IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings beat RCB by 6 wickets, climb table top

Chennai Super Kings' Ravindra Jadeja with his teammates celebrates the dismissal of Royal Challengers Bangalore's captain Virat Kohli during an IPL cricket match in Pune. Photo: PTI

CSK beat RCB by six wickets in the 35th match of the VIVO IPL, chasing a sub-par total of 128. With this win, CSK climb the top of VIVO IPL points table

In the 35th match of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, Chennai Super Kings defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune and moved to the top of the VIVO points table. RCB were in the pursuit of remaining alive in the tournament to qualify for the playoffs but this defeat reduced their chances as remained at the sixth spot of the VIVO points table. Earlier, Chennai Super Kings won the toss and decided to field against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

RCB suffered an early setback as McCullum and then Kohli and de Villiers took an early exit and were a damp squib for the team. Parthiv Patel played a good knock and completed his half-century, but he was not getting any help from another end as no batsmen could manage to stay in front of CSK bowling attack. On a day when RCB needed their captain to lead the batting department, came the disappointment for the team as he departed on a meagre score.

Jadeja and Harbhajan wreaked havoc by taking wickets at regular intervals and more than half of the team vanished soon, surrendering to the attack by CSK bowlers.

Chasing a low score, Chennai Super Kings started on a good note but soon Umesh Yadav removed Watson's off stump on a beautiful yorker. Chennai batsmen were restricted up to an extent from hitting big shots. Rayudu took the initiative started the hitting.

Raina's interesting dismissal pumped energy into RCB's squad. The next few overs after that went fine for CSK as Rayudu was still going strong and they had enough balls and wickets in hand. Just then, M Ashwin removed Rayudu. Despite the opposition nearing their target, RCB fielders maintained an active presence on the field. Chances came for dismissal but the same fielders could not rise to the occasion. A slight come back from RCB but overall the match was in CSK's clutches. Victory looked imminent for CSK as RCB did not have a good defending total.