Hello All,
Welcome to the first match of the highly anticipated IPL! Good to see some live cricket especially for the Indian Fans! Hopefully, for the next 2 months, people can follow the stay home stay safe slogan at least for the evenings! Coming back to cricket, for the first match we have a repeat of the last year’s IPL finals- Mumbai Indians (MI) taking on Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Some of the highly anticipated questions that need to be answered- Can MI break the jinx of losing their first match in IPL since 2013? Can CSK come up triumph against MI, remember they have been on a 5 match losing streak vs MI.
The return of the Thala – Dhoni after 437 days off the field! Remember the tweet that broke a billion hearts: 19:29 I am officially retired and today he will be back in action at 19:30! Both teams will miss their key players- Malinga for MI and Raina for CSK, the player coming in their place has huge boots to fill! and its toss time… Dhoni and Rohit come out, and its CSK that has won the toss and they choose to field first.
IPL 2020: Match 1. MI vs CSK
Live from- Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Zayed stadium
Time- 7:30 IST
Broadcast- Star Sports Network (1 English) and (3 Hindi) and Disney+hotstar for online streaming.
Umpires- Chris Gaffaney, Virender Sharma
3rd umpire- Sundaram Ravi
Match official- Manu Nayyar
Teams-
Mumbai Indians (MI) – Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton De Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, James Pattinson, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)- Murali Vijay, Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Kedhar Jadhav, M.S. Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Lungi Ngidi
The yellow army is out first followed by the opening pair for MI and its Rohit Sharma and De Kock to open. Well, we also have the pre-recorded crowd cheers playing in the background for this IPL edition. Sad to see an empty stadium but safety first! Chahar to open the bowling, countdown done umpire says play…
First ball and Rohit creams it through the covers for a boundary and MI with Rohit begin on a bright note, absolute loosener from Chahar and Rohit showing his class! Few deliveries later De Kock gets into action with a beautiful flick through midwicket, rusty start from Chahar.. 12 runs coming from the first over of IPL 2020. Sam Curran to partner Chahar, the debutant starts with 7 from his first.
Lungi Ngidi comes to bowl as first change and his country captain showing no respect for his countryman thrashing him for 4, 2, wide, 4, wide, 4, 1..18 runs coming from that over and it’s 45-0 after just 4 overs. MI getting a great start. CSK would be looking for a breakthrough here and surprise- its a spinner on- Piyush Chawla to bowl his first and just into his 3rd delivery he gets the big scalp… Rohit Sharma falls. Half-hearted loft trying to get over mid-on but hits it straight to the throat of Sam Curran who accepts it gleefully.
Suryakumar Yadav comes in at 3. Excellent over from Piyush just 3 from it and a big wicket of the Hitman! Sam Curran comes in and gets the set, De Kock! Ohh what a blow to MI, losing 2 wickets in space of 2 balls. We see a high roar from Ngidi who had just taken a beating few overs back. Saurabh Tiwary comes at 4. Just 3 from it and its end of powerplay with MI reaching 51/2.
Jadeja comes into bowl and his 1st over is expensive with 9 runs come from it. Curran resumes and 8 runs coming from it. MI getting back the lost momentum. Jadeja back to bowl, this time its Saurabh Tiwary getting the better of Jadeja.. 15 runs from that over and its time for the IPL’s strategic time out after 9 overs, MI- 83/2. They lost both their openers within space of 2 balls but Tiwary and Yadav have maintained the run rate which is more than 9 currently. CSK would be looking for plunging the runs leaked.
Chawla back to bowl his 2nd.. and just 3 from it… Chahar comes back to bowl his 3rd and in his final ball gets Suryakumar Yadav and its Sam Curran in action again caught at long-on. In the slot to be hit, Yadav waits on his back foot could not get through his shot and ends up chipping straight in the hand of Curran who was positioned there. and it’s 92/3 after 11 overs.
Hardik comes in to bat at 5. Jadeja to continue this would be an interesting contest. Hardik vs Jadeja gives respect on first 3 balls and then has had enough and tonks it for 2 6’s on the leg side. Both balls bowled down the leg side and it’s the Pandya power on full show! 13 from the over. Ngidi comes back to bowl and Tiwary decides to join the party 11 runs from the over. 24 from last 2 overs and MI seem to up the ante. Chawla to bowl his 3rd. Tiwary goes for a sweep, Hugh shouts for LBW, umpire nods and Dhoni takes the review, seemed to go down the leg, it was the googly bowled and ball tracker shows clearly missing leg.
Review lost there. Just 5 runs from the over. Jadeja back to bowl, he surely would love to finish better having already gone for 37 runs from his 3 overs. 1st ball, Tiwary tries to take him on and what a fantastic catch there by Faf! Full and flighted delivery by Jadeja hit hard by Tiwary, but Faf has other plans knew where the boundary was jumps at the right time lands on his left foot and lets go of the ball as we were unbalanced, recovers and safely pouches it. Good innings from Tiwary brought to end by a great catch would be disappointed on losing out to score a 50 but set the game for MI.
