IPL 2018: Match 56, CSK vs KXIP - Rating of the Match

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 5 wickets with a clinical performance at MCA International Stadium in Pune. It was a fantastic outing for them ahead of the playoffs with their bowlers coming into the form who bowled out the opposition. Lungi Ngidi bowled a dream spell of 4/10 as he was supported well by other bowlers. However, the Kings XI were left heartbroken as they were knocked out of the tournament after starting the season with a bang.

Lungi wrecks havoc (4/10)

Lungi Ngidi has sealed his place in the playing XI for the first qualifier against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The way he bowled on a pitch which was helpful for the seamers was impeccable. He swung the ball at will and left the batsmen absolutely shell-shocked. Very few would’ve expected the wicket to help the bowlers and the gamble paid off for CSK as they won the toss.

Lungi made an impact straightaway in the second over of the match by sending back Chris Gayle despite the delivery didn’t deserve a wicket. It was a harmless ball down the leg side from him as the big man gloved it. Gayle though won the hearts by walking despite the fact that umpire hadn’t given him out. However, the next wicket for Lungi was a dream ball for any batsman.

He set KL Rahul with all the away going deliveries and then got one to shape back in. The batsman was adamant on shouldering his arms only to see his off-stump go for a walk. It was superb bowling from Ngidi as it left the most consistent batsman of the season wonder where it went wrong for him. The fun didn’t end for the South African here as he came back in the death to scalp a couple more wickets of R Ashwin and Andrew Tye in the same over.

While the former was dismissed off a review which was taken by MS Dhoni after the bowler insisted him. It was Ngidi’s day completely as he delivered a perfect performance as it must have relieved the team management. He is now expected to continue in the same vein and might well be the match-winner for CSK going forward in the tournament.

Rajpoot swings the new cherry (2/19)

Though Kings XI failed to qualify for the playoffs, their bowlers tried their best to restrict the Men in Yellow under 100. They showed intent with the new ball which was crucial at that stage and the hopes were raised at one stage when they had picked 3 wickets of the opposition with only 27 runs on the board. Well, the belief had come from Ankit Rajpoot who bowled a dream spell up front and scared the hosts.

He deservedly opened the bowling with the new cherry and had both the openers of CSK into a tangle which had exposed their techniques against the swing. He was unlucky in his first couple of overs to go wicketless but an extra over in the powerplay worked wonders for his team. He bowled a short of a length delivery on off stump to Faf du Plessis which he drove away from the body even as the ball also swung a bit only to take the edge. Chris Gayle put a fantastic effort in the slips to catch it and sent the batsman back to the dugout.

Much like Ngidi, the dream delivery from the youngster was yet to come and it was a golden duck for Sam Billings. It was a peach from Rajpoot which pitched on off and moved away just a tad bit as the batsman to see his off-stump crash. The celebrations galore after the wicket and it deserved after bowling an international batsman with a ripper of a delivery. He ended his spell with the magical figures of 2/19 but unfortunately, his team lost the game and were knocked out of the IPL.

Here’s CricTracker’s Rating of the Match: