MS Dhoni showers praises on Faf du Plessis following his knock against SRH

All the cricket fans and experts saw their excitement and anticipation reach the next level in the thrilling and crisp encounter between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first game of the IPL 2018 playoffs.

The MS Dhoni-led team sprawled through to the finals after recording a smashing win by two wickets courtesy of a sensational knock played by South African skipper Faf du Plessis. The CSK opener composed 67 runs off 42 balls and bailed his team out of trouble as at one point his team looked reeling at 92-7 at the end of 15 overs.

CSK bowlers arrive at the party to explode SRH batting order

After winning the toss, CSK new ball bowler Deepak Chahar bowled a remarkable first delivery that thrashed straight into the stumps of SRH opener Shikhar Dhawan to provide his team with the early wicket. Suddenly, the SRH skipper Kane Williamson who has been in a sublime touch this season was too dismissed during the powerplay, which imposed some serious jitters in the SRH dressing room.

All-rounder Carlos Brathwaite played an explosive unbeaten knock of 43 runs off 29 balls to help his side post a fighting target of 140 runs on the board.

Du Plessis’ calming knock helps CSK qualify for the finals

During the chase, CSK witnessed similar faiths as their opposite team as they lost three wickets inside the powerplay and then were reduced to 39-4 following to the dismissal of their skipper. However, du Plessis looked quite composed on one end and wickets kept on falling on the other side. Finally, after the slow progress, the South African batsman started taking on the SRH bowlers for some big strikes.

He smashed Brathwaite for 20 runs in the 18th over and was equally supported by fast bowler Shardul Thakur who played an important cameo. Du Plessis smashed a big six on the first ball of the final over to win the game for his team and help them to book a place in the finals.

Du Plessis made his experience count: MS Dhoni

CSK skipper MS Dhoni mentioned that du Plessis’s splendid innings are a proper example to state the experience which the South African brings in the team. Faf has just played 5 matches this year, as he missed the early part of the tournament due to a finger injury. The skipper also revealed that it gets very difficult to be away from the game for some matches and then suddenly start playing regularly. However, he noted that the experience helped Faf play the brilliant knock under pressure.

“Faf’s innings is where experience counts. It’s not easy when you don’t play a lot of games but I always say you need to train your mind as well. That’s where the experience comes in. You visualize what your role is, how you can contribute and Faf du Plessis has been brilliant,” said Dhoni during the post-match presentation ceremony.

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