It’s the big man in Kieron Pollard… last ball and Hardik lofts it straight over long off.. Flat, hard and straight… it had 6 written all over it… but there he is- Faf again! You just can’t have enough of it.. and this one even better than the first! Magnificent catching there, leading from the front to show how its to be done. Big blow this for MI.. will this be the game-changing over just 4 coming from it and losing 2 wickets and Jaddu finishes with 2/42.
Chawla back to bowl his final over… Pollard greets him with a high 6.. straight and over the sightscreen ends the over well with just singles, 10 runs coming from it. Chawla finishes with 1/21 from 4 overs and its Strategic time out. MI reach 136/5 after 16 overs. MI have done well to keep up with the run rate but they keep losing wickets in pairs CSK look rusty but they have kept chipping in the wickets… Awaiting for the final slog… Ngidi back, he too has had an off day almost leaking 30 runs from just 2 overs…
Krunal Pandya on strike and just a loosener deliver from Ngidi going down the leg and krunal only manages it to glove it, dhoni with his sharp reflex grabs that one with a full-length dive. Unlucky for Krunal but good for CSK. Another batsman bites the dust, excellent over from Ngidi just 4 from it and a wicket, CSK pulling things back. Sam into bowl his final over and gives 11. Ngidi to bowl his final over… Edged and it’s taken! Pollard falls now. Ngidi bowls it back of a length with pace and the extra bounce does the trick. CSK certainly back in business now.
Pattison in at hits a boundary of Ngidi tries it again but this time gets hold on in the boundary! Pattison tries to pull, only managing to sky the ball and Faf gets his 3rd catch and its the simplest of them. What a turn around by Ngidi and CSK here.. Ngidi ends with 3/38.
Final over and it’s Chahar to bowl… Boult slogs, misses it and Chahar hits another wicket down and Chahar is on a hattrick as he had got SuryaKumar Yadav in the last ball of the previous spell. Bumrah the last man walks in flicks through square leg for a single. The Chahar brothers facing each other and MI just manage 6 runs from it and end on 162/9.
MI slump from 121/3 in 14 to 162/9 in 20… losing 6 wickets for just 41 runs in final 6. Impressive comeback this from CSK bowlers to pull things back. Catches from Faf and multi wicket overs from Jadeja in 14th started the dent and 3/9 from Ngidi from his final two helped CSK pull back things. Though 162 seems a decent score on this pitch but MI would feel they are about 10-15 runs short from the amazing start they had. The pitch has a hint of green covering and dew might come in play in the second half.
Innings Break: IPL 2020 – MI vs CSK
Vijay and Watson to open for CSK, Boult for MI.
First ball and CSK are off their mark, Vijay takes a quick single. Watson on strike… Good shape by boult giving no more whatsoever to Watson but he finally latches on to one and smacks it over extra cover for a boundary. The next ball its boult who gets the final laugh!
Full and swinging into the batsman, Watson goes for the drive with no footwork and is struck plumb. No review was taken and it a good call as it was crashing on middle and leg. Good start for MI a wicket in the first over itself. CSK 5-1 after 1. Faf comes in at number 3. Pattinson to partner boult.
Pattinson starts off well there is a huge shout for LBW as Vijay came across the line to play the shot and hit on the pads. No review taken but it was crashing the leg stump shows the replay, lucky escape for Vijay there. Next ball another huge appeal and this time the umpire raises his hand. Faf was seen asking Vijay to opt for the review but Vijay decides to walk back. The replays indicate that the ball was going over the stumps. MI are truly back into the game and CSK in a bit od a spot at 6/2 after 2.
Boult back to bowl his 2nd over excellent stuff from the New Zealander until the last ball where Faf dispatches it over extra cover. Pattinson back and Rayudu greets him with a boundary the rest of the over goes uneventful. Bumrah comes in before final over of the powerplay again good stuff from Bumrah until the end where he oversteps and Rayudu strokes it over point for a boundary. Free Hit alarm buzzes and Rayudu clubs the short ball for a maximum and Bumrah ends up conceding 14 runs in his first and CSK reach 36/2 after 6, end of the powerplay.
Krunal Pandya in to bowl the 7th… and CSK take it slow.. 6 singles from that over. Rahul Chahar comes into the attack, just 4 singles taken then Faf decides to step out and the lofted drive just manages to beat Surya who was positioned at long-on. Effortless batting this by Faf with that CSK reach their 50. A steady partnership this after losing both their openers cheaply.
Krunal continues, and Rayudu flicks this on the leg side and Chahar who was placed there was a bit squarer, put in his dive but unable to hold on! would have been a blinder had it been caught, Rayudu survives and CSK taking singles playing risk-free cricket and bringing up their 50 partnership between them. Rahul Chahar back to bowl the 10th… after a good start two-piece of sloppy fielding saw Rayudu fetching two boundaries. 12 from the over and it seems that CSK are upping the ante. 70/2 after 10 overs.
