STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsRavindra Jadeja's all-around performance propels the Chennai Super Kings to a two-wicket win against the Kolkata Knight Riders in a thrilling last ball encounter at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Kolkata posted 171 for the loss of six wickets in their quota of 20 overs, courtesy of valuable contributions from Rahul Tripathi (45) and an unbeaten 37 from Nitish Rana. Shardul Thakur starred with the ball as he bagged two wickets for just 20 runs that included a wicket-maiden in his first over.
Chasing 172 runs, Chennai got off to a flying start as a 74-run partnership for the first wicket between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis laid a solid foundation. However, Kolkata’s spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy almost pulled it off. But, it was Ravindra Jadeja once again who spoiled the party for Kolkata with an eight-ball 22. Narine defended just four of the last over, it was Kartik Tyagi episode all-over again. Chennai in the end managed to win the encounter by a whisker, making this their seventh last-ball win. Here are some of the stats from Match 38:
CSK scamper home in a record seventh last-ball finish
With 26 runs needed off the final 12 balls, Ravindra Jadeja smashed Prasidh Krishna for 22 runs to get the equation down to four off the final over. While Sunil Narine bowled a magical over by picking up the prized scalps of Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja, CSK managed to get over the line off the last ball. After edging past the Knight Riders by two wickets, CSK chased down the target off the final delivery for the seventh time in the IPL, which is the most by any team. Mumbai Indians have achieved a last-ball win six times and Rajasthan Royals with four.
Varun hits the timbers for the third time
On the third ball of the 17th over, Varun Chakravarthy castled MS Dhoni with a peach of a delivery to help Kolkata inch closer to a win. Inducing a bat and pad gap, the mystery spinner targeted the stumps to get the better of MS Dhoni. This was the third instance of Chakravarthy claiming Dhoni’s wicket in as many innings and all three times mode of dismissal has been bowled. Only one other bowler has dismissed Dhoni via bowled multiple times and that is Lasith Malinga (2). Including today’s dismissal, Chakravarthy went ahead of Maling’s tally.
Russell muscles in India, but tussles in UAE
In the three matches played thus by Kolkata in UAE, Andre Russell has failed to get going and create any substantial impact for his side. It is quite baffling to see him struggle in these conditions. In comparison, the wickets in UAE and In India are quite similar. However, Since IPL 2019, Russell has scored 137 runs in the 11 innings with an average of 13.7 and a strike rate of 142.7 in UAE. In contrast, he has scored 673 runs in 20 innings and an average of 44.9 and strike rate of 190.1 in India.
A horror run for Curran against KKR
The left-arm pacer has endured a torrid run in the IPL 2021 against Kolkata. In the first league match of the season, Curran conceded 58 runs in his four overs, including a 30-run over from Pat Cummins. Making a comeback into the playing XI in place of Dwayne Bravo, he was smashed for 56 runs in his quota of overs. This is the first time a bowler has conceded 50+ runs against the same opposition twice in a season.
