Saturday 4 October 2014
CSK defeat KKR comfortably riding on Suresh Raina's Ton
Suresh Raina hammered one of the best T20 hundreds ever seen in world cricket. Feel sorry for KKR who piled up 180 in the finale, riding on their 14-match winning streak. KKR's bowling looked lackluster without Sunil Narine who was banned from bowling in the final. Raina brutalized KKR bowling attack but with such perfection, he launched 8 resounding sixes in his unbeaten 109 off 62 balls.
The beauty of the sixes he hit over long off and long on against spinners cannot be described in words. Great use of the feet, high backlift, ball meeting the middle of the bat, perfect follow-through, it was totally copybook style.
Earlier, Kolkata got off to a blistering start thanks to openers Uthappa 39(32) & Gambhir, 80(52) who fired after a long time. Manish Pandey 32(19) & Yusuf Pathan 20(9) finished off the innings with a late flourish to take Kolkata to 180/6 in 20 overs.
Pawan Negi had a dream finale as he picked up 5 wickets for just 22 runs in his 5 overs whereas Ashish Nehra was having a nightmare, he was hit around the park going for 54 runs in his 4 overs.
Earlier, Kolkata got off to a blistering start thanks to openers Uthappa 39(32) & Gambhir, 80(52) who fired after a long time. Manish Pandey 32(19) & Yusuf Pathan 20(9) finished off the innings with a late flourish to take Kolkata to 180/6 in 20 overs.
Pawan Negi had a dream finale as he picked up 5 wickets for just 22 runs in his 5 overs whereas Ashish Nehra was having a nightmare, he was hit around the park going for 54 runs in his 4 overs.
In reply, CSK lost Dwayne Smith in the 1st over, but after that it was just Raina going all over the distance again and again. He murdered the KKR bowling like a butcher, getting to 50 off just 27 balls, duly accompanied by Brendon McCullum 39(30) nurturing together a partnership of 118 runs off 74 deliveries. Raina was unstoppable and a treat to watch as he raced from 50 to 100 with some towering sixes of the spinners. He completed his 100 off 59 balls.
In the end Dhoni sealed the title with a six, CSK getting home in 18.3 overs, thus ending Chennai's trophy drought after 3 years.
In the end Dhoni sealed the title with a six, CSK getting home in 18.3 overs, thus ending Chennai's trophy drought after 3 years.
Pawan Negi was named Man of the Match for his five wicket haul whereas Suresh Raina bagged the Player of the Tournament award for his consistent performances.
