IPL 2018, Match 24: Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore

Captain MS Dhoni scored an unbeaten 70-run knock, while Ambati Rayudu contributed with 82 runs off 53 balls as Chennai Super Kings outclassed Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets in a high-scoring Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Wednesday.

Invited to bat, RCB were off to a brisk start with de Kock leading the charge initially. However, CSK got the big wicket of RCB skipper Virat Kohli when Shardul Thakur had him caught at mid-on by a diving Ravindra Jadeja with the score reading 35 at the start of fifth over. Kohli had reached 2000 IPL runs before he was dismissed for 18.

CSK's joy was short-lived as de Villiers joined forces with compatriot de Kock to flay the the visiting team's bowling attack. De Villiers smashed Thakur for three consecutive sixes to bring the home crowd to its feet, even as de Kock played the supporting role to perfection. One of de Villiers' sixes landed outside the stadium.

However, Dwayne Bravo brought some relief to the CSK camp when he had de Kock superbly caught and bowled with a slower ball. The end of a 135-run partnership triggered a collapse of sorts as big fish de Villiers holed out to a short Imran Tahir ball that was going away.

Chennai Super Kings opener Ambati Rayudu was key to the visitors win at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore as his knock was one of the sole reasons as for Dhoni to step up along with the opener and chase the mammoth target that was set by RCB. Rayudu scored 82 runs off 53 balls including three fours and eight sixes. 

RCB collected the wickets of Shane Watson (7), Suresh Raina (11), Sam Billings (11) Ravindra Jadeja (3) early which left the vistors rattled. Chahal, Negi and Umesh Yadav struck early which helped them gain momentum and the confidence in going with the match forward. However, Rayudu and skipper Dhoni had other ideas as the duo staged a fine recovery before bringing CSK right back into the game.

Opener Ambati Rayudu laid the foundation with a sparkling 82 off 53 balls, hitting eight sixes and three fours. CSK needed 16 runs in the last over and Dhoni hit a six, his seventh of the night, to see his team through after Dwayne Bravo struck and a boundary and a six.