as quickly as possible, with MS well vary of what they can do. Let's see how it goes after the break.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Yorker to finish the over. The big man from West Indies bends his back and jams it to mid off for a single. Very good comeback from Shardul. Just 3 off his second after an expensive first.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Length delivery on off, Rahul drives it uppishly to the left of mid off. Gayle was a bit slow to leave his crease for the run but no trouble.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Fuller and closer to off ole. Rahul moves away from the stumps and drives it to cover.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Length ball around off, Rahul pushes it towards mid on. Gayle, yes, Chris Gayle wanted a single but Rahul was quick to deny it.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Good length ball around off, Gayle dabs it to third man and gets to the other end.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full on the pads, Gayle flicks it to mid-wicket. Looks like the big man is warming up.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, Outside off, left alone. Punjab are 53/1 at the end of the Powerplay.
Is that a boundary? Looks so, to the naked eye. Paschim Pathak, the umpire, signals so. A boundary!
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, ! Tahir is not happy with himself there. Full and around off, KL Rahul lets out a lovely drive through the covers. It is to the right of Tahir, the sweeper cover fielder. Tahir runs into that direction but puts a half-effort in stopping it. It manages to evasively trickle through for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Single gets Gayle going. Full and around off, Gayle taps it to cover-point and takes a single.
The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, is in the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Full and seaming away outside off, Chris hangs his bat inside the line of the stumps. The ball goes through to Dhoni.
Lungi Ngidi to Mayank Agarwal, ! BOWLED! Ngidi comes back well. Mayank Agarwal got a good little start. Now he has to walk back. Full and outside off, Agarwal looks to swing across the line but the ball was not of the right length. And he ends up paying for it, drags it onto his stumps. The party poopers, Chennai, getting into the act now.
Lungi Ngidi to Mayank Agarwal, ! Just typifies the run of form that Mayank Agarwal has been in, in this season. Full and outside off, he lifts it over covers for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi into the attack now.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Slow and full around off, stabbed to Sir Ravindra Jadeja at backward point.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Swing and a miss! Fullish and outside off, Rahul swings for the heavens but misses it completely.
Shardul Thakur to Mayank Agarwal, Well bowled from Shardul. Slower ball on top of off, Monk dabs it on the off side for one.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Full and around off, pushed to mid on for a single.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, EDGED AND ! Back-to-back boundaries for KL Rahul here. Fullish and outside off, Rahul throws the kitchen sink at it. Gets it over short third man off the outside edge for a boundary.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, ! A boundary for KL Rahul. Full and on the pads, all too easy for him. He flicks it uppishly to the fine leg fence.
Shardul Thakur is on now.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, ! Opens the gap for a four. Full and on the pads, Agarwal flicks it uppishly and well wide of the mid on fielder. The ball races away to the wide long on boundary.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Angled into the pads, it is worked to deep square leg for a run.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Short ball, the Punjab skipper sways away from the line of the ball.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Full and outside off, stabbed to cover-point for a quick one. The fielder, Sir Jadeja, has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, ! There was nobody in the deep and that produces a boundary for Agarwal. Outside off, Mayank throws the bat at it. Gets it over backward point for a boundary.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Full and around off from around the wicket, driven to mid off for a single.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and around off, KL comes down the track. He looks to slam it on the off side but gets an inside edge which goes to short fine leg.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On the pads, tucked to deep square leg for a run.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and around off, driven to the left of deep point for one.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, ! The first six. Full and swinging away outside off again, Rahul slashes hard at it. Gets a thickish outside edge. The ball flies over the deep backward point fence.  ÂÂ
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, A full outswinger outside off, driven to cover again.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, On a length around off, driven to cover.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, A single to end. Full and outside off, Rahul drives it to Sir at point and takes a single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Fullish on the pads, a half-Nataraja shot to the left of deep mid-wicket. A single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Full and well outside off, Curran trying to get it to swing in from there. Mayank Agarwal dabs it to cover-point.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Full and outside off, stabbed in front of point for one.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, A little bit of swing in. Full and a hint of inswing towards off, Mayank manages to work this to mid off for a single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, On a good length outside off, dabbed to the off side. Agarwal looks for a single but he is sent back.
Sam Curran to bowl from the other end.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and swinging away outside off, driven well but straight to cover-point. First over done and Punjab are 10/0.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On a good length outside off, tucked to deep point for one.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, ! There is a fielder there but he can only watch. Chahar strays with a fuller ball down the leg side, Agarwal clips it nicely, wide of the deep backward square leg fielder. Gets another boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On the pads, tucked to short mid-wicket.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, ! Just past mid on. Full and around off, Mayank strokes it uppishly and just over the diving mid on fielder. A boundary.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, And some swing straightaway for Chahar. Full and shaping away a touch, KL strokes it with the swing, to deep point. Takes a single as gets off the mark. Punjab are underway too.
We are all set for the action to begin then. Virender Sharma and Paschim Pathak, the umpires for this game, make their way out to the middle. The Chennai players are in a huddle near the ropes, with MS Dhoni, the skipper, imparting the final words of wisdom. Punjab's openers, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, step out to the middle as well. 2 friends re-united in the top order. Opening the bowling for Chenna is Jersey No. 90, Deepak Chahar. 3...2....1...HERE WE GO...
Punjab (Playing XI) - KL Rahul (WK/C), Mayank Agarwal (IN PLACE OF ARSHDEEP SINGH), Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, James Neesham (IN PLACE OF GLENN MAXWELL), Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami.
Chennai (Playing XI) - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis (IN PLACE OF SHANE WATSON), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (WK/C), N Jagadeesan, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur (IN PLACE OF KARN SHARMA), Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir (IN PLACE OF MITCHELL SANTNER).ÂÂ
Punjab skipper, KL Rahul, says that it is simple for them, go out there and enjoy themselves. Informs both Mandeep and Mayank are in. Adds Maxwell and Arshdeep are out in place of Mayank and Neesham. Rahul says his role is batters bat around him and says he can do damage in the end but also says it is important that they make the most of the Powerplay. Wants to put on a big total on board as that will be key to help them win.
MS Dhoni, Chennai's captain, says this is definitely not his last game in Yellow. States that Punjab are under more pressure to win this game. Adds that his side wants to come on the ground and give their best. On the changes, Faf du Plessis comes in for Watson, Tahir replaces Santner and Shardul comes in for Karn Sharma.ÂÂ
Toss - It is toss time at Abu Dhabi. It is the home game for Chennai. MS Dhoni gets to call. The spin of the coin lands in Chennai's favour. THEY WILL BOWL!
Pitch Report - Graeme Swann says that the pitch looks very hard. Expects it to be slow. Says that if one takes the cracks off the ground, it won't seam much. Says that Chennai and Punjab have struggled at Abu Dhabi primarily because both sides favour shorter boundaries which is not the case at Abu Dhabi.ÂÂ
Super Saturday is always followed by a Super Sunday! Yes, the double header actions continues on Sunday as well - the last double header action for this League season. In the first game, Chennai take on Punjab and in the second, Kolkata take on Rajasthan. It is a knockout clash of sorts in both the games, for Punjab in the first and for both Kolkata and Rajasthan in the second. ÂÂ
Yes, you read that last line right. The Men in Yellow, who have had a placid season so far, are bringing out their best now. Maybe it was pressure after all? Earlier. Anyway, they have proven to be a party spoiler by racking up consecutive wins against Bangalore and Kolkata. Now, in their last game, they would want to finish off with a hat-trick of wins, on their way out. Stick around for the toss and team updates...ÂÂ
For Punjab, it is a key clash, a must-win one, especially after the loss to Rajasthan in the last game. They need to come all guns blazing with the bat and also put up a spectacular performance with the ball. It is all the more imperative, because, Chennai, with back-to-back wins, finally seem to pose some challenge to their opponents.ÂÂ
A good bowling performance from Chennai, They did not start off well but dominated the middle phase and had they been given a chance to restrict Punjab under 160 at the start of the game, they would have taken it. But where they were at halfway mark of the innings, they would feel they may have given away 20 runs more. 6 bowlers were used by Dhoni with the spin duo of Tahir and Jadeja giving away just 41 from their combined 7 overs and picking up one wicket a piece. Ngidi, though expensive in hi
Punjab's lone batting star of the moment, Deepak Hooda, is caught for a quick chat. Hooda says that he is pleased with the team score and his batting. Feels if they bowl well, they can defend it. Bowling variations will be the key, he adds. Mentions that he was just trying to stay positive and if it was in his range, he was going after it.
