IPL: Morkel powers CSK to incredible win over RCB

Feroz Khan

Chennai: Virat Kohli’s exploits at Hobart earlier this year caused a stir when he singlehandedly led India to an incredible run chase against Sri Lanka blasting bowlers all over the park. On Thursday, his second over of the match was literally put to shreds courtesy Albie Morkel who plundered him all over the MA Chidambaram stadium that set his team, CSK to a successfull run chase against RCB. That over changed the match and the expressions on Kohli’s face with each hit were clear enough of the mauling he was receiving from the batsman’s end. Chennai Super Kings defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets in a contest that was decided only after the last ball had been bowled. Before Daniel Vettori handed the ball to Kohli in the 19th over of the match, Chennai needed 43 runs from 12 balls. The equation might have made him a little too comfortable but Morkel, who had just walked in after the fall of the wicket of his captain MS Dhoni, had other plans. Kohli pitched the first ball up and Morkel got an inside edge that went to the boundary. The next was a similar delivery and the result a maximum over long-on fence. The third was a shorter and again a thick edge drove it to third man boundary. The fourth one disappeared over long on and the last one was a huge hit producing the same result. The over went for 28 runs the only respite being the penultimate delivery that went for just a couple. Suddenly, Chennai needed only 15 runs from the last six deliveries. It was a tough ask but still much better than what it was one over before. Vettori threw the ball to Vinay Kumar. His second delivery brought back the smile in RCB camp as he removed danger-man Albie Morkel. However, Dwayne Bravo held on to his nerves and dispatched the next two deliveries for a four and a six. The match went down to the last ball as Chennai needed two runs to win. Vettori took his time while setting the field but million dollar baby, Ravindra Jadeja edged it past third man for a boundary sending the crowd into raptures. Batting first, RCB put up an imposing total of 205/8 led by their opener Mayank Agarwal (45), Chris Gayle (68) and Virat Kohli (57). They however lost five wickets in the space of last seven deliveries after they were 198/3 at one stage. CSK began their chase on a positive note as their opening pair completed a partnership of fifty runs. They were 85/1 halfway down the innings and the match was accelerating towards a close finish. Their batsmen, however, failed to keep up with the soaring run rate even though some big hitting from their captain MS Dhoni and Plessis kept them in hunt. They had all but lost the contest when the penultimate over of the match changed it all and by the end of the match Chennai had pulled off an incredible victory.