Most sixes, most runs by 6-11 batsmen, few high-points as records galore at Wankhede

The 15th match between Kolkata and Chennai, definitely has to be regarded as one of the greatest matches to be played in IPL. An action packed first innings, where Chennai plundered a mammoth total of 220. Thanks to a century opening partnership and late flourish by Faf du Plessis and MS Dhoni. The start to the chase was dreadful for Kolkata, but, their lower order had almost pulled a miracle of a chase. However, the lack of wickets in hand saw Kolkata fall short by 18 runs.

Chennai openers set off in a grand manner

Heading into this match, either of the openers for Chennai had contributed to the cause in this edition. Ruturaj Gaikwad had scored 20 runs in three innings and Faf du Plessis on the other hand, had 69 runs to his name. Tonight, both of them came good, posting a century partnership for the first wicket. Their opening stand of 115 is the highest for them against Kolkata in IPL. Previously, Michael Hussey and Wriddhiman Saha in 2013 had hoisted 103 runs.

Kolkata pacers going for plenty

In recent times, Kolkata pacers have been amongst the wickets, but have been a touch too expensive. In tonight’s game, Pat Cummins went for 58 runs in his four overs, his second costliest spell in IPL. On the other hand, Prasidh Krishna conceded at 12.2 in his four overs. Andre Russell and Kamlesh Nagarkoti in their two overs spell conceded 27 and 25 runs. Overall, in this innings, Kolkata pacers had conceded at an economy of 13.3. This is the highest for them in an innings in which their pacers have bowled 10+ overs.

Faf du Plessis tops the list

In his innings prior to tonight, du Plessis had shown glimpses of a comeback when he had scored 33 runs off 17 balls. In the match against Kolkata, he came out all guns blazing to accumulate an unbeaten knock of 95 at a strike rate of 158.3. The 95 runs he scored is the highest for a Chennai batsman against Kolkata in IPL. Previously, Michael Hussey in 2013 had also scored 95, but he was dismissed.

One team’s worst, another’s best

When chasing a humongous total, all the batting team requires is a solid start, But, in Kolkata’s case it went southwards. They were five down at the end of the fifth over. All their top five were bundled out for single digits. This was the first time in an IPL match that they had lost five wicket inside the first six overs, making it their worst ever Powerplay. On the other hand, this was Chennai’s best display in the first six overs with the ball in hand in IPL.

Deepak Chahar sets the tone

Deepak Chahar’s primary role in the Chennai set up is to provide early break throughs in the Powerplay. In the first game of this edition he went wicketless, making it five on the trot without a wicket in this phase including the four matches from 2020 edition. However, he found his rhythm in the game against Punjab Kings as he bagged three wickets. In tonight’s game he backed it up with an even better performance. Out of the five wickets scalped by Chennai in the Powerplay, four belonged to Chahar, the best spell in the first six overs in IPL for the franchise.

Clubbed all over the park

An over before, Sam Curran had provided the biggest breakthrough for Chennai in form of Andre Russell. Just as everyone thought it was over, Pat Cummins took over and smashed Sam Curran for 30 runs in an over. His over involved one double, one four and four sixes. The 30 runs conceded by Curran in the 16th over is the joint most a Chennai bowler has conceded in an over. Lungisani Ngidi at Sharjah last year also conceded 30 runs in the last over against Rajasthan Royals.

Pat Cummins almost pulls it off

There are few mind boggling innings that have been played in T20s. Even though those innings end up on the losing side, they are not erased of our memories. Pat Cummins unbeaten 66 against Chennai in match 15 will also feature as one of those. Out of nowhere, he had almost pulled it off for Kolkata. His innings of unbeaten 66 is the highest for a batsman coming in at 8 or lower in IPL. Prior to his knock, Harbhajan Singh’s 64 against Punjab in 2015 was the highest. Interestingly, all the top five best knocks by a number 8 or lower have come in Mumbai.

lower order flourishes

When Kolkata were down at 31/5, none of the Chennai bowlers or their supporters would have thought they would just win by a mere margin of 18 runs. Russell started the resurrection with attacking the pacers. Dinesh Karthik played the second fiddle cashing in against the spinners. But, it was Cummins after the dismissal of Russell that gave a ray of hope. Kolkata batsmen from 6-11 racked up 160 runs. This is the most runs scored by a team’s 6-11 batsmen in IPL. In addition, the 54 by Russel at number seven and 66* by Cummins at number 8 is only the second instance in T20s to witness multiple 50+ scores for batsmen batting 7 or lower.

Most sixes at Wankhede

In IPL since 2018 at Wankhede, on an average 15.2 sixes are hit in a match. There was no disappointment on that record in the match between Kolkata and Chennai. A total of 26 sixes were witnessed in this match, the joint most sixes in a match at Wankhede in IPL. Chennai batsmen had amassed 12 sixes and Kolkata on the other hand, had hit two more than Chennai.