MS Dhoni played a top innings and hit 70 runs off 34 ball, finishing the game with a six as Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore. Chasing a target of 207, CSK were 74/4 and were struggling. MS Dhoni then joined Ambati Rayudu and shared a 101-run stand. Rayudu was dismissed for 82 but Dhoni made sure CSK become the first team to chase down the 200-plus total twice this season. Chennai Super Kings had won the toss to put RCB in to bat. Playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB started by losing Virat Kohli early but AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock picked up without much fuss. They scored 68 and 53 respectively in a rapidfire partnership which left CSK without an answer. Thereafter, RCB lose three quick wickets before Mandeep Singh turned things around with a cameo. RCB’s late push was thwarted by Dwayne Bravo and dismal running between the wickets. However, RCB did enough to score 205/8 and give the second-placed team in the IPL table a stiff target to chase down.
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Chennai Super Kings are having a good season after their comeback than Virat Kohli's side, having won four out of the five games they have played so far and sitting at the top-second position of IPL 2018 points table. Royal Challengers Bangalore, on the other hand, have won two out of their five matches and would be eager to maintain momentum after the win against Delhi Daredevils at home last week. RCB sit second last on the IPL Points table.
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"Many things we can look at from this game. The way we bowled was just not acceptable, giving that many runs in the end was criminal. It is something we need to look at and address going forward. If we can't defend 200 then it's a problem after 72 for 4 when the lower middle order does that to you. We have to back the guys and have enough confidence in them and they need to be clear in their head to execute things. The pitch played really well, spin played a massive factor. Some quality batting with both sides getting 200."
It had to be him. MSD smokes it over long on and CSK have once again chased down a 200-plus total. They beat RCB by 5 wickets.
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Bravo gets an edge on the first ball and it goes past the keeper for four. The second ball is lofted over covers for six. 6 needed off 4.
Singles off the second, third and fourth ball before Dhoni sends one over point and into the stands. Mohammed Siraj then bowls three consecutive wides and adds three balls to the over. He finally gets it right and Dhoni hits the stumps at the non-striker's end and nicks two. 14 runs come off that penultimate over, Bravo on strike for the last.
There is the breakthrough that RCB were looking for. They went for the single but Rayudu can't make it despite putting in a dive. He has to depart for 82, and that is the end of a 101-run partnership between him and Dhoni.
Dhoni brings up the half century with the fifth six of his innings. 95 runs now between him and Rayudu and CSK need 36 to win off 15 balls.
And RCB are in desperate need of a good bowler. Rayudu and Dhoni are hitting them all over the park. But Mohammed Siraj did in the 17th over, giving away just six runs off the first five but Dhoni manages to find the boundary off the last ball to spoil the effort. 10 runs off it, CSK need 45 to win off 18 balls.
Umesh Yadav lets a sitter slip through his hands! Rayudu ends up getting the top edge off Corey Anderson and the ball goes high up in the air. Umesh, inside the circle, waits and waits and waits and when the ball comes, it completely misses his arm and lands on his chest. That was a bit of a howler. Rayudu then hits the last two balls of the over for consecutive sixes.
The two have now put up 65 runs for the fifth wicket and Rayudu is now into the sixties. Kohli might just be wondering whether it was wise to bowl out Umesh Yadav in those early overs.
Dhoni takes a single to bring Rayudu on strike and the latter then hits another six, this time over cow-corner to bring up his half century. The last ball is a dot and CSK have taken 19 runs from the 14th over bowled by Negi.
Some more pressure on the offer for the bowler and MS Dhoni serves with delight. The first one goes straight back over the head of Pawan Negi and the second goes over long on.
The deficit has now gone below 100. One gets a feeling that a wicket at this point would go a long way in RCB ensuring a victory here.
And what a way to bring it too, MS Dhoni with a monster hit over long on off Corey Anderson. That has gone high up into the dark Bangalore sky and settled in the stands.
Virat Kohli has used up Umesh Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal has just one over left. If CSK do manage to get this down the wire, RCB's death bowling will be under pressure.
122 runs needed off 59 balls now. They are a long way to out and Dhoni and Rayudu are in the middle. Washington Sundar will be bowling the 11th over of the match. Around this time during the RCB innings, the De Villiers-De Kock show had started to lift off.
Ravindra Jadeja departs for 3 runs from 5 balls and CSK's worries compound. Jadeja punches the air in complete euphoria. He's bamboozled a fellow spinner and it must feel extra great. Sets Jadeja up for the cut and the ball comes in off the pitch to beat the left hander to the punch. RCB are well and truly on top now
Sam Billings departs for 9 runs from 7 balls. Class bowling from Yuzvendra Chahal! What a delivery, what celebrations and the home crowd just can't get enough. Chahal is shushing Billings as the CSK batsman walks back. Billings comes down the track but is done in the flight, the drift, it pitches and spins away from the right hander. CSK are 59/3
Superb over by Umesh Yadav. Goes for five runs but picks up Suresh Raina's wicket and had Sam Billings under serious trouble. After the powerplay overs, CSK are 55/2
Even with wickets around him, Rayudu has looked class apart.
