It is said that in IPL, 7 teams fight amongst to the CSK in the final. This year, it was SRH. To begin with, there was no David Warner and the team’s future looked suspicious. But the way Williamson managed the Orange Army, it was sure that nothing is different; defending a par total and captain leading from the front. They played with the same intensity throughout the season. And so did Chennai. Coming back after two long years, the team had outrageous support. The fans were delighted to see their Thala back in action and how! Despite the shifting of home matches from Chennai to Pune, the support remains constant at the ground. They couldn’t have asked for a better final.
Two deserving teams, one trophy! The stage was set for a perfect IPL final.
The two captains walked out for the big toss. Winning the toss, MSD decided to bowl first. SRH made two changes, expectedly, brought Sandeep Sharma back into the playing 11.
Begins the first inning – Deepak Chahar’s swing and Ngidi’s pace started asking some serious question to the top order, Williamson had all the textbook replies. Dhawan and the Skipper built nice partnership after the wicketkeeper-batsman Goswami ran himself out. The power play ended and so did Dhawan’s innings. Jadeja’s dart had better of Dhawan and took the bails. Dhawan who was not looking in good touch anyways was replaced by Shakib at the crease. Shakib took no time to settle in and started hitting the ball, but soon, he lost the support of Williamson at the other end as Karn Sharma stumped him.
Pathan, who had missed few matches owing to his injury, took the guards as if he had come there settling from the dressing room itself. He played a much-needed inning of 43 from 25. Few wickets fell down at the other end but he did not stop. And as the end approached, Carlos Brathwaite also took few shots here and there to take SRH to a good
total of 178.
The deadly SRH bowling had 178 to defend, and they came to the field with all guns blazing at the CSK openers. Faf struggled to sync in before Sandeep Sharma caught him of his own bowling. And meanwhile, Watson had played 10 dot balls, he also looked off. But not for too long, in the fifth over, Watson got himself on the roll. As they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Watson played the heck of an inning leaving no space for the mighty Sunrisers to come back making 117 runs off just 57 balls. Somehow Bhuvi and Rashid Khan were able to bowl their quota cheaply, but rest of the bowlers were embarrassed by Shane Watson. Raina complimented Watson perfectly and made sure he played freely till the job’s done.