So Chennai need 154 to spoil Punjab's party and take them with them to the airport. Punjab will need to be at their best with the ball if they are to keep their hopes alive of qualification. Can Punjab defend it and stay alive for the playoffs? Join us for the chase to find out.ÂÂ
After being put into bat, Mayank and Rahul got them off to a good start. Once Mayank departed, runs started to dry up and it looked like the wheels started to come off. From 48/0 they were struggling at 72/4. It looked like the side from the North of India would struggle to get to 130 but a fantastic unbeaten 62 off just 30 balls from Deepak Hooda has seen Punjab recover well and breach the 150-run mark.
A very good performance from Deepak Hooda and that has helped Punjab recover and keep their hopes of a spot in the playoffs alive. Chennai though will back themselves to chase this down. At the halfway stage, one must feel that Chennai will be the happier of the two sides. But 40 from the last three overs sees Punjab head into the break with momentum.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, Just one off the last ball. Hooda gets across and looks to slam the full toss on the leg side. But he mistimes it to square leg. One run taken. PUNJAB FINISH ON 153/6.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! That takes Punjab to over 150. Superb shot. On middle, fullish, Hooda swings it well over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Jordan, NOT ! Full toss outside off, Chris swings for the heavens but misses. It goes through to Dhoni and the batters run for a bye. Dhoni misses to hit at the stumps, the ball goes through to Ngidi. The bowler effects a run out at his end as Jordan puts in the dive. The umpires take it upstairs to have a look. But one replay is enough to show that the batsman made it inside even before Ngidi effected the run out.
The umpires have gone upstairs to check for the run out. Naah... Well in, even before Ngidi could whip the bails off.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, Very full outside off, jammed out to deep point for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! Nice shot again. Deepak Hooda was across the line of off stump even before the delivery came. The ball was full and outside off, he lofts it over extra cover. Faf du Plessis comes running in from wide long off but has no chance in stopping that. A boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Jordan, Full and outside off, stroked uppishly but safely ahead of the man at sweeper cover. A single only.
Who will bowl the crucial last over for Chennai? Chahar has an over left, Curran has 2. Ngidi and Jadeja have one each. Cannot be the latter mostly. It is Lungi Ngidi to finish things off with the ball for Chennai.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Very full and outside off, Jordan moves to the leg side and jams it out to deep cover for a run.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Short ball, Chris pulls but does not get any timing at all. It comes back to the bowler off the inner half.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Shortish and on off, clipped through short mid-wicket for a couple.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, On middle, tapped to short fine leg for one. Hooda gets to his 50. This is some excellent rearguard batting from him and Punjab. It is his 2nd 50 in the League.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, ! WOW! That shot reminded us of Suryakumar Yadav. Full and on off and middle, the knuckle ball, Hooda goes inside out over extra cover and gets a boundary.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, On the pads, tucked to wide long on for a couple.
Shardul Thakur is back to bowl the penultimate over.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, A single. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, WIDE! Need to reload that. Fullish and well outside off, Deepak lets it be.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, This is worked to deep backward point for a couple.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! Goes on the off side again and gets a maximum. Ngidi bowls a full ball outside off, searching for the yorker. He misses his length and Hooda punishes him. Gets across the stumps and lofts it mightily over the deep cover region.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, NOT ! There is a shadow there and a gap between bat and ball, so not out. Very full and outside off, Hooda looks to dig it out but fails to do so. It goes through to the keeper and Dhoni takes it. Ngidi appeals feverishly for a caught behind but the umpire is not interested. He convinces Dhoni to take the review. MS takes it. The third umpire have a close look at Ultra Edge, there is a spike. But he wants a different angle, he gets one from behind the
Review time! Ngidi wants a review for caught behind and Dhoni flashes the 'T'. What does Ultra Edge have to say? It shows a spike but we have a different angle where there is a gap between bat and ball.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! That is hit to one of the bigger pockets in Zayed stadium. Full and outside off, Hooda moves a touch to the off side and swings it with all his might. Gets it well over the deep backward point fence.
Chris Jordan comes to the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to James Neesham, ! CAUGHT! Chennai showing their class, not just with the ball but also in the field. What a fantastic catch it was, by Ruturaj Gaikwad! Fullish on off, Neesham swings it high in the air. He wanted to clear the deep mid-wicket boundary but had more of the height and less of distance. It though looks to be falling safe in the mid-wicket region. But Ruturaj, who was at deep square leg, comes running in, dives and takes a splendid catch.
Imran Tahir is done for the day, with the ball. Lungi Ngidi is back to bowl now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Flatter on the pads, tucked to deep square leg. This time, Punjab get two runs.
Ravindra Jadeja to James Neesham, On off, clipped to deep square leg for one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tossed up on the pads, Hooda closes the face of his bat to flick it to deep mid-wicket. A single.
Ravindra Jadeja to James Neesham, Floated on off, knocked to long on for a single. James is off the mark straightaway.
James Neesham comes out to bat now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, ! TIMBER! Well bowled, Sir Jadeja. Dhoni persists with Jadeja and that has worked wonders in the form of a wicket. That of Mandeep Singh. Tossed up on off, it skids on, Mandeep gets down to sweep but misses. But not the ball. It hits the off pole.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Around off, pushed through short mid-wicket for a single.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, Just the single there. Tossed up on off and middle, this is stroked towards long on. Hooda takes one and strays out far, for the second. But Mandeep sends him back in the nick of time.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, ! That is an over 80m six. Tossed up outside off, Hooda comes down the track and lofts it mightily over deep cover.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up on off and middle, tapped to the leg side for a single.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, Catch is the call but it lands just short. Tossed up around off, Deepak swings it uppishly towards long on. It lands on a bounce ahead of the fielder there. A single taken.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, On off and middle, clipped to mid-wicket for two.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Floated around off, pushed to the off side for a single.
Imran Tahir to bowl out here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, A couple to finish, despite the confusion. On off, this is nudged to deep square leg. Some confusion between the two as they wanted to settle for the single, later one of them wanted two. Eventually they take a couple.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, The batsmen work this behind square on the leg side and take a couple.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up around off, pushed to point for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Flighted on middle and leg, Hooda looks to clip but inside edges it. The ball falls ahead of point. A single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Around off, nudged to short mid-wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, This is pushed to short third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Deepak Hooda, ! Looked like mid-wicket would get there, but he does not. Short ball, Hooda pulls at it. It was between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. While it looked like the latter would get to it, he fails to cut it off. A boundary results.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, Outside off, steered to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, On a good length outside off, stabbed to the off side. Mandeep wants one but Hooda sends him back. There never was a run there as the bowler got to it quickly.
Deepak Chahar to Deepak Hooda, Fullish and around off, Hooda taps it past the bowler, to the left of mid on. Takes one.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, Fullish and outside off, he guides it to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, ! He is an inventive player, Mandeep Singh. Good length ball around off, he swings across the line and sends it wide of the deep backward square leg fielder for a boundary.
Deepak Chahar is back to bowl.
DRINKS! Well, well, looks like Rahul's ambitions of getting a big total on the board are in serious jeopardy now. With the departure of both Gayle and Pooran, a big total now looks near impossible. Time for Mandeep and Hooda to decide what would pragmatically be a good total and steer their side to that. Their bowlers would have to step up today, by the looks of it so far. Punjab should avoid further collapses. Let's see how they go about in the final passage of play in the first innings here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tidy over from Jadeja! Just 4 off his first. Punjab have entered the deserted islands of boundaries as they are unable to find them at the moment. Quicker on off, Hooda plays it towards point. The filder misfields which allows the batter to run two.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tossed up on middle, Hooda plays it to Tahir at mid on.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, On the pads, Mandeep flicks it to square leg and rotates the strike.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, Quick and turning in. Mandeep goes on his back foot and manages t defend it.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Shorter on off, Hooda knocks it towards long on for one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Floated on off, Hooda pushes it to cover.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja gets the ball now.
Deepak Hooda comes to the middle.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, A single to finish. Around off, pushed to the right of mid on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, ! LBW! Up goes the finger. Gayle reviews that but on finding that he has not knicked that, he starts walking. Does not even bother to wait for the Ball Tracker to come in. Floated on middle and leg, it is the striaght ball, the one that does not turn. Gayle lunges to sweep but misses to get hit on the pads. Chennai appeal for a LBW and the umpire gives it. Gayle takes it upstairs but on seeing he did not nick it, starts walking. Three Reds further on the Ball
Review time! Gayle takes a review for the on-field LBW decision against him. To the naked eye, there appears to be no bat. Ultra Edge confirms that. THREE REDS on the Ball Tracker.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Full toss on the body, glanced to wide long on for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted around off, clipped to long on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up on off, Singh prods forward to defend but gets it off the inner half to the leg side. One run.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Flatter ball around off, tapped to the off side.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full and well outside off, but within the tramline. Gayle lets it be.
