Chennai have too much firepower for Bangalore

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Cricket365
May 24, 2014

Chennai Super Kings ended their three-match losing streak with a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday.

Though they had already qualified for play-offs, the win boosts the Super Kings' chances of finishing second in the league ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

For Bangalore, there was little other than pride to play for as they had already been knocked out of the competition, but captain Virat Kohli still did his level best to set a competitive total after being sent in to bat by MS Dhoni.

While the Bangalore top three didn't last particularly long, Kohli came in at four and his 73-run innings off 48 balls was largely responsible for helping lift his side to an at least somewhat competitive 154/6, with Yuvraj Singh chipping in with a run-a-ball 25.

For Chennai, Nehra's three-wicket haul made him the pick of the bowlers.

The Bangalore chase got off to a flying start courtesy of Dwayne Smith and Faf du Plessis, who started smashing fours and sixes almost from the get-go.

Ravi Rampaul would go on to dismiss his countryman Smith for an innings of 34 smashed off just 17 balls, and Suresh Raina didn't last too long either, stumped with his score on 18 off Yuvraj.

But captain Dhoni joined Du Plessis at the crease and the duo comfortably guided Chennai home with a full 16 balls to spare.

Du Plessis' 54 not out off 43 balls provided the bedrock of the innings, while Dhoni closed with a flurry of fours and sixes to race to 38 not out off just 28 deliveries.

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