short of length on middle and leg, tucked away towards midwicket to seal the game
RCB vs CSK, 1st Match at Chennai, IPL, Mar 23 2019 - Ball by Ball Commentary
CSK won by 7 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)
That's all from Saurabh and me but we have much more for you in our Match Day show with Brad Hodge and Ajit Agarkar.
The last time Harbhajan Singh got a Man of the Match award was in 2015, Saurabh pings.
Harbhajan: I have learnt quite a lot sitting next to you, Sunny bhai and all the legends who were in the commentary team. This is a special award from me. It goes to my wife and family. You cannot ask for a better start. Since they have a lot of left-handers, Fleming came and told me I will be playing. It was nice to get a wicket up front and once you have it, your confidence level grows up. Imran bowled really well and it's always nice to get wickets of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. How often an offspinner gets their wickets!
Harbhajan Singh is the Man of the Match.
MS Dhoni: We were not really sure about the wicket, we played our practice game here but it wasn't turning that much. I never expected the wicket to play how it played. I think something close to 140 you are looking at. I think the wicket needs to get much better. Well, we have communicated to the players in what scenarios they will be needed. He [Harbhajan] has the kind of experience needed to bowl on this wicket. I don't think he would have minded bowling first or second here.
Time for post-match presentation.
Eric: "I know tahir 's figures were better but i think harbhajan should get man of the match considering he got three international top order batsmen out."
RamC: "Last season first match gave lot of goosebump moments.. still it is fresh in memory.. this match didn't give any sort of things.. simply boring match.."
Ambati Rayudu: Definitely a tough wicket but had there been another 30-40 runs, it would have been very difficult. It was more like playing a four-day game. It was tough, so we needed to take out time.
Virat Kohli: No team wants to start like this but the good thing is a game like this is out of the way. I am pretty happy with the attitude the guys showed in the field. I know the batting effort wasn't ideal but attitude on the field was great and when our time comes, we will be ready to strike. The wicket looked much better than it played. We though 140-150 would be an ideal score. A scrappy sort of start but either team would have struggled batting first. [On Saini] He is touching 150 clicks which is very promising. He is going to be a lethal weapon. That's the way we are looking at him.
11.03 A comfortable seven-wicket win for Chennai at their home. A lot more was expected but this proved to be an anti-climax. RCB were spun out for 70 - the sixth-lowest total in the IPL and the result was sealed there only. Watson departed for a ten-ball duck in the chase but there were simply not enough runs on the board. Rayudu and Raina eased the nerves and dashed any hopes of miracle.
short ball at the batsman, who looks to pull but is beaten and is struck on the arm, the ball rolls towards the keeper
slower length ball outside off, goes for the pull but misses as it doesn't bounce much
short of length but angling down the leg side, Jadeja stays inside and lets it go, a wide and the scores are level
Around the wicket
length ball on middle and leg, tucked away behind square
Dube
PutComment: "CSK never cares about run rate. They were always at the top of the table. "
length ball on the stumps, stays back and pushes it towards square leg. A maiden for Siraj
length around off, comes forward and taps it towards cover
fuller on the stumps, driven firmly towards the bowler who bends in his followthrough and makes a partial stop to prevent the single
length ball around off, comes forward and steers it towards point, was looking to sneak in a single but Jadhav sends him back wisely
length outside off, comes forward to drive on the up, the ball goes towards point off the outer half where Hetmyer dives to his left to make the stop
short of length angling across the batsman who bails out
Three needed
Strategic time out. Varun tells me that when Rayudu got out the crowd was chanting, yes you got it, "Dhoni, Dhoni"
Vishwas: "Have CSK missed a chance here to improve their NRR? It does come into play at the end. "
short of length outside off, stays back and chops it towards point
short of length around off, some extra bounce there. Jadeja was fending at it but luckily the ball goes to the left of the keeper, a single to third man
length ball but way down the leg side
length ball around off, opens the face of the bat to run it down towards third man
length outside off, down the track and looks to go over extra cover, a thick outside edge dribbles towards third man
length ball on middle and leg, tucked away towards short midwicket, Kohli makes a tumbling stop
a single to fine leg
Irfan: "So Parthiv Patel will be the highest scorer on this pitch. "
length around off, comes forward and steers it towards sweeper cover
length around off, looks to defend but gets a thick inside edge towards short fine leg
Over 18 • CSK 71/3
CSK won by 7 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)