Highlights, IPL 2019, CSK vs KXIP: Sarfaraz, Rahul fifties in vain as Chennai beat Punjab by 22 runs

CSK vs KXIP, IPL 2019, Match 18: Hello and welcome to our blog of Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab live from MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. KL Rahul (55 off 47) and Sarfaraz Khan's (67 off 59) laborious efforts went in vain as Chennai Super Kings held their nerves to beat Kings XI Punjab by 22 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday. Chasing a modest 161-run target, the visitors received couple of early jolts before Rahul and Sarfaraz anchored the Punjab innings with a crucial 110-run stand for the second wicket. However, it was not enough to help them cross the line as Chennai registered their fourth win from five matches. (Match Scorecard | When and where to watch)

CSK vs KXIP from MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai: CSK (160/3) beat KXIP (138/5) by 22 runs

19.51 IST: That's all from us. Stay tuned for the next game from Hyderabad.

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19.50 IST: Were the tourists too careful? They looked to play out Tahir and even Harbhajan Singh. Waited and waited for the seamers to come back on but Dhoni played his trump cards to perfection. When Kuggeleijn came back on to bowl, Punjab needed 46 from the final 3 overs. He got the big wicket of Rahul and conceded just 7. That spoilt the plans and the chances of a Russell-Southee encore from the Bangalore-Kolkata match did not happen.

19.45 IST: Punjab did make a fist of the chase though. After losing 2 pretty quickly, the 110-run stand for the third wicket between Rahul and Sarfaraz seemed to get Punjab back on track. In fact at the halfway stage, both teams had the same score. But the timing of the attack - never came from the visitors.

19.41 IST: Not quite surprising, if you are tuning in right now, after watching Chennai bat. The pitch was slowing down, was expected to get even slower and eventually, that is what happened. Decent bowling by the home side with only Kuggeleijn and Chahar proving to be expensive.

19.39 IST: That's it! CSK win by 22 runs and go top of the table.



19.36 IST: ScottKuggeleijn to Sarfaraz Khan, OUT! Sarfaraz falls with 2 balls left in the game. A short ball, outside off, Sarfaraz looks to pull but plays this earlier than expected. That is primarily because of the ball coming on late. A top edge is induced, which is calmly taken by Faf du Plessis at long on. Though, he had to circle under it a bit. Useful knock by Khan, but one has wonder - why did not the attack start during the 15th over? Left too much too late.

19.32 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn  to bowl the last over

19.30 IST: Deepak Chahar to David Miller, OUT! BOWLED! Lock, stock and barrel. No Killer Miller show tonight. The virtue of keeping it full and straight. You miss, I hit. Full and in line of the stumps, Miller swings hard, only to miss. The stumps are a mess. The over which began so badly, has ended nicely for Chahar and Chennai.

19.26 IST: Deepak Chahar to Sarfaraz Khan, ANOTHER NO BALL! Will Chahar be taken off for successive beamers? Nope. Since this was not dangerous, the umpire allows Chahar to bowl. Dhoni is furious though. He asks the bowler what is he trying. Deepak says that he is trying leg cutters. Immediately MS asks him to stop trying those. A high full toss outside off, Khan leaps and looks to go over the top but mistimes it over backward point. Two runs taken.

19.25 IST: Deepak Chahar to Sarfaraz Khan, NO-BALL! FOUR! Is this the point from where the momentum swings? The first ball of a new spell, Chahar looks for something different, trying a back of a hand slower ball. It turns out to be a high full toss and Sarfaraz just guides it over backward point for a boundary!

19.25 IST: Deepak Chahar will bowl now

19.22 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn to David Miller, FOUR! That is an incredible strike! A fuller length ball outside off, Miller sees the ball and tonks it right back past the bowler. No chance for long off to reach that one. That is the first boundary in six overs by Punjab.

19.21 IST: David Miller into the middle now

19.19 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn to KL Rahul, OUT! Something had to give in and it has! Rahul holes out at deep mid-wicket! This is a huge blow for Punjab and the Chennai crowd has gotten even louder. A short ball dug in hard almost halfway down the track, Rahul fails to middle his pull. It goes off the top half of his bat and flies high towards deep mid-wicket. Jadeja there comes in a bit and takes a really safe catch. Brilliant result for Chennai, they're tightening the noose on the visitors now.

19.17 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn comes back on now.

