A spectacular performance by spinners enabled CSK to tie down RCB and win the first match of the IPL 2019 with ease. Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir claimed three wickets each as RCB was all out for just 70 runs and CSK then chased the target in the 18th over with seven wickets in hand.
RCB sink yet again!
Batting collapses have become a part of RCB’s superstar ladden team. Yet again this old habit was at display as Dhoni asked Bangalore to bat first on a dry and slow Chennai surface.
Dhoni decided to make the most of the wicket and brought Harbhajan Singh in the powerplays. And it turned out to be a masterstroke as the off-spinner sent back Virat Kohli in the fourth over and then had Moeen Ali in his next over. Bhajji then inflicted further damage by accounting for ABD in his last over and by the time he finished he quota he had virtually finished off RCB’s all hopes.
The remaining job was done by Imran Tahir who cleaned up the tail and gave away just nine runs for his three wickets.
With wickets falling from one end, opening batsman Parthiv Patel held on to his ground and scored 29 runs. He was the last RCB batsman to get out.
Chennai steers home cautiously
With just 71 runs to get, Chennai batted with caution and were happy to see off the RCB spinners.
Chahal conceded just six runs off his four overs, but he was offered only one wicket while Moeen Ali too gave just 19 in his four overs but picked just one wicket.
Ambati Rayudu scored 28 runs off 42 balls while Raina scored 19 runs. Jadhav remained unbeaten on 13 runs.
Harbhajan Singh gets the man of the match award
Harbhajan who triggered off the royal collapse of Bangalore was adjudged the man of the match. Bhaji claimed three big wickets including that of Kohli and ABD and conceded just 20 runs in his four overs and he bowled three of them in powerplays.
