Chennai Super Kings made a resounding comeback in IPL 2020 as they beat Kings XI Punjab by 10 wickets chasing down 179 to win. In the process, they became the first team to win a game chasing at this venue this year. CSK have moved up to the sixth position in the points table courtesy their win with 14 balls to spare.

Watson-Faf Does It For Chennai Super Kings

Shane Watson (83) and Faf Du Plessis (87) added an unbeaten 181 run stand to help CSK win the game by 10 wickets over Kings XI Punjab. This was the second-highest opening stand for a team winning the game by 10 wickets. The duo hit 22 fours and four sixes together in the CSK innings.

They were set to score big right from the word go and it was very visible in the approach they brought about with them in the chase. Once both of them were set, they made the Punjab bowlers pay as they scored freely all over the ground.

That CSK won the game with 14 balls to spare shows how dominant the Watto-Faf pair was against Punjab. The two senior CSK statesman has repaid the faith shown by the management and hopefully has brought the age-debate regarding the side to a close.

Meanwhile, the KXIP bowlers tried everything possible from their end to minimise the damage, however, nothing worked in their favour. Once the CSK openers negated the early swing in the first few overs, batting became easy with the dew taking its effect as well.

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MS Dhoni Hails Du Plessis-Watson Pair

CSK skipper MS Dhoni at the post-match presentation spoke about how they discussed about keeping the small things right and following the process.

“Did the small things right. Believed in the process. Were looking for the kind of start today. That’s where experience counts” said Dhoni as he hailed the duo for taking his team over the line.

Earlier in the game, Kings XI Punjab won the toss and opted to bat first. KL Rahul scored yet another fifty keeping his good form going. Along with Mayank Agarwal (28), the duo added 68 in the first nine overs. There was a good acceleration from Nicholas Pooran (33) and Mandeep Singh (27) who was playing his first match for the side this season.

At the halfway point in the game, it looked a good score given that CSK dropped a few chances in the first half and had their shoulders down. However, the way the CSK senior players went about their business in the second half, made it a fairly one-sided contest at the end.

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What was the Turning Point in the Game?

Shane Watson and Faf Du Plessis played in the batting powerplay with a very cautious approach. They were sixty without loss in the powerplay having negated the early movement of the ball. That they had wickets in hand throughout the innings proved to be the turning point in the CSK vs KXIP contest.

Shane Watson for his unbeaten 81 was adjudged the Man of the Match. This was his first fifty of the season after a string of low scores.

Nice to bat like that tonight. Felt something slightly off earlier in the tournament, technical thing. Bit more intent on the front leg, getting my weight through the ball. Just a combination of technique and intent” said Watson about his match-winning knock in the post-match presentation.

He also hailed his batting partner Faf Du Plessis at the other end.

He’s a great guy, love batting with him. With so much experience and success the franchise’s had, they believe in the players. There are bowlers he [Faf] prefers to take on and he’s a great guy and good batting with him” Watson concluded saying.

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