 "Rajasthan Royals reportedly set to reunite with former head coach after Dravid's exit; Samson set to remain captain")
 "Pakistan vs Oman Live Score, Asia Cup 2025 T20: Pakistan suffer big blow in opening over")
IPL 2018, Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings, latest score and cricket update: The match ends with a six but Kings XI Punjab beat Chennai Super Kings by four runs. CSK suffer their first loss of the season. An injured Dhoni walks off the field and remains unbeaten on 79 off 44 balls. Credit to Mohit Sharma to maintain his composure in a pressure situation. Preview: It will be the third game for both teams. After opening their campaign with a stunning win over Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener, Chennai Super Kings pulled off yet another thrilling chase to beat Kolkata Knight Riders. The likes of Dwayne Bravo and Sam Billings are in red-hot form for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team. CSK have enough depth in their battin [caption id=“attachment_4432803” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings captain Ravichandran Ashwin and MS Dhoni. Sportzpics/AFP[/caption] g line-up with the likes of Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson, Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu, Billings and Bravo. The spin trio of Harbhajan Singh, Jadeja and Imran Tahir can be a potent force as they are complemented by Deepak Chahar, Watson and Shardul Thakur. On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab are coming into the match after yesterday’s loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore. The KXIP started the season on a resounding note, beating Delhi Daredevils by six wickets. Local player KL Rahul, who fashioned the victory with the fastest-ever fifty in IPL, justified why the franchise spent Rs 11 crore for him. Rahul smashed a 30-ball 47 against RCB and had Punjab not lost wickets in quick succession, they could have notched up a bigger total than the 155 they managed while batting first. A cause of concern for KXIP is the form of their top batsman Yuvraj Singh, who has made 12 and 4 in the two games while in the bowling department, Mohit Sharma looked off-colour against RCB. Ashwin has been in good form with his bowling and has contributed with the bat as well. Playing his maiden innings as a captain, Ashwin has also been marshalling his men nicely. In the batting department, there are high expectations from Aaron Finch, who was unavailable for the opening match but failed with the bat against RCB. Punjab’s bowlers are doing a fine job with 17-year-old spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman surprising the batsmen with his unconventional deliveries. He was even rewarded with the prize wicket of RCB skipper Virat Kohli. Apart from Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, Mujeeb, Axar Patel and Andrew Tye add depth to Punjab’s bowling attack. With inputs from PTI
Highlights IPL 2018, KXIP vs CSK at Mohali, Full Cricket Score: Punjab hold on to win by four runs despite MS Dhoni's heroics
Now then, CSK have decided to up the ante. Fear, it’s a bit too late. But given their recent record, you never know what may happen. 12 come in the 17th over.
)
As a spectator, one couldn’t have asked for a better game. A crackerjack of an encounter that saw the return of Universe Boss Chris Gayle, who rolled back time, to smash the ball around with much aplomb. Another veteran Yuvraj Singh played some sparkling shots before he got out. Chennai bowlers fought back in the second half of the first innings restricting KXIP to 197.
In reply, Chennai Super Kings kept losing wickets untill Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni stabalise the innings. Ashwin and Co maintained the stranglehold as Dhoni kept plucking away after Rayudu’s fall. If Gayle can roll back time, MS Dhoni did it better.
A greying hero in twilight of his career, battling with gruesome pain, still managing to wage a war and almost single-handedly conjuring magic to come from behind and emerge victorious, but alas it was no fairytale end for the man who symbolises practicality, perhaps for some other day.
The fact that MSD can still spook oppositions till the fag the end and keep the spectators hold on to the edge of their seats says volume about the great man.
On that note we take your leave. Wish you well and take care.
Chris Gayle is the Man of the Match.
Gayle: It was good to be back. (On the number of Man of the Matches he has received) I have no idea. It’s got to be a lot. Do you want this trophy? I got a text this morning that I would be playing. I am very happy that I have got off to a winning start for this new franchise. I am really happy. I think that’s Chris Gayle for you. I don’t look much for singles. Hitting just fours and sixes. It was a good wicket as well and a match as well. I am feeling like 25. The Universe Boss is back.
Point to be noted.
Chennai Super Kings finish on 193 for the loss 5 wickets. CSK fall agonising short by four runs.
~Dhoni finishes it off in style~ The match ends with a six but Kings XI Punjab beat Chennai Super Kings by four runs. CSK suffer their first loss of the season. An injured Dhoni walks off the field and remains unbeaten on 79 off 44 balls. Credit to Mohit Sharma to maintain his composure in a pressure situation.
Ball two: A slower and full delivery, outside off, Dhoni doesn’t put bat to ball.
16 off 4.
Mohit Sharma to bowl the final over.
Ball one: Dwayne Bravo hits this yorker to the leg side and gives the strike back to Dhoni.
After 19 overs,Chennai Super Kings 181/5 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 69 , Dwayne Bravo 0)
Remember Dhoni is injured and still playing a gem of an innings. 17 needed off the final over.
Most 50s for MS Dhoni against a team in IPL:
5 – Kings XI Punjab*
4 – Sunrisers Hyderabad
3 – Mumbai Indians
After 18 overs,Chennai Super Kings 162/4 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 50 , Ravindra Jadeja 19)
Nineteen off the over. Will this be the over that changes the tide of the match? Don’t know but Dhoni has completed his fifty off 34 balls.
36 needed off 12.
After 17 overs,Chennai Super Kings 143/4 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 38 , Ravindra Jadeja 12)
Now then, CSK have decided to up the ante. Fear, it’s a bit too late. But given their recent record, you never know what may happen. 12 come in the 17th over.
After 16 overs,Chennai Super Kings 131/4 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 32 , Ravindra Jadeja 7)
Sran continues. CSK though have still not changed their approach to this chase. Only nine runs off the 16th over. The required run rate is 16.75!!
67 needed off 24
After 15 overs,Chennai Super Kings 122/4 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 30 , Ravindra Jadeja 1)
It almost seemed that Ashwin had Dhoni trapped LBW on the first ball but it was missing leg. Dhoni’s response though was a six over square leg. A nine-run over but the required run rate is 15.2. CSK are making a habit of taking games deep now. Doubt whether it’s with choice.
After 14 overs,Chennai Super Kings 113/4 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 23 , Ravindra Jadeja 0)
Remove the one six which he conceded off his second delivery, this has been an excellent over from Barinder Sran. Just six off it.