19.16 IST: KXIP have seen off the spinners and now need 46 off 18 balls.

19.11 IST: Harbhajan Singh to KL Rahul, FIFTY! A tossed up delivery death nicely by Rahul, drives this to mid on region and this single brings up 50 for Rahul.



19.08 IST: Imran Tahir to Sarfaraz Khan, FIFTY! 50 for Sarfaraz. His maiden in the Indian T20 League. This has been a good innings from the youngster but the job is not done yet he needs to see his side home. He gets to this landmark by nudging it to long off for a single.



19.07 IST: Tahir to resume after break

19.03 IST: Strategic time-out! KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan have continued the good work. They have got Punjab into a position where they can dictate terms in the game. They though need to ensure that wickets are not lost and one of them has to stay here till the end. 61 runs needed off the last 6 overs should not be difficult as long as a set batsman is out in the middle. Meanwhile, Chennai will desperately would want a few quick wickets which will put massive pressure on the away side .

19.00 IST: Harbhajan Singh has come back on to break the partnership

18.58 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to KL Rahul, Hold on! Lots of confusion here! Rahul was looking for a quick single and is sent back late. Dhoni flicks the ball onto the stumps but the bails have not come off. The third umpire has taken it upstairs though...

18.54 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn to Sarfaraz Khan, SIX! Beautiful shot! Full length delivery on off, Sarfaraz gets on his front foot and handsomely lofts it over long off for a maximum. He has decided to go after Kuggeleijn.

18.51 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Cheeky from Sarfaraz! Fuller delivery outside off, Khan gets on one knee and scoops it over Dhoni's head for a boundary.

18.50 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn is back into the attack.

18.48 IST: Just 8 runs from the last two overs off Tahir and Jadeja

18.44 IST: Imran Tahir to continue after the break

18.40 IST: Strategic time-out! Punjab have rebuilt well after the two early strikes. The current duo has added a fifty-run stand but the job is not yet done. The pitch is one where new batsmen will find it difficult and it is imperative for Rahul and Sarfaraz to continue if the away side needs to get on top here. Meanwhile, Chennai will know one wicket could see another few follow.

18.39 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to KL Rahul, FOUR! Jadeja bowls it quick to Rahul, who punches it off the back foot through the point region for a boundary. The fielder in the deep tries to save it from going to the fence and also gets his hand to it but could not stop it from going over.

18.38 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! That's classy from Sarfaraz. Jadeja fires this one around off, Sarfaraz gets cheeky and just plays a late cut which goes between Dhoni's legs for a boundary.

18.37 IST: Imran Tahir to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Excellent shot and boundary to end the over. Shorter around off, Sarfaraz cuts it through point. Harbhajan Singh in the deep gives it a chase by running to his left and putting in a dive but the ball beats him to the fence.

18.34 IST: Imran Tahir to Sarfaraz Khan, Excellent googly. Sarfaraz completely misreads it. It is on middle and leg, Sarfaraz gets on his front foot and looks to drive it to the off side. He misses and the ball hits him on the pads. Tahir asks the question but the umpire turns it down. They think about the review but they don't take it.

18.34 IST: Imran Tahir is on for CSK now.

18.33 IST:Just 3 runs from Jadeja's first over.

18.31 IST: Ravindra Jadeja has the ball now for CSK

18.30 IST: End of powerplay.KXIP 46/2 in chase of 161 at Chepauk.

18.26 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn to Sarfaraz Khan, SIX! Not the start Kuggeleijn wanted. Sarfarz has welcomed him into the league with a maximum. Fuller delivery outside off, Sarfaraz lofts it over the vacant deep cover region. The ball just about touches the ropes. Six signalled.

18.26 IST: Scott Kuggeleijn is into the attack.

18.24 IST: Deepak Chahar to Lokesh Rahul, FOUR! Chahar drifts down the leg side. A poor deilvery by Deepak. All KL has to do is to just put some bat on it. 

18.23 IST: Deepak Chahar to Lokesh Rahul,  SIX! This is a brilliant strike. A short pitch delivery on middle, Chahar slowers his speed considering slowness of the wicket. Rahul was already waiting for it on his back foot and flicks it above the mid-wicket boundary for maximum.

18.22 IST: FOUR! Beautiful shot! A fuller delivery by Chahar and Rahul applies full face of the bat and drives it past the bowler towards the long on region for a boundary.