Shardul Thakur to Mandeep Singh, Outside off, punched to deep point for a single. Mandeep is away rightaway.
Mandeep Singh comes out to the middle now, at No. 5.
Shardul Thakur to Nicholas Pooran, ! TAKEN! There is a wicket. Chennai are turning the match around. Shortish ball around off, not that short enough to go for a pull shot. Pooran though does that. He swivels and looks to pull. The ball has a touch of away shape as well. It takes the underedge of Pooran's blade and goes to the keeper. MSD takes a good catch. He and Thakur appeal for a caught behind and the umpire gives it. Nicholas does not opt for the review, he starts walking.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Shortish ball on the body, half-pulled to deep square leg for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Nicholas Pooran, Full and outside off, stroked uppishly but safely ahead of sweeper cover. A single.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full and on off, driven down to long on for a single.
Shardul Thakur is back to bowl.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted on off, knocked to wide mid off for one.
Imran Tahir to Nicholas Pooran, Floated on middle, clipped to mid-wicket for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Looped up around off, this time he gets a single. Drives it down to long off for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Fuller on off this time, pushed back to Imran again.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flatter outside off, hit back to the bowler.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Tossed up around off, defended to the off side.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Just a run and a wicket, what an over! Full and around off, pushed back to the bowler.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Outside off, Pooran looks to cut but connects with thin air.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Full and around off, driven to mid off. Chris Gayle wants a single but the younger West Indian says no.
Another West Indian, Nicholas Pooran, walks out to the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, ! TIMBER! It is a beautiful ball. A beautifull ball! Low full toss on off, KL Rahul swings across the line. It was not the right length to go for that shot but Rahul does not realize that. He goes for the shot and misses it altogether, and the off pole is knocked out.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, Swing and a miss! Fullish and around off, the Wakhra Squad skipper looked to go big over the bowler's head but fails to connect.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Outside off, Gayle swings across the line but gets it off the inner half towards short fine leg. Picks up a single.
Lungi Ngidi replaces Shardul Thakur in the attack.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Just 5 from the over. Tossed up around off, KL rocks back and cuts but finds point. A dot.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Looped up outside off, driven down to long off for one.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Full and around off, bunted down to long on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted on off, Gayle looks to go big on the leg side but mistimes it through the carpet to mid-wicket. One run.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Tossed up outside off, driven to cover for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Floated on the pads, flicked to deep square leg for a single.
Jersey No. 99, Imran Tahir, to bowl now.
DRINKS! Punjab are 56/1 and have 13 overs still to go. With the Universe Boss and KL Rahul out in the middle, they should go big. The objective is not just to get a big total but also to win big, as NRR could become a very crucial factor, later on. For Chennai, it is about taking these two out as quickly as possible, with MS well vary of what they can do. Let's see how it goes after the break.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Yorker to finish the over. The big man from West Indies bends his back and jams it to mid off for a single. Very good comeback from Shardul. Just 3 off his second after an expensive first.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Length delivery on off, Rahul drives it uppishly to the left of mid off. Gayle was a bit slow to leave his crease for the run but no trouble.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Fuller and closer to off ole. Rahul moves away from the stumps and drives it to cover.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Length ball around off, Rahul pushes it towards mid on. Gayle, yes, Chris Gayle wanted a single but Rahul was quick to deny it.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Good length ball around off, Gayle dabs it to third man and gets to the other end.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full on the pads, Gayle flicks it to mid-wicket. Looks like the big man is warming up.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, Outside off, left alone. Punjab are 53/1 at the end of the Powerplay.
Is that a boundary? Looks so, to the naked eye. Paschim Pathak, the umpire, signals so. A boundary!
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, ! Tahir is not happy with himself there. Full and around off, KL Rahul lets out a lovely drive through the covers. It is to the right of Tahir, the sweeper cover fielder. Tahir runs into that direction but puts a half-effort in stopping it. It manages to evasively trickle through for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Single gets Gayle going. Full and around off, Gayle taps it to cover-point and takes a single.
The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, is in the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Full and seaming away outside off, Chris hangs his bat inside the line of the stumps. The ball goes through to Dhoni.
Lungi Ngidi to Mayank Agarwal, ! BOWLED! Ngidi comes back well. Mayank Agarwal got a good little start. Now he has to walk back. Full and outside off, Agarwal looks to swing across the line but the ball was not of the right length. And he ends up paying for it, drags it onto his stumps. The party poopers, Chennai, getting into the act now.
Lungi Ngidi to Mayank Agarwal, ! Just typifies the run of form that Mayank Agarwal has been in, in this season. Full and outside off, he lifts it over covers for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi into the attack now.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Slow and full around off, stabbed to Sir Ravindra Jadeja at backward point.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Swing and a miss! Fullish and outside off, Rahul swings for the heavens but misses it completely.
Shardul Thakur to Mayank Agarwal, Well bowled from Shardul. Slower ball on top of off, Monk dabs it on the off side for one.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Full and around off, pushed to mid on for a single.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, EDGED AND ! Back-to-back boundaries for KL Rahul here. Fullish and outside off, Rahul throws the kitchen sink at it. Gets it over short third man off the outside edge for a boundary.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, ! A boundary for KL Rahul. Full and on the pads, all too easy for him. He flicks it uppishly to the fine leg fence.
Shardul Thakur is on now.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, ! Opens the gap for a four. Full and on the pads, Agarwal flicks it uppishly and well wide of the mid on fielder. The ball races away to the wide long on boundary.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Angled into the pads, it is worked to deep square leg for a run.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Short ball, the Punjab skipper sways away from the line of the ball.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Full and outside off, stabbed to cover-point for a quick one. The fielder, Sir Jadeja, has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, ! There was nobody in the deep and that produces a boundary for Agarwal. Outside off, Mayank throws the bat at it. Gets it over backward point for a boundary.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Full and around off from around the wicket, driven to mid off for a single.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and around off, KL comes down the track. He looks to slam it on the off side but gets an inside edge which goes to short fine leg.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On the pads, tucked to deep square leg for a run.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and around off, driven to the left of deep point for one.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, ! The first six. Full and swinging away outside off again, Rahul slashes hard at it. Gets a thickish outside edge. The ball flies over the deep backward point fence.  ÂÂ
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, A full outswinger outside off, driven to cover again.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, On a length around off, driven to cover.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, A single to end. Full and outside off, Rahul drives it to Sir at point and takes a single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Fullish on the pads, a half-Nataraja shot to the left of deep mid-wicket. A single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Full and well outside off, Curran trying to get it to swing in from there. Mayank Agarwal dabs it to cover-point.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Full and outside off, stabbed in front of point for one.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, A little bit of swing in. Full and a hint of inswing towards off, Mayank manages to work this to mid off for a single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, On a good length outside off, dabbed to the off side. Agarwal looks for a single but he is sent back.
Sam Curran to bowl from the other end.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and swinging away outside off, driven well but straight to cover-point. First over done and Punjab are 10/0.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On a good length outside off, tucked to deep point for one.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, ! There is a fielder there but he can only watch. Chahar strays with a fuller ball down the leg side, Agarwal clips it nicely, wide of the deep backward square leg fielder. Gets another boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On the pads, tucked to short mid-wicket.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, ! Just past mid on. Full and around off, Mayank strokes it uppishly and just over the diving mid on fielder. A boundary.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, And some swing straightaway for Chahar. Full and shaping away a touch, KL strokes it with the swing, to deep point. Takes a single as gets off the mark. Punjab are underway too.
We are all set for the action to begin then. Virender Sharma and Paschim Pathak, the umpires for this game, make their way out to the middle. The Chennai players are in a huddle near the ropes, with MS Dhoni, the skipper, imparting the final words of wisdom. Punjab's openers, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, step out to the middle as well. 2 friends re-united in the top order. Opening the bowling for Chenna is Jersey No. 90, Deepak Chahar. 3...2....1...HERE WE GO...
Punjab (Playing XI) - KL Rahul (WK/C), Mayank Agarwal (IN PLACE OF ARSHDEEP SINGH), Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, James Neesham (IN PLACE OF GLENN MAXWELL), Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami.
Chennai (Playing XI) - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis (IN PLACE OF SHANE WATSON), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (WK/C), N Jagadeesan, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur (IN PLACE OF KARN SHARMA), Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir (IN PLACE OF MITCHELL SANTNER).ÂÂ
Punjab skipper, KL Rahul, says that it is simple for them, go out there and enjoy themselves. Informs both Mandeep and Mayank are in. Adds Maxwell and Arshdeep are out in place of Mayank and Neesham. Rahul says his role is batters bat around him and says he can do damage in the end but also says it is important that they make the most of the Powerplay. Wants to put on a big total on board as that will be key to help them win.
