IPL 2018, Match 5, CSK vs KKR - Chennai Super Kings Player Ratings

The fans at the iconic Chepauk were thrilled to bits in the first home game of the Chennai Super Kings this season. The run feast saw over 400 runs scored with the eventual scoreline going in the favor of the hosts. The Men in Yellow chased down 202 to win the match against the visiting Kolkata Knight Riders. It was indeed an absolute thriller on the cards for the fans.

This is the second consecutive CSK game that has gone down to the wire in as many number of appearances this season. Coming to the game, the Kolkata Knight Riders were asked to bat first. After losing their top order early in the game, the KKR camp needed a serious rebuild from 89/5. Skipper Dinesh Karthik (26) and Andre Russell added a brisk 76 run stand in just 46 deliveries to get the innings going.

After Karthik’s dismissal, Russell played the one man army knock. He smashed an unbeaten 88 off just 36 deliveries with a four and 11 maximums. His efforts propelled the KKR total to 202 in the stipulated 20 overs. In the run chase, Chennai Super Kings got off to a brisk start as well, adding 75 runs in the powerplay.

Shane Watson (42 off 19 balls) and Ambati Rayudu (39 off 26 balls) gave the ideal start in the run chase. Later on, it was a quick 56 off 23 deliveries from Sam Billings that got CSK closer to the target. Eventually, Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja finished the game for the hosts.

Here are the Chennai Super Kings Player Ratings for the match:

Shane Watson – 9/10

The run chase of 202 was never going to be easy. To overhaul it, or to get anywhere close to it, the Chennai Super Kings needed a brisk start. Veteran all-rounder Shane Watson provided the start that the team needed. He scored a quick 42 off just 19 balls with three fours and as many number of sixes to give a firm base to the run chase. Earlier, he had bagged 2/39 with the ball and had accounted for the key dismissals of Nitish Rana and Dinesh Karthik.

Ambati Rayudu – 7/10

Ambati Rayudu was the ideal partner for Shane Watson in the run chase. He matched fire with fire to add 75 runs for the opening wicket with the former Australian cricketer. Rayudu scored a quick 39 off just 26 deliveries. His knock was studded with a couple of sixes and three boundaries.

Suresh Raina – 3/10

Suresh Raina’s poor time with the bat continued in the match. In fact, things ended up getting worse for him in the game. He was seen struggling with a niggle and was limping off the field when he was dismissed on 14. He had pocketed a very good catch to dismiss Sunil Narine early on in the match.

MS Dhoni – 3/10

The Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni largely disappointed with his batting on the day. He promoted himself up the order and many expected him to play the anchoring role. While he was successful in doing so to quite an extent, his personal numbers suggest otherwise. Dhoni’s troubled stay of 28 balls saw him score just 25 runs on the night.

Sam Billings – 9.5/10

If a batsman can crouch low and still manage to hit a low full toss for a maximum, then he indeed has some serious talent. Kent batsman Sam Billings did exactly that on multiple occasions in the match. With Dhoni struggling to get his act going, CSK needed someone to up the ante. Billings scored a blitzkrieg 56 off just 23 deliveries with two fours and 5 sixes to bring CSK closer to the victory. He was unfortunate to have not stayed till the very end in the run chase.

Dayne Bravo – 4/10

Dwayne Bravo was the star of the show for the Super Kings in the previous game. In this game, his bowling pathetic. His fellow Caribbean player, Andre Russell, whacked him to all parts of the ground. In the three overs that Bravo bowled, he leaked as many as 50 runs. Later in the game, he hit a crucial six in the final over to bring the equation in CSK’s favor.

Ravindra Jadeja – 5/10

Ravindra Jadeja had a decent time with the ball on the day. He got only two overs to bowl and he returned with figures of 1/19. He bagged the big fish Chris Lynn on the day. Later, he was promoted ahead of Bravo in the run chase. Just when the trolls had started coming, Jadeja hit a six to finish things off in style.

Harbhajan Singh – 6/10

Harbhajan Singh got only two overs to bowl in the match. He fared up decently in those two overs and also got the dangerman Sunil Narine out cheaply. In the two overs that he bowled, he returned with figures of 1/11. It is worth noting that Harbhajan bowled in the powerplays.

Imran Tahir – 4/10

Imran Tahir was the only Chennai Super Kings spinner to bowl his complete quota of four overs on the day. Tahir bowled with precision to finish with figures of 0/26 in his four overs. Albeit the wicket column does not boast of any numbers, Tahir had actually bowled pretty well on the day.

Shardul Thakur – 4/10

Shardul Thakur started off on a very positive note in the game. He was drafted in the side for the match and he gave away just 9 runs in the first two overs that he bowled. But his final two overs yielded 28 runs. He returned with figures of 1/37 in four overs. He took the wicket of Rinku Singh in the match.

Deepak Chahar – 2/10

Deepak Chahar’s services were not largely needed on the day. Chahar bowled the first over of the match and that remained to be the only over that he bowled in the game. He was taken away for 18 runs in the over. He did not get a chance to bat on the day.

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