Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings - IPL5 - Kings XI Punjab win by 6 wickets - Live Cricket Score and Update
Chennai Super Kings 120/7 v Kings XI Punjab 123/4 - Kings XI Punjab won by 6 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)
On Thursday, Chennai Super Kings received a shocker when they were restricted on a timid total of 120 runs for the loss of seven wickets against Kings XI Punjab in a match that they eventually lost at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.
With this loss, the defending champions are almost out of the tournament and now need all the luck in the world to keep them in the running for a place in the play-offs.
Speaking after the terrible loss, Chennai’s skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, “Not trying to score too many, bowled really well, their lengths were good and whenever we tried to get out of the situation, they got the wickets. Watching the next few games will not change anything, let's wait and watch.”
The game saw the return of Punjab’s skipper Adam Gilchrist, who after nursing his hamstring injury finally got an opportunity to clobber 64 runs as he stayed unbeaten while playing a captain’s knock to see his team prevail in 16.3 overs. The stupendous knock earned the skipper the Player of the Match award.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Punjab chose to field first and flourished well as their bowlers grabbed the first wicket with only 17 runs on the board by sending Chennai opener, M Vijay, back after scoring 10 runs.
Aussie, Michael Hussey was then the next to fall as he lost his wicket after playing an innings of seven runs, leaving his team stranded on 20 runs.
Suresh Raina and Dhoni then took charge and halted the bowling onslaught for a while but with 42 runs on the board, the side suffered the loss of their third wicket as Punjab saw the back of Raina who hit the showers after scoring 17 runs.
While Dhoni fell after moulding an innings of six runs, it was a well designed knock of 48 runs by Dwayne Bravo that really steered the team out of hostile territory.
Nonetheless, the total was still not enough to hold back Punjab.