MS Dhoni, Chennai's captain, says this is definitely not his last game in Yellow. States that Punjab are under more pressure to win this game. Adds that his side wants to come on the ground and give their best. On the changes, Faf du Plessis comes in for Watson, Tahir replaces Santner and Shardul comes in for Karn Sharma.ÂÂ
Toss - It is toss time at Abu Dhabi. It is the home game for Chennai. MS Dhoni gets to call. The spin of the coin lands in Chennai's favour. THEY WILL BOWL!
Pitch Report - Graeme Swann says that the pitch looks very hard. Expects it to be slow. Says that if one takes the cracks off the ground, it won't seam much. Says that Chennai and Punjab have struggled at Abu Dhabi primarily because both sides favour shorter boundaries which is not the case at Abu Dhabi.ÂÂ
Super Saturday is always followed by a Super Sunday! Yes, the double header actions continues on Sunday as well - the last double header action for this League season. In the first game, Chennai take on Punjab and in the second, Kolkata take on Rajasthan. It is a knockout clash of sorts in both the games, for Punjab in the first and for both Kolkata and Rajasthan in the second. ÂÂ
Yes, you read that last line right. The Men in Yellow, who have had a placid season so far, are bringing out their best now. Maybe it was pressure after all? Earlier. Anyway, they have proven to be a party spoiler by racking up consecutive wins against Bangalore and Kolkata. Now, in their last game, they would want to finish off with a hat-trick of wins, on their way out. Stick around for the toss and team updates...ÂÂ
For Punjab, it is a key clash, a must-win one, especially after the loss to Rajasthan in the last game. They need to come all guns blazing with the bat and also put up a spectacular performance with the ball. It is all the more imperative, because, Chennai, with back-to-back wins, finally seem to pose some challenge to their opponents.ÂÂ
7
Diabytes
Chennai Super Kings
154/1(18.5 Overs)
A good bowling performance from Chennai, They did not start off well but dominated the middle phase and had they been given a chance to restrict Punjab under 160 at the start of the game, they would have taken it. But where they were at halfway mark of the innings, they would feel they may have given away 20 runs more. 6 bowlers were used by Dhoni with the spin duo of Tahir and Jadeja giving away just 41 from their combined 7 overs and picking up one wicket a piece. Ngidi, though expensive in hi
Punjab's lone batting star of the moment, Deepak Hooda, is caught for a quick chat. Hooda says that he is pleased with the team score and his batting. Feels if they bowl well, they can defend it. Bowling variations will be the key, he adds. Mentions that he was just trying to stay positive and if it was in his range, he was going after it.
So Chennai need 154 to spoil Punjab's party and take them with them to the airport. Punjab will need to be at their best with the ball if they are to keep their hopes alive of qualification. Can Punjab defend it and stay alive for the playoffs? Join us for the chase to find out.ÂÂ
After being put into bat, Mayank and Rahul got them off to a good start. Once Mayank departed, runs started to dry up and it looked like the wheels started to come off. From 48/0 they were struggling at 72/4. It looked like the side from the North of India would struggle to get to 130 but a fantastic unbeaten 62 off just 30 balls from Deepak Hooda has seen Punjab recover well and breach the 150-run mark.
A very good performance from Deepak Hooda and that has helped Punjab recover and keep their hopes of a spot in the playoffs alive. Chennai though will back themselves to chase this down. At the halfway stage, one must feel that Chennai will be the happier of the two sides. But 40 from the last three overs sees Punjab head into the break with momentum.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, Just one off the last ball. Hooda gets across and looks to slam the full toss on the leg side. But he mistimes it to square leg. One run taken. PUNJAB FINISH ON 153/6.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! That takes Punjab to over 150. Superb shot. On middle, fullish, Hooda swings it well over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Jordan, NOT ! Full toss outside off, Chris swings for the heavens but misses. It goes through to Dhoni and the batters run for a bye. Dhoni misses to hit at the stumps, the ball goes through to Ngidi. The bowler effects a run out at his end as Jordan puts in the dive. The umpires take it upstairs to have a look. But one replay is enough to show that the batsman made it inside even before Ngidi effected the run out.
The umpires have gone upstairs to check for the run out. Naah... Well in, even before Ngidi could whip the bails off.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, Very full outside off, jammed out to deep point for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! Nice shot again. Deepak Hooda was across the line of off stump even before the delivery came. The ball was full and outside off, he lofts it over extra cover. Faf du Plessis comes running in from wide long off but has no chance in stopping that. A boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Jordan, Full and outside off, stroked uppishly but safely ahead of the man at sweeper cover. A single only.
Who will bowl the crucial last over for Chennai? Chahar has an over left, Curran has 2. Ngidi and Jadeja have one each. Cannot be the latter mostly. It is Lungi Ngidi to finish things off with the ball for Chennai.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Very full and outside off, Jordan moves to the leg side and jams it out to deep cover for a run.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Short ball, Chris pulls but does not get any timing at all. It comes back to the bowler off the inner half.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Shortish and on off, clipped through short mid-wicket for a couple.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, On middle, tapped to short fine leg for one. Hooda gets to his 50. This is some excellent rearguard batting from him and Punjab. It is his 2nd 50 in the League.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, ! WOW! That shot reminded us of Suryakumar Yadav. Full and on off and middle, the knuckle ball, Hooda goes inside out over extra cover and gets a boundary.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, On the pads, tucked to wide long on for a couple.
Shardul Thakur is back to bowl the penultimate over.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, A single. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, WIDE! Need to reload that. Fullish and well outside off, Deepak lets it be.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, This is worked to deep backward point for a couple.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! Goes on the off side again and gets a maximum. Ngidi bowls a full ball outside off, searching for the yorker. He misses his length and Hooda punishes him. Gets across the stumps and lofts it mightily over the deep cover region.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, NOT ! There is a shadow there and a gap between bat and ball, so not out. Very full and outside off, Hooda looks to dig it out but fails to do so. It goes through to the keeper and Dhoni takes it. Ngidi appeals feverishly for a caught behind but the umpire is not interested. He convinces Dhoni to take the review. MS takes it. The third umpire have a close look at Ultra Edge, there is a spike. But he wants a different angle, he gets one from behind the
Review time! Ngidi wants a review for caught behind and Dhoni flashes the 'T'. What does Ultra Edge have to say? It shows a spike but we have a different angle where there is a gap between bat and ball.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! That is hit to one of the bigger pockets in Zayed stadium. Full and outside off, Hooda moves a touch to the off side and swings it with all his might. Gets it well over the deep backward point fence.
Chris Jordan comes to the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to James Neesham, ! CAUGHT! Chennai showing their class, not just with the ball but also in the field. What a fantastic catch it was, by Ruturaj Gaikwad! Fullish on off, Neesham swings it high in the air. He wanted to clear the deep mid-wicket boundary but had more of the height and less of distance. It though looks to be falling safe in the mid-wicket region. But Ruturaj, who was at deep square leg, comes running in, dives and takes a splendid catch.
Imran Tahir is done for the day, with the ball. Lungi Ngidi is back to bowl now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Flatter on the pads, tucked to deep square leg. This time, Punjab get two runs.
Ravindra Jadeja to James Neesham, On off, clipped to deep square leg for one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tossed up on the pads, Hooda closes the face of his bat to flick it to deep mid-wicket. A single.
Ravindra Jadeja to James Neesham, Floated on off, knocked to long on for a single. James is off the mark straightaway.
James Neesham comes out to bat now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, ! TIMBER! Well bowled, Sir Jadeja. Dhoni persists with Jadeja and that has worked wonders in the form of a wicket. That of Mandeep Singh. Tossed up on off, it skids on, Mandeep gets down to sweep but misses. But not the ball. It hits the off pole.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Around off, pushed through short mid-wicket for a single.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, Just the single there. Tossed up on off and middle, this is stroked towards long on. Hooda takes one and strays out far, for the second. But Mandeep sends him back in the nick of time.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, ! That is an over 80m six. Tossed up outside off, Hooda comes down the track and lofts it mightily over deep cover.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up on off and middle, tapped to the leg side for a single.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, Catch is the call but it lands just short. Tossed up around off, Deepak swings it uppishly towards long on. It lands on a bounce ahead of the fielder there. A single taken.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, On off and middle, clipped to mid-wicket for two.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Floated around off, pushed to the off side for a single.
