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Sports


Watson's heroics carry CSK to play offs, as home team wins against SRH

Watson's heroics carry CSK to play offs, as home team wins against SRH

Chenai, Apr 23 (UNI) Age is mere numbers. It was proved once
again by defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as
power hitting by opener Shane Watson (aged 37) carried the
home team to a dominant seven wicket victory over Sun Risers
Hyderabad (SRK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on
Tuesday night.
Chasing SRH's 175 for three, in a surprisingly batting
friendly wicket, Watson feasted on the bowlers, before
falling short by four runs for his second century of this
edition, but ensured the home team seal its berth in the
play offs.
CSK romped home scoring 176 for four in 19.5 overs.
It was incredible batting, as Watson struck nine fours and
six sixers in his 53-ball knock of 96 runs, that put the CSk
on its course for its fifth win on the trot at home and seal
a berth in the play-offs.
His two useful partnerships helped CSK to take revenge for
its earlier loss in Hyderabad few days back.
Watson, mixing caution with aggression, first added 77 with
southpaw Raina in 7.3 overs and then another 80 with Ambati
Rayudu in a mere 7.1 overs, that was punctuated with his
power hitting, to ease the pressure as CSK romped home with
consummate ease, amid a bit of anxiety in the last over,
in which Ambati Rayudu (21, 25 balls, 1x4) fell, before
skipper M S Dhoni gave the finishing touches to win by a
comprehensive six wickets.
Watson was all set to score his second hundred of this edition,
before he top edged a slow bouncer off Bhunavesh Kumar to the
keeper in th 19th over, triggering a close finish, especially
after Rayudu's exit.
But Dhoni gave the finishing touches, ensuring CSK's fifth win
on the trot at home and sealing a place in the play off.
Like the SRH start, the chase was not that rosy as CSK lost
Faf Du Plessis early, but Shane Watson and Suresh Raina
combined well to add 73 runs for the second wicket in 9.3 overs,
as the duo overcame early blues to take a calculated risk against
the bowlers.
It was Raina 38 (24 balls, 6x4, 1x6). who dominated
the stand, before he was flummoxed by Rashid Khan's
googly, but he put the attack in ins place with hils
attacking instincts.
Combining caution with aggression, he took the aerial
route, before just slipping out of the crease against
Rashid going for a drive and paid the penalty.
But his stand with Watson, who in the process drove
and pulled to reach his half century and also crossed
8,000 runs in T-20 matches, consolidated the innings,
to put CSK on course for a victory as he carted Rashid
for two fours and a six in the game changing 14th over,
pummeled Bhuvanesh Kumar to a pair of boundaries in the
next to add pressure on the SRK bowlers, as the target
narrowed down to 41 in the last five overs, before CSK
won with consummate ease.
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