Suresh Raina walks back for 11 runs from 9 balls and CSK lose their second wicket. Umesh Yadav celebrates with full vigour and he should. This is a key wicket. Raina is early on the flick and the leading edge falls safely to Mandeep at backward point
Fantastic over for CSK! Rayudu starts with a pull to a short delivery by Siraj and it goes towards deep square for a boundary. Raina joins in with a lovely shot. Little room after coming down the track and Raina still gets a boundary with a slash. Rayudu finishes off the over with a slap back over the bowler's head. 15 runs from the over and it brings up CSK's fifty
When defending 200-plus, RCB have won all six matches and never lost any. Let's see if that flawless statistic takes a hit today
Two sixes in a row! Washington Sundar is introduced into the attack and his welcome isn't a savoury one. Sundar drags the ball down as he sees Rayudu come down the track but the CSK opener is in supreme touch to pull it over deep mid. Next ball, it is pitched up a touch and Rayudu swings through the line for a flat six back
Shane Watson departs for 7 runs from 4 balls. Next ball after the six, Watson is dismissed trying to pull has mistimed it completely. Falls kindly for Siraj at mid-on. Looked to have skidded on to Watson and rushed him into the shot. Smart bowling this by Negi
Hello and welcome back! Hope everyone had a good snack at the break. Watson has begun the show. Too full and too straight by Negi and Watson sits down to heave it with full power. Gets good connection on it and gets it all the way over long-on. Crowd roars in approval
Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu are at the crease to begin what would be a record chase at this venue. Shane Watson is on strike. Pawan Negi will open the attack
AB de Villiers has taken over the Orange Cap. He spoke in the mid-innnings interval: (On his mindset tonight) "Not much to be honest. Just trying to everything I can to create a bit of momentum for our side. Tonight I fell a bit dodgy early on. Felt like I needed to make the play and a couple came off nicely."
"Was important to start another partnership after losing Quinny (de Kock) but Tahir bowled well, he came back well. Tried to get the momentum going and I think we did well."
(On RCB bowlers' plan) "We can learn from CSK bowlers when we come out to bowl. They actually bowled well but what we did well was that we capitalized on some of the weaknesses that they showed throughout the innings. If we can keep them down from scoring big overs, we'll do pretty well."
Royal Challengers Bangalore finish on 205/8 after the 20 overs. What a manic inning. Plenty of see-saw motion here. AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock had RCB coasting at one stage. And then there were three quick wickets. That was followed by Mandeep Singh putting on a cameo. It was then followed by four wickets in four balls. Runs, sixes and wickets in patches and this has been breathtaking!
RCB close the inning with a double and then a four courtesy Sundar which has taken their score beyond 200 runs. Well played on the final delivery. Outside the off stump and Sundar slashes it for a boundary.
The flurry of wickets ends with a six! Sundar slogs the slower delivery from Bravo and clears Tahir on the boundary rope. Only just. Early impression that it was going to be taken but it has cleared the rope.
Umesh Yadav goes back for 0 runs from 1 ball. Another golden duck. Another RCB wicket falls. Four wickets in four balls, what is happening! Yadav skies the slower delivery and Billings gets underneath to take it cleanly
Pawan Negi dismissed for 0 from 1 ball. There is amateur stuff from Negi and RCB. Three wickets in three balls. Lofted by Washington Sundar to the right of long off. No power on it. Take the single and there is no second run here. Negi is caught ball watching and the throw on the striker's end is spot on. Dhoni has the easy job
Colin de Grandhomme gone for 11 from 7 balls. The Kiwi not the quickest between the wickets and now he's testing MS Dhoni's throw. No chance. Dhoni takes his away glove and is spot on for the run out.
Mandeep Singh departs for 32 runs from 17 balls and what an absolutely useful inning for RCB after the three quick wickets. Mandeep slogs the slower delivery by Thakur and doesn't get the distance to beat Jadeja in the deep.
Plenty of power in this from Mandeep and it is another six. Waits for the short slower delivery and flat-bats it straight down for a six over long off. Plenty of power in that!
Mandeep continues to go after the bowlers. Shardul forces him to back away and reach out but Mandeep does well to loft it for a six. Gets it over the deep point fence for a six. RCB need more of these with balls ticking down
Tough chance for Bravo to pull off another caught and bowled. Mandeep on the batting end and he's hit it with reasonable power to the left-hand of Bravo but it didn't stick. Must have stung but doesn't show much
Mandeep Singh is new to the middle and has taken little to get going. Ravindra Jadeja taken to the cleaners. Billings almost snatches a sublime take on the boundary rope but it has just beaten him. Next ball, Mandeep plays a reverse sweep for a four. Far too slow and Mandeep was on it
Corey Anderson departs for 2 runs from 8 balls and Imran Tahir has put him out of misery. Didn't look comfortable at all in the middle. Googly on a length delivery and it takes away the outside edge to be taken by Harbhajan at first slip. RCB are 142/4 after 15 overs
AB de Villiers departs for 68 runs from 30 balls and Imran Tahir has the big, big wicket! Tahir knows the importance of the wicket and he's off and running to celebrate. Runs all the way to the CSK dug out. Tossed up, outside off and it is out of AB's reach. He tries to go inside out but miscues and it falls kindly for Sam Billings at deep cover to take it with ease. Huge wicket for CSK!