Imran Tahir to bowl out here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, A couple to finish, despite the confusion. On off, this is nudged to deep square leg. Some confusion between the two as they wanted to settle for the single, later one of them wanted two. Eventually they take a couple.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, The batsmen work this behind square on the leg side and take a couple.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up around off, pushed to point for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Flighted on middle and leg, Hooda looks to clip but inside edges it. The ball falls ahead of point. A single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Around off, nudged to short mid-wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, This is pushed to short third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Deepak Hooda, ! Looked like mid-wicket would get there, but he does not. Short ball, Hooda pulls at it. It was between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. While it looked like the latter would get to it, he fails to cut it off. A boundary results.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, Outside off, steered to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, On a good length outside off, stabbed to the off side. Mandeep wants one but Hooda sends him back. There never was a run there as the bowler got to it quickly.
Deepak Chahar to Deepak Hooda, Fullish and around off, Hooda taps it past the bowler, to the left of mid on. Takes one.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, Fullish and outside off, he guides it to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, ! He is an inventive player, Mandeep Singh. Good length ball around off, he swings across the line and sends it wide of the deep backward square leg fielder for a boundary.
Deepak Chahar is back to bowl.
DRINKS! Well, well, looks like Rahul's ambitions of getting a big total on the board are in serious jeopardy now. With the departure of both Gayle and Pooran, a big total now looks near impossible. Time for Mandeep and Hooda to decide what would pragmatically be a good total and steer their side to that. Their bowlers would have to step up today, by the looks of it so far. Punjab should avoid further collapses. Let's see how they go about in the final passage of play in the first innings here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tidy over from Jadeja! Just 4 off his first. Punjab have entered the deserted islands of boundaries as they are unable to find them at the moment. Quicker on off, Hooda plays it towards point. The filder misfields which allows the batter to run two.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tossed up on middle, Hooda plays it to Tahir at mid on.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, On the pads, Mandeep flicks it to square leg and rotates the strike.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, Quick and turning in. Mandeep goes on his back foot and manages t defend it.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Shorter on off, Hooda knocks it towards long on for one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Floated on off, Hooda pushes it to cover.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja gets the ball now.
Deepak Hooda comes to the middle.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, A single to finish. Around off, pushed to the right of mid on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, ! LBW! Up goes the finger. Gayle reviews that but on finding that he has not knicked that, he starts walking. Does not even bother to wait for the Ball Tracker to come in. Floated on middle and leg, it is the striaght ball, the one that does not turn. Gayle lunges to sweep but misses to get hit on the pads. Chennai appeal for a LBW and the umpire gives it. Gayle takes it upstairs but on seeing he did not nick it, starts walking. Three Reds further on the Ball
Review time! Gayle takes a review for the on-field LBW decision against him. To the naked eye, there appears to be no bat. Ultra Edge confirms that. THREE REDS on the Ball Tracker.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Full toss on the body, glanced to wide long on for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted around off, clipped to long on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up on off, Singh prods forward to defend but gets it off the inner half to the leg side. One run.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Flatter ball around off, tapped to the off side.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full and well outside off, but within the tramline. Gayle lets it be.
Shardul Thakur to Mandeep Singh, Outside off, punched to deep point for a single. Mandeep is away rightaway.
Mandeep Singh comes out to the middle now, at No. 5.
Shardul Thakur to Nicholas Pooran, ! TAKEN! There is a wicket. Chennai are turning the match around. Shortish ball around off, not that short enough to go for a pull shot. Pooran though does that. He swivels and looks to pull. The ball has a touch of away shape as well. It takes the underedge of Pooran's blade and goes to the keeper. MSD takes a good catch. He and Thakur appeal for a caught behind and the umpire gives it. Nicholas does not opt for the review, he starts walking.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Shortish ball on the body, half-pulled to deep square leg for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Nicholas Pooran, Full and outside off, stroked uppishly but safely ahead of sweeper cover. A single.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full and on off, driven down to long on for a single.
Shardul Thakur is back to bowl.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted on off, knocked to wide mid off for one.
Imran Tahir to Nicholas Pooran, Floated on middle, clipped to mid-wicket for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Looped up around off, this time he gets a single. Drives it down to long off for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Fuller on off this time, pushed back to Imran again.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flatter outside off, hit back to the bowler.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Tossed up around off, defended to the off side.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Just a run and a wicket, what an over! Full and around off, pushed back to the bowler.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Outside off, Pooran looks to cut but connects with thin air.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Full and around off, driven to mid off. Chris Gayle wants a single but the younger West Indian says no.
Another West Indian, Nicholas Pooran, walks out to the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, ! TIMBER! It is a beautiful ball. A beautifull ball! Low full toss on off, KL Rahul swings across the line. It was not the right length to go for that shot but Rahul does not realize that. He goes for the shot and misses it altogether, and the off pole is knocked out.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, Swing and a miss! Fullish and around off, the Wakhra Squad skipper looked to go big over the bowler's head but fails to connect.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Outside off, Gayle swings across the line but gets it off the inner half towards short fine leg. Picks up a single.
Lungi Ngidi replaces Shardul Thakur in the attack.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Just 5 from the over. Tossed up around off, KL rocks back and cuts but finds point. A dot.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Looped up outside off, driven down to long off for one.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Full and around off, bunted down to long on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted on off, Gayle looks to go big on the leg side but mistimes it through the carpet to mid-wicket. One run.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Tossed up outside off, driven to cover for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Floated on the pads, flicked to deep square leg for a single.
Jersey No. 99, Imran Tahir, to bowl now.
DRINKS! Punjab are 56/1 and have 13 overs still to go. With the Universe Boss and KL Rahul out in the middle, they should go big. The objective is not just to get a big total but also to win big, as NRR could become a very crucial factor, later on. For Chennai, it is about taking these two out as quickly as possible, with MS well vary of what they can do. Let's see how it goes after the break.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Yorker to finish the over. The big man from West Indies bends his back and jams it to mid off for a single. Very good comeback from Shardul. Just 3 off his second after an expensive first.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Length delivery on off, Rahul drives it uppishly to the left of mid off. Gayle was a bit slow to leave his crease for the run but no trouble.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Fuller and closer to off ole. Rahul moves away from the stumps and drives it to cover.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Length ball around off, Rahul pushes it towards mid on. Gayle, yes, Chris Gayle wanted a single but Rahul was quick to deny it.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Good length ball around off, Gayle dabs it to third man and gets to the other end.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full on the pads, Gayle flicks it to mid-wicket. Looks like the big man is warming up.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, Outside off, left alone. Punjab are 53/1 at the end of the Powerplay.
Is that a boundary? Looks so, to the naked eye. Paschim Pathak, the umpire, signals so. A boundary!
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, ! Tahir is not happy with himself there. Full and around off, KL Rahul lets out a lovely drive through the covers. It is to the right of Tahir, the sweeper cover fielder. Tahir runs into that direction but puts a half-effort in stopping it. It manages to evasively trickle through for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Single gets Gayle going. Full and around off, Gayle taps it to cover-point and takes a single.
The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, is in the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Full and seaming away outside off, Chris hangs his bat inside the line of the stumps. The ball goes through to Dhoni.
Lungi Ngidi to Mayank Agarwal, ! BOWLED! Ngidi comes back well. Mayank Agarwal got a good little start. Now he has to walk back. Full and outside off, Agarwal looks to swing across the line but the ball was not of the right length. And he ends up paying for it, drags it onto his stumps. The party poopers, Chennai, getting into the act now.
Lungi Ngidi to Mayank Agarwal, ! Just typifies the run of form that Mayank Agarwal has been in, in this season. Full and outside off, he lifts it over covers for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi into the attack now.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Slow and full around off, stabbed to Sir Ravindra Jadeja at backward point.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Swing and a miss! Fullish and outside off, Rahul swings for the heavens but misses it completely.
Shardul Thakur to Mayank Agarwal, Well bowled from Shardul. Slower ball on top of off, Monk dabs it on the off side for one.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Full and around off, pushed to mid on for a single.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, EDGED AND ! Back-to-back boundaries for KL Rahul here. Fullish and outside off, Rahul throws the kitchen sink at it. Gets it over short third man off the outside edge for a boundary.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, ! A boundary for KL Rahul. Full and on the pads, all too easy for him. He flicks it uppishly to the fine leg fence.
