Swashbuckling Samson , Late Assault from Archer Powers RR to edge past CSK

 

Swashbuckling Samson , Late Assault from Archer Powers RR to edge past CSK

 

IPL 2020 – RR VS CSK, Sharjah, 22^nd September’2020

 

Rajasthan arrived as underdogs for this match to compete against the mighty CSK, who has started with a win on their opening match. CSK won the toss and put RR to bat first and lets see how the events unfolded leading to an entertaining match with 33 sixes, equally the IPL record for the most sixes recorded between RCB and CSK at Bangalore, 2018.

 

Samson’s day out, Smith Consolidates

 

With the loss of the early wicket of the young talent Jaiswal, Smith and Samson anchored the innings with a decent partnership. Samson started to cut loose with few sixes of the pacers and he reserved his best when the CSK spinners turned up to bowl. Jadeja was greeted with 2 sixes and Chawla’s confidence was completely dented with 3 Huge sixes straight down the ground and what followed was absolute carnage and display of brilliance from Sanju’s blade. 32 ball 74, studded with 9 sixes and the 50 coming in just 7 balls – Samson batting prowess doesn’t need more explanation that this. Samson, on his day, is a delightful batsman to watch gifted with beautiful timing and power hitting and is extremely unlucky not to have wore the blue Jersey yet, being a talented wicket keeper as well.

 

Smith played perfect partner to Samson giving able support and hitting few sixes at a strike rate of 150. Smith shifted gears once Samson departed and played a pivotal role for RR to finish off with a decent score of the board.

 

Bowlers strikes back

Post Samson, Smith departure, CSK bowlers hit back giving nothing away and brought the game under control, especially the late wickets from Curran. While it was looking like RR would end up with a score of 180-190, Jofra Archer arrived to face the last over, with not much reputation for big hitting and what he produced was a “fair tale” he would love to cherish telling  his grand children in years to come.

 

Archer Assault, RR finishes with a flourish

Ngidi’s bowling figures and reputation took a beating when Archer took him apart in the 20^th over hitting him for 4 huge sixes which completely turned the match into RR’s favour. No corner of the ground was spared and Archer was hitting the white cherry into the spot he aimed at like a “ Archer who strikes his arrows perfectly to the destination”. Is this IPL becoming a tale of Last over demolition act, Stoinis, Archer and who next?

 

Watson’s return to Form, Vijay departs without an impact

When the CSK openers walked out to bat, they had their task cut out knowing they have to attack from the word go to reach anyway closer to the humongous target. Watson found his timing and power right away clobbering 4 sixes on the leg side, the pick of them would be the trademark front foot pull which landed near scoreboard. Watson form with the bat is very crucial for CSK’s chances in the tournament and they need more of such innings in matches to come. Vijay, who looks a pale shadow of the elegant player who wore the “Yellow” during the initial CSK days famous for his effortless sixes down the ground, couldn’t get going at all and in an attempt to up the ante he holed out to deep midwicket. I wonder if this is the last time we see M Vijay in CSK Jersey as young talents are waiting in the wings.

 

Triple strike from Tewatia

It was a brave call by Smith to hand over the ball to the young leggie Tewatia inside the power play, who did not disappoint by striking thrice dismissing Watson, Curran & Gaekwad in a span of 2 overs. While Watson was done in by a flipper which hurried up to hit the Timber, Curran and Gaekward, nervous in his first outing, were foxed by flighted deliveries and brilliantly snapped up by the “ Man of the match” Samson. CSK were reeling at 77/4 in 9 overs with the target still far away and anticipation from the die-hard fans on what is in store from FAF & MSD.

 

Middle order muddle and Late fireworks from Du Plussis

While the middle order could not get things moving, the onus was on the seasoned campaigner FaF to strike back and he did not disappoint, though his flurry of sixes came little late.

Once he found the rhythm and timing, Du Plussis was unstoppable, especially against the pacers, clearing the straight and mid-wicket boundaries as if he would do in the net session. He batted with much needed “ intent” and a 37 ball 72 with 7 sixes kept the game intact with anticipation of Dhoni to join him in the party. While Faf was dismissed trying to catch up with the impossible run rate of 20 runs per over, Dhoni, batting at No 7, came in the 17^th over could not get going at all and the writing on the wall when 36 runs were left to be chased in the last over.

 

Customary Last over Heroics from Dhoni, 6, 6, 6, Helicopter lands at Sharjah

While It is no secret that MS likes to take the game deep and chase as much as up to 20 runs in the last over, It was too little, too late this time around. The Match has completely slipped out of hands and then comes the triple strikes from Dhoni, each of them were powerful strikers to long on and mid-wicket – One of them landed into the cark Park, to the delight of millions of CSK fans across the globe. If he continues in this vein in the upcoming matches, batting little higher, more points in the kitty guaranteed.

 

Changes needed for CSK

Dhoni to Bat higher ( probably at 5), Rayudu ( if fit) for Vijay, Gaekwad to be given few more games ( instead of Kedhar), Hazelwood for Ngidi, Curran to bat low down the order, Jadeja at the top to give the left – right combination going. Tahir is too good a player to be left out but the Overseas players combination may not permit this at this moment.