CSK begin UAE leg with sixth win

North 24 Parganas (India) correspondent: Tiwary brings up a fighting half-century after watching Milne fall to Bravo in the final over. His knock goes in vain and Bravo ends up with three wickets by also getting rid of Rahul Chahar in the last over. CSK win by a comfortable margin of 20 runs.

From 24/4 at the end of the powerplay to topping the points table, it has been an excellent comeback from CSK who now have six wins from eight matches. Gaikwad’s 88, Jadeja’s handy 26, Bravo’s all-round contributions (23 off 8 and 3-24) and Chahar’s fine bowling help CSK start the UAE leg on a winning note.

MI need 24 off the final over:Shardul bowls an expensive 19th over, conceding 15 runs. This includes a six for Milne, a four for Tiwary and also two wides.

Chahar completes fine spell despite cramps:Tiwary’s four off Chahar in the 18th over is MI’s first since the 12th over. Dhoni is angry at Bravo after Tiwary top-edges a scoop to fine-leg, with both ending up running into each other. Meanwhile, Chahar, who was cramping up, manages to complete the over, finishing with 2-19 from his four overs. MI 118/6 after 18.

CSK in ascendancy Pollard falls:A promising partnership between Tiwary and Pollard, worth 29 runs, comes to an end as Hazlewood strikes in the 14th over. Pollard missed a flick without any footwork and was trapped plumb in front. He review, but to no avail. In the next over, Krunal takes off for a non-existent single and is sent back by Tiwary, only to find himself short of the crease. MI slip to 94/6.

Bravo strikes in his first over:Kishan falls soon after getting a thick inside edge for a four off Bravo, getting out to a slower ball by handing a catch to Raina at cover. Pollard ends the 10th over with a cut for a boundary. MI are 62/4.

MI slow down:Tiwary and Kishan focus on rebuilding as the run-rate drops after the powerplay, with no boundaries coming in the subsequent three overs. MI are 54/3 after 9.

Quick wickets hurt MI:Anmolpreet’s first four in the IPL comes off Hazlewood as he picked the ball off a length to send it to the backward square leg fence. His first six also comes in the same over as he whipped a delivery on his legs over fine leg before punching one between cover and point for his second four. The fourth over yields 14 runs while the fifth, bowled by Chahar, is worth only one while he also sends back Anmolpreet with a knuckle ball. Suryakumar mistimes a lofted drive to Du Plessis at mid-off to give Thakur a wicket. Tiwary ends the powerplay with a four as MI move to 41/3.

De Kock falls early: De Kock gets his first boundary by walking across to a Hazlewood delivery and guiding it over short fine leg (no fielder was present there). He plays a pull shot in the same over and Gaikwad fails to time his jump right to give the opener a reprieve. De Kock gladly accepts it as he clears his front leg and slaps the ball over mid-off for his second four. De Kock’s third four is past Chahar’s right but the bowler comes back well with a straight delivery that the batsman missed while attempting a flick to be out leg-before for 17 off 12. Umpire Illingworth ruled in favour of the batsman but Chahar insisted that he had the batsman plumb in front. Dhoni was quick to take the review and replays confirmed that it was three reds. MI are 20/1 after 3 overs.

CSK end up with 156/6

Gaikwad sweeps a full toss from Boult for a boundary. Bravo then plays another inside out drive for a six and follows it up with a another maximum by playing a pull. The last balls also goes over the fence as Gaikwad dispatches a full toss over midwicket. 24 off the penultimate over as Boult finishes with 2-35 from his four overs. Bumrah ends Bravo’s innings in the final over as he tried to force away a back of a length delivery but ended up slicing it to Krunal at cover. But Gaikwad ensured a good finish to the innings, playing a lofted cover drive for a four before sweeping a low full toss for a six to help CSK finish with a competitive score.

CSK lost four wickets inside the powerplay and were effectively 24/5 with Rayudu having retired hurt. But Gaikwad responded to pressure with a fine innings. Jadeja supported him well in a hard-working partnership before Bravo sizzled towards the end to help CSK to a flourishing finish, with 69 runs coming off the last five overs. Gaikwad also brings up the highest individual score for CSK against MI.