18.20 IST: On middle and leg, Rahul flicks it wide of mid-wicket. Suresh Raina dives to his left but cannot stop it. The man at deep square leg runs to his left and collects it but the batsmen take an easy two.

18.16 IST: Back of a length ball outside off, Sarfaraz guides it to point and takes off. Jadeja from point runs in and scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end but the batsman looks well in. They take another run on the overthrow.

* Sarfaraz Khan walks out next.

18.11 IST: OUT! That is the second wicket in the over! Harbhajan is pumped up and so is the Chennai crowd! A flighted ball on middle, Mayank Agarwal looks to come down the track and hit it over long on but fails to reach the pitch of the ball. Agarwal though goes through with the shot and fails to hit it long. The ball goes high and Faf du Plessis at long on settles under the ball and completes a good catch. A double-wicket maiden! The hosts are right on top here. Harbhajan removes Mayank for 0. KXIP 7/2 in 2 overs

18.09 IST: OUT! Harbhajan strikes in his very first over and the dangerous Chris Gayle is back in the hut. Just the kind of start Chennai wanted. The fans here are going bonkers. The ploy to give the new ball to Harbhajan has worked. Flighted delivery outside off, the ball spins slightly away after pitching. Gayle swings his bat and gets a feather on it. Dhoni behind the stumps, makes no mistake and takes the catch. He goes up in celebration. Gayle thinks about the review but does not take it. It was a good decision as Snicko later on shows there was big movement. Harbhajan removes Gayle for 5. KXIP 7/1 in 1.4 overs

* Spinner to bowl from the other end. Harbhajan Singh introduced into the attack.

18.03 IST: FOUR! Length ball outside off, Gayle tries to cut but gets an outside edge over point for a boundary. KXIP 6/0 in 0.3 overs

* We are back for the chase. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle walk out to open for Punjab. The new ball meanwhile is in the hands of Deepak Chahar. 161 to win for the away side, 'Let's play' says the umpire. Here we go!!!

* So, 161 to win. One would have to say advantage Chennai but the visitors do have the firepower to chase this down. The spinners will matter a lot in the second innings and how Punjab play them will have to be seen. Back for the chase in a bit...

17.45 IST: CSK finish on 160/3 from 20 overs thanks to some clean hitting towards the end.

17.41 IST: Mohammed Shami to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Dhoni is hitting them everywhere. This time it's a short ball so Dhoni rocks back and pulls it behind square for a boundary.

17.40 IST: Mohammed Shami to Ambati Rayudu, SIX! Rayudu into the act now. It's also the 50 partnership between the two. Shami bowls a length ball on middle, Rayudu clears his front leg and muscles it over long on for a maximum.

17.39 IST: Mohammed Shami to bowl the last over

17.38 IST: Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Two in two! Pressure on young Curran! The veteran Dhoni just beautifully lofts this one on a length outside off over covers for a boundary.

17.37 IST: Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Curran errs in length again. Delivers a half-volley on middle and MSD again gets under the ball and goes through mid-wicket. The ball goes to the rope on a few bounces. Shami at deep mid-wicket does not pick that up and reacts late, allowing the boundary.

17.34 IST: Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, SIX! That has brought the crowd alive! An attempted yorker on the pads goes wrong. It ends up being a full length ball and Dhoni gets under it, deposits it deep into the empty stands at deep mid-wicket. Huge!  

17.34 IST: Sam Curran to MS Dhoni, NOT OUT! Too full and down the leg side. Dhoni tried to run it fine on the leg side as fine leg was up in the circle but fails to put bat on ball. Ashwin seems to have heard something there and takes the review. The replays show us that there is nothing, no contact. The Snickometer shows a blank line. The wide remains.

17.30 IST: Andrew Tye to MS Dhoni, FOUR! That's powered straight down the ground. Tye bowsl a full ball on off, Dhoni powers it straight back towards the bowler and the ball reaches the fence in a jiffy.

17.26 IST: Another quiet over from Punjab. Just six off it

17.22 IST: Sam Curran back on for Punjab

17.21 IST: Great over from Tye. Just two off it.

17.19 IST: Andrew Tye to MS Dhoni, There is a mix up between the two but luckily no trouble there. Dhoni pushes this length ball towards mid-wicket and goes off for a run. Rayudu responds to it but then stops midway and shouts no. They hear the call loudly and hence no trouble there.

