Ravindra Jadeja was Chennai Super King’s demolition man. His onslaught in the last over was brutal; much like the force of nature.
‘Hurricane’ Jadeja, his mind calm at the ‘death’, terrific bat speed, clean swing of the willow, and the ability to pick the length early to innovate and create, blasted seamer Harshal Patel for five sixes and a mind-boggling 37 runs in the last over.
And then he bowled his left-arm spin with control, and fielded with typical brilliance, to stamp his authority and take CSK to the top of the table.
Marquee clash
It was Jadeja’s day out in the park in this marquee IPL clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday as Royal Challengers Bangalore, falling short by 69 runs, suffered its first defeat.
The left-handed Jadeja’s pulse-pounding unbeaten 28-ball 62 catapulted Chennai Super Kings to a combative 191.
Then, after vibrant Sam Curran had Kohli caught behind off a slower delivery and consumed the fluent Devdutt Padikkal on the pull, it was all Jadeja.
The ball gripped for Jadeja and he took out the RCB big guns, Glenn Maxwell and A.B. de Villiers. Maxwell swinging across, was foxed by a slower delivery.
And then he bamboozled de Villiers with a beauty, the ball drifting and pitching on leg and turning to hit the middle.
In between, Jadeja, swooping on the ball, scored a direct hit to catch Dan Christian short. It was all over for RCB.
What an over!
Earlier the 20th over of the CSK innings was a story in itself. The manner Jadeja cleared his front leg gave him room to free his arms.
The first ball was sent soaring between long-on and mid-wicket for a six. Harshal then missed a yorker and was bludgeoned for another six.
Then came the third straight six, off a no-ball, the sphere dumped into the mid-wicket stands. Incredibly, a fourth successive six arrived, Jadeja clubbing a slower ball outside off.
Then after a brief respite Jadeja, who raced to his 50 off only 25 balls, timed Harshal over long on for the maximum. The rampant Jadeja missed a sixth six by a whisker, just failing to clear the square-leg fence, for a four.
Earlier, CSK, without Moeen Ali who is nursing a hamstring strain, chose to bat.
Soon the openers were motoring along. The busy Faf du Plessis stroked off both feet, cleared the ropes.
Ruturaj was impressive too. He has the gift of timing and footwork. But then, Ruturaj could not kick on and du Plessis fell for 50.
Then the Jadeja storm swept RCB away.
SCOREBOARD
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS: Ruturaj Gaikwad c Jamieson b Chahal 33 (25b, 4x4, 1x6) , Faf du Plessis c Christian b Harshal 50 (41b, 5x4, 1x6) , Suresh Raina c Padikkal b Harshal 24 (18b, 1x4, 3x6) , Ambati Rayudu c Jamieson b Harshal 14 (7b, 1x4, 1x6) , Ravindra Jadeja (not out) 62 (28b, 4x4, 5x6) , M.S. Dhoni (not out) 2 (3b) ; Extras (lb-1, w-3, nb-2): 6; Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs): 191.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-74 (Ruturaj, 9.1 overs), 2-111 (Raina, 13.4), 3-111 (du Plessis, 13.5), 4-142 (Rayudu, 17.3).
RCB BOWLING: Siraj 4-0-32-0, Jamieson 3-0-31-0, Chahal 3-0-24-1, Saini 2-0-27-0, Harshal 4-0-51-3, Christian 2-0-12-0, Washington 2-0-13-0.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS: Virat Kohli c Dhoni b Sam Curran 8 (7b, 1x4) , Devdutt Padikkal c Raina b Shardul 34 (15b, 4x4, 2x6) , Washington Sundar c Ruturaj b Jadeja 7 (11b, 1x4) , Glenn Maxwell b Jadeja 22 (15b, 3x4) , AB de Villiers b Jadeja 4 (9b) , Dan Christian run out 1 (3b) , Kyle Jamieson run out 16 (13b, 1x4, 1x6) , Harshal Patel b Tahir 0 (8b) , Navdeep Saini c Raina b Tahir 2 (4b) , Yuzvendra Chahal (not out) 8 (21b) , Mohammed Siraj (not out) 12 (14b, 1x6) ; Extras (lb-3, w-5): 8; Total (for nine wkts. in 20 overs): 122.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-44 (Kohli, 3.1), 2-54 (Padikkal, 4.6), 3-65 (Washington, 6.2), 4-79 (Maxwell, 8.5), 5-81 (Christian, 9.4), 6-83 (de Villiers, 10.1), 7-89 (Harshal, 11.6), 8-94 (Saini, 13.1), 9-103 (Jamieson, 15.6).
SUPER KINGS BOWLING: Deepak Chahar 2-0-25-0, Sam Curran 4-0-35-1, Shardul 4-0-11-1, Jadeja 4-1-13-3, Tahir 4-0-16-2, Bravo 2-0-19-0.
Toss: Chennai Super Kings.
Man-of-the-Match: Jadeja.
Chennai Super Kings won by 69 runs .
