IPL 2018: Qualifier 1, SRH vs CSK : Five talking points from the game

Chennai became the first team to reach the finals of VIVO IPL 2018.

Chennai Super Kings won the match by 2 wickets | Source IANS

Chennai Super Kings won the match by 2 wickets against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Faf du Plessis was awarded the Man of the Match for his exceptional match-winning knock that carried his team CSK to its 8th IPL final match. Team Circle of Cricket gets down to list the 5 talking points of the match.

 

Sunrisers slide at the top

Dhawan was dismissed of the very first ball of the SRH innings. (IANS)
Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen fail to perform while batting first in the first qualifier of VIVO IPL 2018. They struggled to put runs on the board against Chennai Super Kings in a must-win situation. The explosive opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was bowled on the first ball of the match.

Williamson looked in ominous form but fell to Shardul Thakur in the fifth over to leave SRH wobbling at 36 for 3. The team of Hyderabad trembled against Chennai, loosing for the third time in IPL 2018 season.

 

Braithwaite takes SRH to 139 

Braithwaite scored an unbeaten 43. (IANS)
Carlos Braithwaite took Sunrisers Hyderabad to a score of 139 that gave a sigh of relief to the table toppers of the season. Carlos Brathwaite smashed a fighting 43 off 29 to lift SRH to 139 for 7. The middle order failed to show up with the bat as they had a very bad start to the innings.

SRH's run machine Kane Williamson also went early to the pavilion scoring only 24 runs in a crucial game. Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey steadied the innings and took SRH to 64 for 4 after 10 overs but their talent never looked up.

 


 SRH bowlers hurt Chennai's chase

Rashid took two key wickets in the middle overs. (IANS)
After the first inning was over, Chennai had to score 140 to reach the final of VIVO IPL 2018 season. The best bowling unit in the tournament made sure that batsmen of Chennai get obstacles while chasing such a small target. Shane Watson was asked to go back on a duck in the very first over of the second half.

SRH bowlers took wickets at the right interval to rub salt on Chennai's wound. Siddarth Kaul dismissed Raina and Rayudu off consecutive deliveries to leave CSK wobbling at 24 for 3. They were dangled to 57 for 5 wickets down, leaving Faf Du Plessis who stuck to the crease till the end of the game.

 


Rashid dismisses Dhoni

MS Dhoni was castled by Rashid Khan. (IANS)
Rashid Khan bowled the skipper of Chennai Super Kings, Mahendra Singh Dhoni to limit their chances for the final match. Dhoni always struggles to play spinners in the early overs of his batting. He was brawling against Rashid Khan in tonight's match scoring just 9 runs off just 18 deliveries with the match slipping from CSK's hand and grip.

The mystery leg-spinner of Sunrisers Hyderabad bowled a magnificent spell, ending with figures of 4-0-11-2. Faf du Plessis kept CSK in the hunt and brought the equation down to 60 off the last six overs.

 

Faf carries CSK to the final

Faf saw CSK through to the final. (IANS)
Faf Du Plessis patient and extra-ordinary knock carried CSK all the way to their 8th IPL final outing. He batted till the end to drive CSK into the final which is to be played on Sunday at Wankhede stadium itself. The South African scored crucial 67 to make sure his team reaches the final match with Thakur striking three crucial boundaries to leave six needed off the last over.

Chennai Super Kings stay back in Mumbai to play the final against the winner of Qualifier 2, the match which Sunrisers Hyderabad are headed into now. They will be meeting the winner of Eliminator, which will be contested between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

 
 

By Kunal Kataria - 22 May, 2018

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