BENGALURU, APRIL 18
In a high-scoring game including a record-equalling 33 sixes, Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by eight runs in the Indian Premier League on Monday.
Glenn Maxwell led all batters with eight sixes as he powered the Bangalore chase with 76 runs off 36 balls. The hosts finished short on the night though, replying with 218-8 to Chennai's 226-6, a par-plus score on a batting beauty at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Chennai launched the onslaught when Devon Conway smacked six sixes and six fours on his way to 83 off 45 balls.
Conway put on 74 off 43 with Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 37 off 20. Their partnership set the momentum for Chennai, which scored 112 runs in nine overs after the powerplay.
Conway added another 80 off 37 with Shivam Dube, who cracked five sixes and two fours in 52 off 27 balls.
Set 227 to win, Bangalore started badly. Virat Kohli played on for 6 and Mahipal Lomror was out for a five-ball duck despite being dropped. Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed a regulation early catch of counterpart Faf du Plessis, who went on to score 62 off 33, including five fours and four sixes.
Maxwell came to the crease when Bangalore was 15-2 after two overs, and shared with du Plessis a lofty 126 runs off 61 balls.
Their third-wicket partnership was a treat for spectators and kept alive Bangalore hopes. Chennai's poor fielding made matters worse. Du Plessis was dropped after his half-century, and Moeen Ali missed a run-out chance late in the innings.
Overall, Chennai fielders dropped five catches and missed two run-out opportunities. It took exceptional calm from Dhoni to dismiss Maxwell and du Plessis by pouching skied shots in the space of 12 deliveries.
The game turned, and late cameos by Dinesh Karthik (28 off 14) and Suyash Prabhudessai (19 off 11) only reduced the margin of defeat.
Chennai's Tushar Deshpande finished with a game-best 3-45 in four overs.
The previous record of 33 sixes in an IPL game was also when these sides met at the same ground in 2018.
Chennai was third on the table, and Bangalore stayed at seventh.