Fantastic over from Dwayne Bravo. Picked up the Quinton de Kock wicket on the first ball and then five dot balls. Almost got the new man Corey Anderson. But the contact on the slower one was just outside leg stump. Wicket maiden! Just the fifth maiden in IPL 2018 after Trent Boutl, Deepak Chahar, Rashid Khan and Shardul Thakur
Quinton de Kock departs for 53 runs from 37 balls. Slower one from Bravo and it gets the toe end of the bat from De Kock. Carries kindly back to Bravo who takes it and dances to celebrate. CSK needed that, needed a breakthrough.
CARNAGE! Complete dominance by AB de Villiers and he's now the leading run scorer this season. Up to 66 from just 26 balls!
Make that three sixes in a row. For now. Second ball of the over is another slower one and another six. Again de Villiers stays steady and sends it over long on for a six. Next ball, is another slower one and this one is a knuckle ball. Lands outside off and receives the treatment
And now AB de Villiers brings up his fifty! He's taken 23 balls to do it. This is brutality. Picks the slower delivery by Shardul Thakur and heaves it into the deep mid wicket stands. Stand and deliver!
Quinton de Kock brings up his 50 from 35 balls and does so in style. Makes room for himself and the length ball is sent miles into the deep mid-wicket stands. Lovely hit!
Shane Watson bangs it short and it rises on to AB de Villiers who doesn't time it well for once. Spliced and it goes towards long on but luckily for him, it saves him from getting out. Lands short of Rayudu
First ball of the over: FOUR! AB de Villiers is always incredible to watch and leaves you awestruck. More of that on show here. Reverses the bat and sends the quicker one from Tahir towards third man for a boundary.
Third ball of the over: SIX! AB de Villiers gets down and takes it from around fourth stump line, sweeps and connects gorgeously to send it into the deep backward square leg fence
Fourth ball of the over: SIX! Ball is out of the park. Go fetch a new one. This can't be found. AB gets down once again and connects superbly to send it over deep midwicket. This has gone 111 metres! 111 metres!! MONSTER STUFF! This is the biggest hit of the season!
50 run stand comes up between AB de Villiers and Quinton De Kock in 32 balls. RCB up to 87/1 after 10 overs
Quinton de Kock sends it straight down the ground and it has gone 85m for a six. Slower delivery by Bravo and smashes it for a six!
Imran Tahir comes in to bowl and almost strikes on the first ball. Quinton de Kock tries to play a reverse sweep but misses it completely. Pre-meditated from De Kock and he's lucky to still be there and not walking back
Meanwhile, Jonty Rhodes vs Robin Singh in a fielding contest would be spectacular!
AB de Villiers continues the carnage and this time it is Ravindra Jadeja who is on the receiving end. Tossed up delivery outside off and AB de Villiers goes down on one knee leg to swep it flat for a six over deep square leg.
What does one do when bowling to AB de Villiers? Second ball of the over and AB de Villiers sends it coasting over the long-on fielder for a six. Clean as a whistle. Next ball, dot. Fourth ball of the over, AB goes inside out over extra cover for a six. Just about clears the advertisement hoarding. Next ball he goes over backward point for a cool-as-you-like-it boundary. Nothing you can do!
Virat Kohli departs for 18 runs from 15 balls. He is departed with the choice of shot as he sends the ball flat and straight to Ravindra Jaeja at mid-on. Shardul Thakur strikes. Came down the track and used his bottom hand in an attempt at beating the fielder but fails to keep it down. Jadeja moves forward at mid-on to take it with both hands.
Harbhajan Singh is the first bowling change by MS Dhoni. After two dot balls, Quinton de Kock shimmies down the track and plays against the spin with the ball going away from him and sends it over long-on for a SIX!! After four overs, RCB are 35/0
First six of the match! Quinton de Kock sends the ball soaring into the stands. Slower one from Chahar, De Kock created touch of space for himself to connect freely in the end and it goes for a six!
MS Dhoni runs to the third man region to go after a catch but doesn't get there in time. Top edge from Quinton de Kock, goes after it and retrieves it with only two runs coming from it. Talk about tenacity to save runs!
Shardul Thakur bowls from the other end and goes for eight runs in the second over of the match. Kohli scores his second boundary of the contest.
First boundary of the match comes from Virat Kohli's bat. Fourth ball of the match and it is on Virat Kohli's pads by Chahar. Whipped away comfortably for a four. No stopping that!