Shardul Thakur is on now.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, ! Opens the gap for a four. Full and on the pads, Agarwal flicks it uppishly and well wide of the mid on fielder. The ball races away to the wide long on boundary.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Angled into the pads, it is worked to deep square leg for a run.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Short ball, the Punjab skipper sways away from the line of the ball.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Full and outside off, stabbed to cover-point for a quick one. The fielder, Sir Jadeja, has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, ! There was nobody in the deep and that produces a boundary for Agarwal. Outside off, Mayank throws the bat at it. Gets it over backward point for a boundary.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Full and around off from around the wicket, driven to mid off for a single.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and around off, KL comes down the track. He looks to slam it on the off side but gets an inside edge which goes to short fine leg.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On the pads, tucked to deep square leg for a run.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and around off, driven to the left of deep point for one.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, ! The first six. Full and swinging away outside off again, Rahul slashes hard at it. Gets a thickish outside edge. The ball flies over the deep backward point fence.  ÂÂ
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, A full outswinger outside off, driven to cover again.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, On a length around off, driven to cover.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, A single to end. Full and outside off, Rahul drives it to Sir at point and takes a single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Fullish on the pads, a half-Nataraja shot to the left of deep mid-wicket. A single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Full and well outside off, Curran trying to get it to swing in from there. Mayank Agarwal dabs it to cover-point.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Full and outside off, stabbed in front of point for one.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, A little bit of swing in. Full and a hint of inswing towards off, Mayank manages to work this to mid off for a single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, On a good length outside off, dabbed to the off side. Agarwal looks for a single but he is sent back.
Sam Curran to bowl from the other end.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and swinging away outside off, driven well but straight to cover-point. First over done and Punjab are 10/0.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On a good length outside off, tucked to deep point for one.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, ! There is a fielder there but he can only watch. Chahar strays with a fuller ball down the leg side, Agarwal clips it nicely, wide of the deep backward square leg fielder. Gets another boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On the pads, tucked to short mid-wicket.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, ! Just past mid on. Full and around off, Mayank strokes it uppishly and just over the diving mid on fielder. A boundary.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, And some swing straightaway for Chahar. Full and shaping away a touch, KL strokes it with the swing, to deep point. Takes a single as gets off the mark. Punjab are underway too.
We are all set for the action to begin then. Virender Sharma and Paschim Pathak, the umpires for this game, make their way out to the middle. The Chennai players are in a huddle near the ropes, with MS Dhoni, the skipper, imparting the final words of wisdom. Punjab's openers, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, step out to the middle as well. 2 friends re-united in the top order. Opening the bowling for Chenna is Jersey No. 90, Deepak Chahar. 3...2....1...HERE WE GO...
Punjab (Playing XI) - KL Rahul (WK/C), Mayank Agarwal (IN PLACE OF ARSHDEEP SINGH), Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, James Neesham (IN PLACE OF GLENN MAXWELL), Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami.
Chennai (Playing XI) - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis (IN PLACE OF SHANE WATSON), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (WK/C), N Jagadeesan, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur (IN PLACE OF KARN SHARMA), Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir (IN PLACE OF MITCHELL SANTNER).ÂÂ
Punjab skipper, KL Rahul, says that it is simple for them, go out there and enjoy themselves. Informs both Mandeep and Mayank are in. Adds Maxwell and Arshdeep are out in place of Mayank and Neesham. Rahul says his role is batters bat around him and says he can do damage in the end but also says it is important that they make the most of the Powerplay. Wants to put on a big total on board as that will be key to help them win.
MS Dhoni, Chennai's captain, says this is definitely not his last game in Yellow. States that Punjab are under more pressure to win this game. Adds that his side wants to come on the ground and give their best. On the changes, Faf du Plessis comes in for Watson, Tahir replaces Santner and Shardul comes in for Karn Sharma.ÂÂ
Toss - It is toss time at Abu Dhabi. It is the home game for Chennai. MS Dhoni gets to call. The spin of the coin lands in Chennai's favour. THEY WILL BOWL!
Pitch Report - Graeme Swann says that the pitch looks very hard. Expects it to be slow. Says that if one takes the cracks off the ground, it won't seam much. Says that Chennai and Punjab have struggled at Abu Dhabi primarily because both sides favour shorter boundaries which is not the case at Abu Dhabi.ÂÂ
Super Saturday is always followed by a Super Sunday! Yes, the double header actions continues on Sunday as well - the last double header action for this League season. In the first game, Chennai take on Punjab and in the second, Kolkata take on Rajasthan. It is a knockout clash of sorts in both the games, for Punjab in the first and for both Kolkata and Rajasthan in the second. ÂÂ
Yes, you read that last line right. The Men in Yellow, who have had a placid season so far, are bringing out their best now. Maybe it was pressure after all? Earlier. Anyway, they have proven to be a party spoiler by racking up consecutive wins against Bangalore and Kolkata. Now, in their last game, they would want to finish off with a hat-trick of wins, on their way out. Stick around for the toss and team updates...ÂÂ
For Punjab, it is a key clash, a must-win one, especially after the loss to Rajasthan in the last game. They need to come all guns blazing with the bat and also put up a spectacular performance with the ball. It is all the more imperative, because, Chennai, with back-to-back wins, finally seem to pose some challenge to their opponents.ÂÂ
A good bowling performance from Chennai, They did not start off well but dominated the middle phase and had they been given a chance to restrict Punjab under 160 at the start of the game, they would have taken it. But where they were at halfway mark of the innings, they would feel they may have given away 20 runs more. 6 bowlers were used by Dhoni with the spin duo of Tahir and Jadeja giving away just 41 from their combined 7 overs and picking up one wicket a piece. Ngidi, though expensive in hi
Punjab's lone batting star of the moment, Deepak Hooda, is caught for a quick chat. Hooda says that he is pleased with the team score and his batting. Feels if they bowl well, they can defend it. Bowling variations will be the key, he adds. Mentions that he was just trying to stay positive and if it was in his range, he was going after it.
So Chennai need 154 to spoil Punjab's party and take them with them to the airport. Punjab will need to be at their best with the ball if they are to keep their hopes alive of qualification. Can Punjab defend it and stay alive for the playoffs? Join us for the chase to find out.ÂÂ
After being put into bat, Mayank and Rahul got them off to a good start. Once Mayank departed, runs started to dry up and it looked like the wheels started to come off. From 48/0 they were struggling at 72/4. It looked like the side from the North of India would struggle to get to 130 but a fantastic unbeaten 62 off just 30 balls from Deepak Hooda has seen Punjab recover well and breach the 150-run mark.
A very good performance from Deepak Hooda and that has helped Punjab recover and keep their hopes of a spot in the playoffs alive. Chennai though will back themselves to chase this down. At the halfway stage, one must feel that Chennai will be the happier of the two sides. But 40 from the last three overs sees Punjab head into the break with momentum.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, Just one off the last ball. Hooda gets across and looks to slam the full toss on the leg side. But he mistimes it to square leg. One run taken. PUNJAB FINISH ON 153/6.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! That takes Punjab to over 150. Superb shot. On middle, fullish, Hooda swings it well over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Jordan, NOT ! Full toss outside off, Chris swings for the heavens but misses. It goes through to Dhoni and the batters run for a bye. Dhoni misses to hit at the stumps, the ball goes through to Ngidi. The bowler effects a run out at his end as Jordan puts in the dive. The umpires take it upstairs to have a look. But one replay is enough to show that the batsman made it inside even before Ngidi effected the run out.
The umpires have gone upstairs to check for the run out. Naah... Well in, even before Ngidi could whip the bails off.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, Very full outside off, jammed out to deep point for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! Nice shot again. Deepak Hooda was across the line of off stump even before the delivery came. The ball was full and outside off, he lofts it over extra cover. Faf du Plessis comes running in from wide long off but has no chance in stopping that. A boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Jordan, Full and outside off, stroked uppishly but safely ahead of the man at sweeper cover. A single only.
Who will bowl the crucial last over for Chennai? Chahar has an over left, Curran has 2. Ngidi and Jadeja have one each. Cannot be the latter mostly. It is Lungi Ngidi to finish things off with the ball for Chennai.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Very full and outside off, Jordan moves to the leg side and jams it out to deep cover for a run.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Short ball, Chris pulls but does not get any timing at all. It comes back to the bowler off the inner half.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, Shortish and on off, clipped through short mid-wicket for a couple.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, On middle, tapped to short fine leg for one. Hooda gets to his 50. This is some excellent rearguard batting from him and Punjab. It is his 2nd 50 in the League.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, ! WOW! That shot reminded us of Suryakumar Yadav. Full and on off and middle, the knuckle ball, Hooda goes inside out over extra cover and gets a boundary.
Shardul Thakur to Deepak Hooda, On the pads, tucked to wide long on for a couple.
