CSK thrash RCB in Indian Premier League Opener

Chennai: Defending champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019's run in winning note as the hosts thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 7 wickets at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday.

Chasing just 71 to win in a slow turning wicket CSK reached the target in 17.4 overs losing 3 wickets. After losing Shane Watson’s wicket in the third over Ambathy Rayudu (28) and Suresh Raina (19) handled the innings. Kedar Jadhav remained unbeaten at 13.

Earlier, an exceptional bowling effort by CSK saw Virat Kohli-led RCB succumbing at a paltry total of 70 runs.

Such was the dominance of CSK bowlers that half of the Bengalore batsmen were back to the dressing room with just 45 runs on board in 9.2 overs.

First of all, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (3/20) rattled the visiting top order before Imran Tahir (3/9) joined the party, rocking the middle order while Ravindra Jadeja (2/15) also jolted Bangalore on a couple of occasions.

Put into bat, Bangalore openers Virat Kohli (6) and Parthiv Patel started cautiously but the visiting skipper, trying to pull a shorter delivery from Harbhajan, only handed an easy catch to Ravindra Jadeja at deep midwicket. Harbhajan then struck twice to pack back incoming batsman Moeen Ali (9) and a dangerous AB de Villiers (9).

Soon, the visitors lost their fourth wicket as newcomer Shimron Hetmyer tried for a quick single. However, there was no response from his partner Parthiv and he was stranded in the middle. Suresh Raina, who was at a cover, took no time in hurling the ball to M.S. Dhoni who got ample time to knocks off the bails.

Tahir was the next to strike as a Shivam Dube's thick edge on his delivery landed safely in the hands of Shane Watson at slip to send Bangalore reeling at 45/5.

With just the addition of five runs, it was Jadeja's turn, who dismissed Colin de Grandhomme (4) before Tahir struck twice in quick succession to make Bangalore's scorecard read 59/8.

Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 70 all out (Parthiv Patel 29, AB de Villiers 9; Imran Tahir 3/9, Harbhajan Singh 3/20) lost to Chennai Super Kings 71/3 in 17.4 overs (Rayudu 28, Raina 19). IANS

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