CSK vs SRH IPL 2019: Watson 96 overpowers Pandey blitz

Before this match, Chennai didn’t even have a single batsman in the top ten run scorers in IPL 2019 yet they were sitting at the top of the points table. The reason simple, they had someone to stand up and steer the team in almost every other match.

And this is exactly what happened at Chennai. On a pitch that was slowing down and against a bowling attack which is regarded as the best in the tournament, Chennai had a daunting chase of 176 runs but this time it was Shane Watson who hammered 96 runs off 53 balls to deliver CSK their eight win in IPL season 12.

Raina- Watson build CSK’s foundation

The start for CSK was a tough one as Deepak Hooda ran Faf du Plessis out in the third over with just three runs on the board. But then Suresh Raina and Watson, two batsmen who have struggled so far, bailed out CSK with a 77 run partnership.

Raina rips apart Sharma in one over ??

Watch the video here ?️?️https://t.co/GU3LaQe7wV #CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/ffpV521AiD

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2019

Watson carnage sink SRH

Rashid Khan came to SRH’s rescue and dismissed Raina in the tenth over for 38 off 24 balls. Watson then changed gears and was brutal especially against Rashid. Watson hammered 59 runs off his last 22 balls and inched CSK closer to win.

The ?? superstar has crossed 8⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ runs in T20 cricket!#CSKvSRH #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/cbE7B85U9U

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2019

But just when he looked set for a hundred, Bairstow took a sensational diving catch against Bhuvi’s bowling to end Watson’s carnage. Rayudu (21 off 25 balls) too fell with CSK needing one run to win but Kedar Jadhav (11 off 10 balls) scored the winning runs to take CSK home.

Manish Pandey highlight in SRH’s innings

Cometh the hour, cometh the Man(ish)! ?

A skillful half century from Manish Pandey ensures #SRH recover well after the early loss of Jonny Bairstow!

Can he score a ? tonight? Reply with #Yes or #No, and watch him bat in #CSKvSRH only on Star Sports! #GameBanayegaName pic.twitter.com/y1aBdLQRbf

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 23, 2019

Earlier in the night, Dhoni’s ingenious gamble once again worked as he opened the bowling with Harbhajan Singh. The offie removed Jonny Bairstow for a duck in the second over but David Warner continued his impressive form and scored 57 off 45 balls.

Don’t miss on the RCB vs KXIP match preview 

The star of Hyderabad’s innings however was Manish Pandey who scored 83 off 49 balls to comeback in form and Vijay Shankar slammed 26 off 20 balls to take SRH to 175 runs.