Shardul Thakur is back to bowl the penultimate over.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, A single. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, WIDE! Need to reload that. Fullish and well outside off, Deepak lets it be.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, This is worked to deep backward point for a couple.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! Goes on the off side again and gets a maximum. Ngidi bowls a full ball outside off, searching for the yorker. He misses his length and Hooda punishes him. Gets across the stumps and lofts it mightily over the deep cover region.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, NOT ! There is a shadow there and a gap between bat and ball, so not out. Very full and outside off, Hooda looks to dig it out but fails to do so. It goes through to the keeper and Dhoni takes it. Ngidi appeals feverishly for a caught behind but the umpire is not interested. He convinces Dhoni to take the review. MS takes it. The third umpire have a close look at Ultra Edge, there is a spike. But he wants a different angle, he gets one from behind the
Review time! Ngidi wants a review for caught behind and Dhoni flashes the 'T'. What does Ultra Edge have to say? It shows a spike but we have a different angle where there is a gap between bat and ball.
Lungi Ngidi to Deepak Hooda, ! That is hit to one of the bigger pockets in Zayed stadium. Full and outside off, Hooda moves a touch to the off side and swings it with all his might. Gets it well over the deep backward point fence.
Chris Jordan comes to the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to James Neesham, ! CAUGHT! Chennai showing their class, not just with the ball but also in the field. What a fantastic catch it was, by Ruturaj Gaikwad! Fullish on off, Neesham swings it high in the air. He wanted to clear the deep mid-wicket boundary but had more of the height and less of distance. It though looks to be falling safe in the mid-wicket region. But Ruturaj, who was at deep square leg, comes running in, dives and takes a splendid catch.
Imran Tahir is done for the day, with the ball. Lungi Ngidi is back to bowl now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Flatter on the pads, tucked to deep square leg. This time, Punjab get two runs.
Ravindra Jadeja to James Neesham, On off, clipped to deep square leg for one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tossed up on the pads, Hooda closes the face of his bat to flick it to deep mid-wicket. A single.
Ravindra Jadeja to James Neesham, Floated on off, knocked to long on for a single. James is off the mark straightaway.
James Neesham comes out to bat now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, ! TIMBER! Well bowled, Sir Jadeja. Dhoni persists with Jadeja and that has worked wonders in the form of a wicket. That of Mandeep Singh. Tossed up on off, it skids on, Mandeep gets down to sweep but misses. But not the ball. It hits the off pole.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Around off, pushed through short mid-wicket for a single.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, Just the single there. Tossed up on off and middle, this is stroked towards long on. Hooda takes one and strays out far, for the second. But Mandeep sends him back in the nick of time.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, ! That is an over 80m six. Tossed up outside off, Hooda comes down the track and lofts it mightily over deep cover.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up on off and middle, tapped to the leg side for a single.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, Catch is the call but it lands just short. Tossed up around off, Deepak swings it uppishly towards long on. It lands on a bounce ahead of the fielder there. A single taken.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, On off and middle, clipped to mid-wicket for two.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Floated around off, pushed to the off side for a single.
Imran Tahir to bowl out here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, A couple to finish, despite the confusion. On off, this is nudged to deep square leg. Some confusion between the two as they wanted to settle for the single, later one of them wanted two. Eventually they take a couple.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, The batsmen work this behind square on the leg side and take a couple.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up around off, pushed to point for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Flighted on middle and leg, Hooda looks to clip but inside edges it. The ball falls ahead of point. A single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Around off, nudged to short mid-wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, This is pushed to short third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Deepak Hooda, ! Looked like mid-wicket would get there, but he does not. Short ball, Hooda pulls at it. It was between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. While it looked like the latter would get to it, he fails to cut it off. A boundary results.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, Outside off, steered to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, On a good length outside off, stabbed to the off side. Mandeep wants one but Hooda sends him back. There never was a run there as the bowler got to it quickly.
Deepak Chahar to Deepak Hooda, Fullish and around off, Hooda taps it past the bowler, to the left of mid on. Takes one.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, Fullish and outside off, he guides it to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Mandeep Singh, ! He is an inventive player, Mandeep Singh. Good length ball around off, he swings across the line and sends it wide of the deep backward square leg fielder for a boundary.
Deepak Chahar is back to bowl.
DRINKS! Well, well, looks like Rahul's ambitions of getting a big total on the board are in serious jeopardy now. With the departure of both Gayle and Pooran, a big total now looks near impossible. Time for Mandeep and Hooda to decide what would pragmatically be a good total and steer their side to that. Their bowlers would have to step up today, by the looks of it so far. Punjab should avoid further collapses. Let's see how they go about in the final passage of play in the first innings here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tidy over from Jadeja! Just 4 off his first. Punjab have entered the deserted islands of boundaries as they are unable to find them at the moment. Quicker on off, Hooda plays it towards point. The filder misfields which allows the batter to run two.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Tossed up on middle, Hooda plays it to Tahir at mid on.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, On the pads, Mandeep flicks it to square leg and rotates the strike.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Mandeep Singh, Quick and turning in. Mandeep goes on his back foot and manages t defend it.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Shorter on off, Hooda knocks it towards long on for one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Deepak Hooda, Floated on off, Hooda pushes it to cover.ÂÂ
Ravindra Jadeja gets the ball now.
Deepak Hooda comes to the middle.
Imran Tahir to Deepak Hooda, A single to finish. Around off, pushed to the right of mid on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, ! LBW! Up goes the finger. Gayle reviews that but on finding that he has not knicked that, he starts walking. Does not even bother to wait for the Ball Tracker to come in. Floated on middle and leg, it is the striaght ball, the one that does not turn. Gayle lunges to sweep but misses to get hit on the pads. Chennai appeal for a LBW and the umpire gives it. Gayle takes it upstairs but on seeing he did not nick it, starts walking. Three Reds further on the Ball
Review time! Gayle takes a review for the on-field LBW decision against him. To the naked eye, there appears to be no bat. Ultra Edge confirms that. THREE REDS on the Ball Tracker.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Full toss on the body, glanced to wide long on for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted around off, clipped to long on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Tossed up on off, Singh prods forward to defend but gets it off the inner half to the leg side. One run.
Imran Tahir to Mandeep Singh, Flatter ball around off, tapped to the off side.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full and well outside off, but within the tramline. Gayle lets it be.
Shardul Thakur to Mandeep Singh, Outside off, punched to deep point for a single. Mandeep is away rightaway.
Mandeep Singh comes out to the middle now, at No. 5.
Shardul Thakur to Nicholas Pooran, ! TAKEN! There is a wicket. Chennai are turning the match around. Shortish ball around off, not that short enough to go for a pull shot. Pooran though does that. He swivels and looks to pull. The ball has a touch of away shape as well. It takes the underedge of Pooran's blade and goes to the keeper. MSD takes a good catch. He and Thakur appeal for a caught behind and the umpire gives it. Nicholas does not opt for the review, he starts walking.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Shortish ball on the body, half-pulled to deep square leg for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Nicholas Pooran, Full and outside off, stroked uppishly but safely ahead of sweeper cover. A single.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full and on off, driven down to long on for a single.
Shardul Thakur is back to bowl.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted on off, knocked to wide mid off for one.
Imran Tahir to Nicholas Pooran, Floated on middle, clipped to mid-wicket for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Looped up around off, this time he gets a single. Drives it down to long off for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Fuller on off this time, pushed back to Imran again.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flatter outside off, hit back to the bowler.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Tossed up around off, defended to the off side.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Just a run and a wicket, what an over! Full and around off, pushed back to the bowler.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Outside off, Pooran looks to cut but connects with thin air.
Lungi Ngidi to Nicholas Pooran, Full and around off, driven to mid off. Chris Gayle wants a single but the younger West Indian says no.
Another West Indian, Nicholas Pooran, walks out to the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, ! TIMBER! It is a beautiful ball. A beautifull ball! Low full toss on off, KL Rahul swings across the line. It was not the right length to go for that shot but Rahul does not realize that. He goes for the shot and misses it altogether, and the off pole is knocked out.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, Swing and a miss! Fullish and around off, the Wakhra Squad skipper looked to go big over the bowler's head but fails to connect.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Outside off, Gayle swings across the line but gets it off the inner half towards short fine leg. Picks up a single.
Lungi Ngidi replaces Shardul Thakur in the attack.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Just 5 from the over. Tossed up around off, KL rocks back and cuts but finds point. A dot.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Looped up outside off, driven down to long off for one.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Full and around off, bunted down to long on for a single.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Flighted on off, Gayle looks to go big on the leg side but mistimes it through the carpet to mid-wicket. One run.