17.18 IST: AJ Tye will restart now after the break

17.14 IST: Strategic time-out! Chennai were coasting along with just one wicket lost and looked like they got the perfect platform for the final flourish. The local lad, Ravi Ashwin though has picked a couple of wickets in the same over and that too of both the set batsmen. The current duo of MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu which is out in the middle will have to get their eyes in quickly and also go for quick runs in the last five overs. Punjab meanwhile will hope to bowl dot balls and also pick wickets to restrict Chennai to as low as possible.

17.13 IST: Mohammed Shami to Ambati Rayudu, FOUR! First boundary for Rayudu. Shami bowls it full outside off, Rayudu goes on the back foot and drives it on the up towards cover.

17.09 IST: Mohammed Shami will bowl his third over

17.06 IST: Ambati Rayudu is the next man in

17.06 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Suresh Raina, OUT! Two in two! Cleans Raina all ends up! A flatter one on middle, lands and straightens slightly. Raina goes for a swipe across the line coming on his knee but fails to put bat on ball. It goes on to disturb the timber! Ashwin is pumped up and the crowd is silent here! Hat-trick ball coming up!

17.05 IST: MS Dhoni walks out at number 4 to a huge roar from the crowd.

17.04 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, OUT! Faf holes out! The second wicket for Ashwin and his 50th in Chennai. A carrom ball landing on off, du Plessis looks to get under it and lift it over long on. He does not get enough power and ends up giving a simple catch into the hands of David Miller at long on. Huge relief for Punjab!

17.04 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Suresh Raina, TWO! In the air...and lands in no man's land. A flighted ball wide outside off, Raina looks to hit it over cover but fails to time the ball well. It goes high but luckily for him lands in the region between extra cover and deep cover in between 2 fielders. A single is taken. The 100 comes up for the hosts.

16.56 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, SIX! FIFTY! Fifty for Faf du Plessis and he gets there in some style. Murugan Ashwin bowls it on his pads, Faf gets on his knees and slops sweeps it flat over the backward square leg fence.



16.56 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, SIX! Down the track and the full flow of the bat! Boom! The secret was to try not to over hit the ball there. A flighted ball on middle, du Plessis runs down the track and lifts it over the bowler's head. It goes over the rope.

16.56 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin comes back on for Punjab

16.54 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis,  Driven wide of cover for a double.

16.53 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, Another half-tracker this time, du Plessis pulls it to mid-wicket for a run.

16.49 IST: Andrew Tye to Suresh Raina, FOUR! Excellent placement! A length ball wide outside off, Raina just reaches out and puts the ball in the gap past the short third man fielder to his left. No chance stopping that once it beat that man.

16.46 IST: AJ Tye back on in place of R Ashwin

16.45 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Suresh Raina, Floated outside off, Raina lofts it over mid off and takes a run.

16.40 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, Round arm from Ashwin, flatter outside off. Du Plessis pushes this ball to deep cover off the back foot and gets to the other end.

16.39 IST: Suresh Raina is the next man in

16.38 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Shane Watson, OUT! CAUGHT! The local lad strikes and Watson has to depart. This was a slower ball on middle, Watson goes on his and slog sweeps it over square leg. Sam Curran at deep mid-wicket, runs to his right and takes a good catch. Watson goes for 26. That's the opening that Punjab needed. Can they keep the momentum going and stop the run scoring.

16.37 IST: R Ashwin back on for KXIP as they look to apply more pressure

16.33 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, Slightly fuller but flat on middle and off. A little turn away from the right-hander but Faf adjusts and defends it towards the left of cover. No run though.

16.33 IST: Murugan Ashwin to start after the break

16.30 IST: Strategic time-out! After a sedate start in the first couple of overs, the two Chennai openers have pressed the gas pedal. They have picked up boundaries at will in the last few overs and added 50-plus at the end of the Powerplay. Chennai will look to accelerate even further from here on whereas Punjab will desperately look for a breakthrough to slow down things. If they don't get one soon, they could on a leather hunt today! Meanwhile, it is Murugan Ashwin to bowl after the break.

16.29 IST: Sam Curran to Shane Watson, FOUR! A good end to the powerplay. But that boundary spoils a good over from Curran. He bowls it pitching full and on the pads, Watson goes on his knees and sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary.

