With the 7-run defeat against SRH on Friday, Chennai Super Kings have now lost their third consecutive game in IPL 2020. The last time it happened with CSK was back in 2014. Considering that CSK are struggling to produce match-winning performances, their chances of making into the playoffs this year look bleak.
Chennai Super Kings, once again, failed to chase a total in the tournament. Openers were different this time around, however, the result was similar. CSK didn’t get off to a great start. Shane Watson’s struggle in the tournament continued. He went after making 1 run off 6 balls. The man in form, Ambati Rayudu couldn’t stay for too long either as he fell off a great delivery by N Nataraj.
The man who has struck two half-centuries in the tournament, Faf du Plessis did look good during his stay but unfortunately got run out at a crucial period in the game. At 36 for 3 after 6 overs, MS Dhoni promoted himself as CSK were begging for a great partnership.
With Suresh Raina not in the side, Kedar’s lean run is adding the miseries to CSK. Jadhav played 10 deliveries before getting out and thereby leaving CSK in all sorts of trouble. CSK, at that time, were reeling at 42 for 4 in 8.2 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja then joined hands with MS Dhoni as the duo tried to build the innings together. They added 52 runs for the fifth wicket but left too many runs to chase in the end. MS Dhoni, who tried his best to win the game for his side, struggled to get his timing right. He made 47 off 36 but it wasn’t enough to take his side home. CSK, in the end, managed to score 157 in 20 overs, thereby handing a 7-run victory to SRH.
Sunrisers Hyderabad too didn’t get a great start. All four key players i.e., David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson went back to the pavilion inside 11 overs. It was the young talents in Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma, who led SRH’s recovery and took his side to a competitive total.
Priyam Garg brought up his first half-century of his IPL career, while Abhishek Sharma too played a handy knock of 31 runs off 24 balls. SRH ended on 164 after 20 overs in the first innings.
