IPL 2018: CSK Vs KXIP, Highlights: Ngidi, Raina guide Chennai to an easy win; RR enter playoffs

Pune, May 20: Suresh Raina struck an unbeaten half-century as Chennai Super Kings defeated Kings XI Punjab by 5 wickets in the last round-robin match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 here on Sunday (May 20).

With Punjab's defeat, Rajasthan Royals become the fourth team to qualify into the play-offs stage with 14 points in their kitty and better net run rate than Mumbai Indians, Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Chasing a fighting target of 154 on a pitch that gave purchase to the pacers, Chennai suffered three quick blows in the powerplay itself. In-form Ambati Rayudu (1) was dismissed by Mohit Sharma in the second over of the game.

Faf du Plessis, who opened the innings for CSK in the absence of Shane Watson, couldn't do much with the bat as he edged Ankit Rajpoot and caught brilliantly by Chris Gayle at slip cordon. Du Plessis had scored 14 before getting dismissed. Out of form, Sam Billings was dismissed by Rajpoot on the first delivery he faced. The English batsman's departure within the powerplay put CSK under pressure and Punjab sniffed an opportunity in the game as they needed to restrict them under 100 to seal a play-off berth.

There is a reason the #IPL is my favourite tournament. Have had fun being part of it for another year. Look forward to #IPL2019.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 20, 2018

But Dhoni played a masterstroke and promoted Harbhajan Singh up in the order in order to shield the rest of the batsman from the menacing pace attack. Harbhajan stayed at the crease and ensured the pacers lose their sheen. By the time the Turbanator (19 off 22) was dismissed by R Ashwin, he had already done the damage for the visitors.

As the scoreboard was under 100, Dhoni again played another gamble by promoting Deepak Chahar up. The right-handed batsman played an aggressive cameo of 20-ball 39 and took CSK into triple figures. The Agra-based batsman struck two maximums of Ashwin to prove he could play a few big shots as well.

Dhoni finishes it in grand style with a 6. To think at one stage they were in danger of being bowled out for 70-odd! Kudos to Raina, my MoM

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 20, 2018

By the time Chahar was dismissed, the match had already come into CSK's grip. They needed 40 off 23 by the time Dhoni walked into the middle while Suresh Raina was present at the crease. The southpaw, initially, batted with caution and went on to slam a composed half-century.

The Uttar Pradesh batsman was batting at 39 off 42 deliveries till the 18th over and finally freed his arms in the penultimate over. Raina hammered 22 runs off the 19th over bowled by Andrew Tye and raced to yet another half-century. He remained unbeaten at 61 off 48.

6 overs 73 to win. No problem, @ChennaiIPL do it in 5.1 overs. Wonderful knock from @ImRaina , and very clever to send Bhajji and Chahar up the order and catch the opposition by surprise #CSKvKXIP

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 20, 2018

With just one required from the last six deliveries, Dhoni finished it off in style by pulling Mohit Sharma towards deep square-leg region for a maximum. The skipper scored 16 off 7 deliveries before completing 4000 IPL runs.

Thala milestone alert! Only the second non-opener to get past the number! #WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvKXIP 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/gAPZTIvrtR

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 20, 2018

With this win, CSK finished at the second spot in the points-table. They will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first qualifier on Tuesday (May 22) at Wankhede Stadium.

Meanwhile, Punjab's loss at the hands of CSK has ensured Rajasthan Royals become the fourth team to enter the playoffs. Rajasthan will face Kolkata Knight Riders in Eliminator.

Oh Balle Balle @rajasthanroyals @IPL

— Ish Sodhi (@ish_sodhi) May 20, 2018

Earlier, Lungi Ngidi displayed his brilliance with the ball to return with his best figures as Chennai Super Kings bundled Kings XI Punjab out for 153.

Karun Nair scored a fighting half-century to guide Punjab to a decent total after Chennai bowlers rattled their top-order with a disciplined effort. Ngidi (4/10) returned with his best figures to restrict the visitors.

If anybody can read MS Dhoni's mind, do stand up and identify yourself. All of us look for meaning post the event but nobody has a clue of what he is thinking about while things are actually happening!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 20, 2018

Delhi Daredevils had done a favour to Punjab by knocking out Mumbai Indians with an 11-run win in the first match of the day as it kept Punjab in the hunt. Punjab now need to restrict CSK to 100 runs to seal the last-available spot in the Play-offs and if they fail to win big, Rajasthan Royals will qualify.

When Punjab batsmen needed to fire in unison, only Nair showed stomach for a fight with his 26-ball knock, which was laced with three fours and five sixes. It was South African paceman Ngidi (4/10) who triggered a top-order collapse as he swung the ball both ways to confound the Punjab batsmen.

Congrats to the @rajasthanroyals family for making the play offs - we did it ! So happy for everyone involved & what an amazing effort it was to comeback after the first half of the tournament !! Feeling very proud of you all right now ! 👍

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) May 20, 2018

He first had dangerous Chris Gayle (0) caught behind and then bowled other opener KL Rahul with a peach of delivery that swung in and sent the stump kart-wheeling. Deepak Chahar had Aaron Finch (4) caught by Raina as Punjab managed only 29 runs in the Powerplay overs.

Started so well this #KingsXIPunjab but couldn’t finish the line.congratualtions to #SRH #CSK #KKR #RR for qualifying for playoffs #ipl

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 20, 2018

In his sensational three-over spell, Ngidi conceded just seven runs and scalped both the openers. David Miller (24) and Manish Tiwary (35) repaired the innings with a 60-run partnership before left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja broke the stand by dismissing the latter.

Miller too did not last long after the departure of Tiwary as he was undone by a well-executed yorker by West Indian Dwayne Bravo. The Miller wicket meant that Punjab were reeling at 80 for five in 12.1 overs.

A small partnership developed between Axar Patel (14) and Nair but Sam Billings pulled off a stunning diving catch to get rid of the left-hander. Still, Punjab got 18 runs from that Shardul Thakur over with Nair finding a six and two fours.

Ngidi returned to the attack and saw the back of rival captain R Ashwin, who could not even open his account, nicking the ball to his counterpart MS Dhoni behind the wickets. Punjab could not even bat for full 20 overs and were bowled out in 19.4 overs. Had it not been a fighting knock from Nair, they would not have crossed even 150-run mark.