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CSK vs KKR Match Highlights IPL 2021 Match - 15th
Cummins heroic fight goes in vain as CSK makes hat-trick of win, beating KKR
Pat Cummins’ heroic fight of unbeaten 34-ball 66 went in vain as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 18 runs in the 15th IPL match in Mumbai on Wednesday. Cummins, who was a failure with the ball, giving away 58 runs in his 4 overs, demonstrated a superb 66, hitting 6 sixes and 4 fours that guided KKR towards the door of victory. But He did not get the required support from the last three batsmen, Kamalesh Nagarkoti and Varun Chakravarthy who all made zero. In reply to CSK’s 220 for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs, KKR were all out for 202 19.1 overs. CSK made the hat-trick of wins on the day.
However, KKR had a disastrous start on the day losing 5 quick wickets for only 31 runs. Dinesh Karthik (40 off 24 deliveries) and Andre Russell (54 off 22 balls) revived the team from the disaster in the middle-overs. Deepak Chahar the CSK spinner once again shined, scalping 4 for 29 in 4 overs while Lungi Ngidi snared 3 wickets giving away 28 in 4 overs.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the toss and chooses to field first. But except their leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy, so far the most successful bowler of the side in the ongoing League, none of the other bowlers were able to impress. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost only three wickets and set a tough task for KKR scoring 220 for the loss of three wickets in 20 overs. Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell managed one wicket each. Only Varun’s economy rate among them was 6.75 while Narine gave away 34 runs in 4 overs at an economy rate of 8.50 and Russell gave 27 runs in his 2 overs at an economy rate of 13.50.
Rituraj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis started in style for CSK. Their 115-run partnership was broken in the 13th over when CSK lost the first wicket of Rituraj at 115. The young opener exhibited a splendid 64 off 42 deliveries hitting 6 fours and 4 sixes. Faf du Plessis however missed a century, remaining unbeaten 95 off 60 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 158.33. Rituraj’s strike rate was not also ignorable (152.38). Mahendra Singh Dhoni, going to bat at 4th position, looked struggling to regain his touch as he got out for 17 off 8 deliveries. He could be able to hit a big six. Moeen Ali's 25 off 12 balls finally took CSK to cross the 200-run mark.