16.27 IST: Sam Curran to Shane Watson, DROPPED! Sam Curran drops a catch in his followthrough. It was hit back hard by Watson. Curran looks in some pain as he hurt himself near the right shoulder trying to take that return catch. The magic spray is out though and he should be okay to continue...

16.23 IST: Andrew Tye to Faf du Plessis, SIX! That has just been lifted by du Plessis as he uses his blessed, magical wrists. A full-length ball on middle and leg, Faf clears his front leg before putting this deep over the long on boundary.

16.21 IST: Andrew Tye to Shane Watson,  SIX! Four first, now six! Watson has suddenly found his timing out of nowhere here. A fuller length ball outside off, a half-volley to be honest. Watson goes through the line and deposits it over long off for a biggie.

16.21 IST: Andrew Tye to Shane Watson, FOUR! This is now the highest opening partnership for Chennai this year. Tye starts off with a full length ball on the pads, Watson flicks it over fine leg for a maximum.

16.20 IST: Andrew Tye introduced into the attack.

16.17 IST: Sam Curran to Shane Watson, Changes the length this time and bowls it short and angling in to Watson's body, Watson just ducks under it and lets it go.

16.16 IST: Sam Curran comes onto bowl his first over

16.14 IST: Mohammed Shami to Faf du Plessis, SIX! That is such smart cricket! In these hot conditions, energy conservation is a must. Faf du Plessis is experienced enough to know that and does exactly the same. A length ball on off, Faf comes inside the line, scoops it over fine leg for a maximum. Just used the pace there. Brilliant batting! 16 runs off the over, expensive!

16.13 IST: Mohammed Shami to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Two in two! This is even better timing! A short length ball outside off now, du Plessis was down the track and then adjusts in the end as he places it through the cover-point region. Finds the gap and picks up another boundary.

16.11 IST: Mohammed Shami to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Beautiful use of the feet by the South African! A length ball on middle, du Plessis preempts and runs down the track before lifting this over mid off for a boundary. Good timing!

16.10 IST: Mohammed Shami to Shane Watson, Mistimed! But it is safe in the end. A length ball on middle, Watson looks to pull it over mid-wicket coming slightly ahead. The ball comes off the top of the blade and goes slightly in the air towards the left of mid-wicket where Sarfaraz makes a tumbling stop. Single taken.

16.07 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Shane Watson, FOUR! First boundary for Chennai! Ashwin bowls a fuller ball on the pads, Watson goes on his knees and sweeps it behind backward square leg for a boundary.

16.06 IST: Ravi Ashwin to open the bowling alongside Shami

16.05 IST: One over gone and just four runs off it. Good start from Shami

16.00 IST: We are all set for the first ball of the game. Faf Du Plessis and Shane Watson are the opening batsmen for Chennai. The fielders are in position and the new ball is in the hands of Mohammed Shami. All set to go, let's play!!!

15.35 IST: Playing XIs:

Kings XI Punjab: Lokesh Rahul (WK), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Andrew Tye, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami

Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK/C), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Scott Kuggeleijn, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir

15.31 IST: TOSS - MS Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat first on a hot day in Chennai



15.29 IST: Another milestone for Dhoni



15.05 IST: With Chris Gayle likely to return, it will be interesting to see which overseas player will drop to the bench now given that Sam Curran replaced him last time around. Coming to the hosts, they had the perfect start to the season winning all of their first 3 games. But then came the roadblock in Mumbai, who always have been their toughest opposition in the League's history. 

15.00 IST: What is Ashwin thinking?

14.45 IST: Match 18 of the Indian T20 League is the first one of the double-header Super Saturday. It is a clash of North vs South. It is Chennai vs Punjab at the former's home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Both the teams are placed well in the top four of the points table, winning 3 out of the 4 games that they have played so far. 

14.30 IST: Hello and welcome to our live blog for Match 18 of the IPL 2019 where Chennai Super Kings (CSK) host Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at their home. The toss will take place at 15.30 IST. Stay tuned for all the updates.

Brief Preview: It will be a battle of leadership styles of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin when Chennai Super Kings clash with Kings XI Punjab an IPL match here on Saturday. Dhoni's ability to stay calm and keep his cool even in the trickiest of situations versus Ashwin's aggressive approach and out-of-the-box decisions would certainly make for an interesting contest. The two teams have three wins each and both will try to outdo each other to take the upper hand. (Read Full Preview Here)