Imran Tahir to KL Rahul, Tossed up outside off, driven to cover for one.
Imran Tahir to Chris Gayle, Floated on the pads, flicked to deep square leg for a single.
Jersey No. 99, Imran Tahir, to bowl now.
DRINKS! Punjab are 56/1 and have 13 overs still to go. With the Universe Boss and KL Rahul out in the middle, they should go big. The objective is not just to get a big total but also to win big, as NRR could become a very crucial factor, later on. For Chennai, it is about taking these two out as quickly as possible, with MS well vary of what they can do. Let's see how it goes after the break.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Yorker to finish the over. The big man from West Indies bends his back and jams it to mid off for a single. Very good comeback from Shardul. Just 3 off his second after an expensive first.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Length delivery on off, Rahul drives it uppishly to the left of mid off. Gayle was a bit slow to leave his crease for the run but no trouble.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Fuller and closer to off ole. Rahul moves away from the stumps and drives it to cover.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Length ball around off, Rahul pushes it towards mid on. Gayle, yes, Chris Gayle wanted a single but Rahul was quick to deny it.
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Good length ball around off, Gayle dabs it to third man and gets to the other end.ÂÂ
Shardul Thakur to Chris Gayle, Full on the pads, Gayle flicks it to mid-wicket. Looks like the big man is warming up.
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, Outside off, left alone. Punjab are 53/1 at the end of the Powerplay.
Is that a boundary? Looks so, to the naked eye. Paschim Pathak, the umpire, signals so. A boundary!
Lungi Ngidi to KL Rahul, ! Tahir is not happy with himself there. Full and around off, KL Rahul lets out a lovely drive through the covers. It is to the right of Tahir, the sweeper cover fielder. Tahir runs into that direction but puts a half-effort in stopping it. It manages to evasively trickle through for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Single gets Gayle going. Full and around off, Gayle taps it to cover-point and takes a single.
The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, is in the middle now.
Lungi Ngidi to Chris Gayle, Full and seaming away outside off, Chris hangs his bat inside the line of the stumps. The ball goes through to Dhoni.
Lungi Ngidi to Mayank Agarwal, ! BOWLED! Ngidi comes back well. Mayank Agarwal got a good little start. Now he has to walk back. Full and outside off, Agarwal looks to swing across the line but the ball was not of the right length. And he ends up paying for it, drags it onto his stumps. The party poopers, Chennai, getting into the act now.
Lungi Ngidi to Mayank Agarwal, ! Just typifies the run of form that Mayank Agarwal has been in, in this season. Full and outside off, he lifts it over covers for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi into the attack now.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Slow and full around off, stabbed to Sir Ravindra Jadeja at backward point.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Swing and a miss! Fullish and outside off, Rahul swings for the heavens but misses it completely.
Shardul Thakur to Mayank Agarwal, Well bowled from Shardul. Slower ball on top of off, Monk dabs it on the off side for one.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, Full and around off, pushed to mid on for a single.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, EDGED AND ! Back-to-back boundaries for KL Rahul here. Fullish and outside off, Rahul throws the kitchen sink at it. Gets it over short third man off the outside edge for a boundary.
Shardul Thakur to KL Rahul, ! A boundary for KL Rahul. Full and on the pads, all too easy for him. He flicks it uppishly to the fine leg fence.
Shardul Thakur is on now.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, ! Opens the gap for a four. Full and on the pads, Agarwal flicks it uppishly and well wide of the mid on fielder. The ball races away to the wide long on boundary.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Angled into the pads, it is worked to deep square leg for a run.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Short ball, the Punjab skipper sways away from the line of the ball.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Full and outside off, stabbed to cover-point for a quick one. The fielder, Sir Jadeja, has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, ! There was nobody in the deep and that produces a boundary for Agarwal. Outside off, Mayank throws the bat at it. Gets it over backward point for a boundary.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Full and around off from around the wicket, driven to mid off for a single.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and around off, KL comes down the track. He looks to slam it on the off side but gets an inside edge which goes to short fine leg.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On the pads, tucked to deep square leg for a run.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and around off, driven to the left of deep point for one.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, ! The first six. Full and swinging away outside off again, Rahul slashes hard at it. Gets a thickish outside edge. The ball flies over the deep backward point fence.  ÂÂ
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, A full outswinger outside off, driven to cover again.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, On a length around off, driven to cover.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, A single to end. Full and outside off, Rahul drives it to Sir at point and takes a single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Fullish on the pads, a half-Nataraja shot to the left of deep mid-wicket. A single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, Full and well outside off, Curran trying to get it to swing in from there. Mayank Agarwal dabs it to cover-point.
Sam Curran to KL Rahul, Full and outside off, stabbed in front of point for one.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, A little bit of swing in. Full and a hint of inswing towards off, Mayank manages to work this to mid off for a single.
Sam Curran to Mayank Agarwal, On a good length outside off, dabbed to the off side. Agarwal looks for a single but he is sent back.
Sam Curran to bowl from the other end.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, Full and swinging away outside off, driven well but straight to cover-point. First over done and Punjab are 10/0.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On a good length outside off, tucked to deep point for one.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, ! There is a fielder there but he can only watch. Chahar strays with a fuller ball down the leg side, Agarwal clips it nicely, wide of the deep backward square leg fielder. Gets another boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, On the pads, tucked to short mid-wicket.
Deepak Chahar to Mayank Agarwal, ! Just past mid on. Full and around off, Mayank strokes it uppishly and just over the diving mid on fielder. A boundary.
Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, And some swing straightaway for Chahar. Full and shaping away a touch, KL strokes it with the swing, to deep point. Takes a single as gets off the mark. Punjab are underway too.
We are all set for the action to begin then. Virender Sharma and Paschim Pathak, the umpires for this game, make their way out to the middle. The Chennai players are in a huddle near the ropes, with MS Dhoni, the skipper, imparting the final words of wisdom. Punjab's openers, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, step out to the middle as well. 2 friends re-united in the top order. Opening the bowling for Chenna is Jersey No. 90, Deepak Chahar. 3...2....1...HERE WE GO...
Punjab (Playing XI) - KL Rahul (WK/C), Mayank Agarwal (IN PLACE OF ARSHDEEP SINGH), Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, James Neesham (IN PLACE OF GLENN MAXWELL), Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami.
Chennai (Playing XI) - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis (IN PLACE OF SHANE WATSON), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (WK/C), N Jagadeesan, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur (IN PLACE OF KARN SHARMA), Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir (IN PLACE OF MITCHELL SANTNER).ÂÂ
Punjab skipper, KL Rahul, says that it is simple for them, go out there and enjoy themselves. Informs both Mandeep and Mayank are in. Adds Maxwell and Arshdeep are out in place of Mayank and Neesham. Rahul says his role is batters bat around him and says he can do damage in the end but also says it is important that they make the most of the Powerplay. Wants to put on a big total on board as that will be key to help them win.
MS Dhoni, Chennai's captain, says this is definitely not his last game in Yellow. States that Punjab are under more pressure to win this game. Adds that his side wants to come on the ground and give their best. On the changes, Faf du Plessis comes in for Watson, Tahir replaces Santner and Shardul comes in for Karn Sharma.ÂÂ
Toss - It is toss time at Abu Dhabi. It is the home game for Chennai. MS Dhoni gets to call. The spin of the coin lands in Chennai's favour. THEY WILL BOWL!
Pitch Report - Graeme Swann says that the pitch looks very hard. Expects it to be slow. Says that if one takes the cracks off the ground, it won't seam much. Says that Chennai and Punjab have struggled at Abu Dhabi primarily because both sides favour shorter boundaries which is not the case at Abu Dhabi.ÂÂ
Super Saturday is always followed by a Super Sunday! Yes, the double header actions continues on Sunday as well - the last double header action for this League season. In the first game, Chennai take on Punjab and in the second, Kolkata take on Rajasthan. It is a knockout clash of sorts in both the games, for Punjab in the first and for both Kolkata and Rajasthan in the second. ÂÂ
Yes, you read that last line right. The Men in Yellow, who have had a placid season so far, are bringing out their best now. Maybe it was pressure after all? Earlier. Anyway, they have proven to be a party spoiler by racking up consecutive wins against Bangalore and Kolkata. Now, in their last game, they would want to finish off with a hat-trick of wins, on their way out. Stick around for the toss and team updates...ÂÂ
For Punjab, it is a key clash, a must-win one, especially after the loss to Rajasthan in the last game. They need to come all guns blazing with the bat and also put up a spectacular performance with the ball. It is all the more imperative, because, Chennai, with back-to-back wins, finally seem to pose some challenge to their opponents.ÂÂ