Krunal Pandya back and Rayudu greets him with a maximum! A gift therefrom Krunal and Rayudu accepts it but heaving it to cow corner.11 runs coming from the over and CSK seem to be right back in it. MI need a breakthrough and they have turned to their crisis mam – Bumrah! Starts off well again but yet again on the last ball just smashes it right back straight down the ground, Bumrah tries to get a hand on but the ball flies past through him for a boundary and also brings Rayudu’s 50! 1st 50 this season and just of 33 balls. CSK are 88/2 after 12.
75 needed from 48 balls… Seems to go CSK’s way but a wicket could change the game here. Chahar and Pattinson bowling in tandem gives away 17. 100 up for CSK and they have taken the Strategic Timeout. MI need a breakthough here otherwise CSK would walk away with this game. Meanwhile for CSK This partnership seems to been taking them home with Rayudu doing the bulk of the scoring and Faf anchoring the innings.
Bumrah back to bowl the 15th.. gives away 11 runs. A cheeky double there at the end of over could have been tight had it been a direct hit, not to be and Rayudu survives. Chahar to bowl his final over, Rayudu reverse sweeps it krunal positioned at backward point drops it! Oh, another chance has gone begging- Dives to his right even manages to get both hands but could not hold on to it.
The next ball Faf tries to launch one into the stand does not get enough bat into it, Surya at long on does not attempt for the catch, no dive and the ball falls short and the batsman cross over for a single. Last ball Rayudu dances down the track, hoicks it straight up in the air, Chahar sprints backwards and takes a fantastic catch to get the danger man Rayudu. A good knock comes to an end. Will this be a game-changing moment? It’s 121/3… after 16. CSK need 42 from 24 balls to win the first match of IPL 2020.
Pattinson back to bowl starts off with a loosener and Jadeja whips it off to fine leg for a boundary. Faf on strike and suddenly has a brain fade moment, skies it up in the air, three men converge and the ball lands exactly in the centre of the converging fielders. That’s the third chance falling short of the fielder in last three overs. The last ball from Pattinson is beautifully placed drive through backward point for a boundary. 13 runs coming from the over. It’s 134-3 from 17. CSK need 29 from 18. MI need some magic spell here to get over the line.
Krunal to bowl his final over, full and straight from Krunal, jaddu gets hit in the front. Plum LBW, easy decision there for the umpire just to add a little twist to the game. Next in Sam Curran at number 6. Surprise this, not Kedar nor Dhoni. CSK sticking with the left-right policy. The first ball takes a single, well connected 2nd ball for a 6 into cow corner. Next ball slices it over cover for a boundary and Sam Curran has just tilted the match in favour of CSK. It’s 147/4 after 18.. 16 needed from 12.
Bumrah in to bowl his final… 1st ball is short in the slot- 6 from Curran, just 10 needed from 11 balls. 2nd ball scooped- in the air trying to clear the 30-yard circle and catch good catch by Pattinson to get rid of Curran… but he has done his job to finish the match scoring 18 from just 6 balls. 10 needed from 10.. in comes captain cool – Thala MSD…
Faf gets into action now with a boundary and a single and gets his to his 50. 50(42) good steady innings this. Dhoni on strike, Bumrah bowls a bouncer, Dhoni tries to pull it does not connect, MI go up and so does the umpire’s finger. Drama here and Dhoni’s reviews it straight away and it’s been overturned. Dhoni survives, it’s 158/4 after 19.. just 5 needed from the last over.
Boult to bowl the final, 1st ball and Faf thumbs it’s over backward point for a boundary the scores are tied. Boult tries for another short ball another 4 and Faf finishes it in style and finishes with 58 from 44 balls. In the end, an easy win for CSK and they win with 5 wickets in hand. After 5 straight losses to MI, CSK have finally broken the jinx… 100th win as captain for Dhoni in IPL.
Mumbai still cannot break their deadlock of losing the opening game of their IPL season. Mumbai started well with bat and ball. With the bat, they just could not keep the partnership going and keep losing wickets in packs whenever one fell which led to a below-par score. They started well getting two quick wickets but Faf and Rayudu had their own plans and their partnership proved to be the difference. In the end, a cameo from Sam Curran just turned the match in CSK’s favour.
Awards- IPL 2020 Match 1: MI vs CSK
Faf Du Plessis – Dream11 game-changer of the match.. for his 50 and 3 catches.
De Kock- Altroz super striker of the match. 33 (20) with a Strike Rate of 165.
Rayudu – Unacademy – Let’s crack it- For max 6’s- 3
De Kock- Cred power player of the match
Rayudu- Man of the Match- For his 71 (48).
That brings us to the end of the first chapter. Good opening game and thank god that IPL is back, better late than never!
Watch the match highlights here IPL 2020: MI vs CSK-
Stay tuned for Chapter 2 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao!
Vivek Nair
