A transformed Ajinkya Rahane took Eden Gardens by storm with a sensational 29-ball-71 while Shivam Dube muscled his way to another scintillating half-century in Chennai Super Kings’ imposing 235/4 against Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match in Kolkata on Sunday. (More Cricket News) | (Scorecard)
🍷Long perceived as a Test batter, the 34-year-old dished out some never-seen scoop shots, ruthless pulls laced with his signature drives, en route to his second fifty of the season.
🌃Overall, he smashed sixes fours and five sixes in his 29-ball knock that came with a 244-plus strike rate. His fifty came of just 24 balls. His tournament strike-rate among specialist batters, who have faced a minimum of 100 balls, is just a shade below 190.
ꩲIn all, CSK batters hit 18 sixes, exposing the plight of KKR bowlers in-front of a crowd, which for them was like playing at “home away from home”.
๊On a day, the Eden immersed in a sea of yellow, KKR bowlers ran for covers with Kiwi opener Devon Conway once again leading the charge with a 40-ball-56, his fourth half-century of the season.
ꦡConway once again found a fine ally in Ruturaj Gaikwad (35; 20b) as the duo put together 73-run (45b) for the opening wicket, before Rahane unleashed his fury in his new avatar.
♈There was a brief solace for KKR when the spin duo of Suyash Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Conway and Gaikwad respectively in the space of 37 runs.
🔯With CSK run-rate going under-nine an over, Shivam Dube (50; 21b, 2×4, 5×6) and Rahane seized the momentum with a 85-run partnership (32b).
♐The duo hit four sixes, and a boundary in a row to step up the run rate.
ꦛIt was Dube who broke free against Varun Chakravarthy en route to his 20-ball fifty, his second too this season.
♚Rahane then took his India teammate Yadav to cleaners with two sixes, including a scoop, following it up with an elegant cover drive.
𝔍KKR’s baffling team combination strategy in benching Shardul Thakur and handing debut to David Wiese proved to be an eyesore.
🉐Kulwant Khejroliya, who had been brought in place of Thakur, took two wickets but leaked 44 runs in his two overs.
☂Sunil Narine was also a big let down for KKR and conceded 23 runs from his two overs without taking any wicket.
▨KKR had the grip on CSK’s innings following a tidy five-run opening over by Umesh Yadav.
♋Yet to open his account, Conway then got an easy reprieve when Wiese put down a return catch from his own bowling.
💖Thereafter, it was all about CSK who cut loose with the Kiwi opener going after Wiese, smashing him for a six and following it up with 14 runs in the next over.
🍃His opening partner, Gaikwad too matched Conway in stroke-making as CSK cruised to 59 for no loss in the powerplay.
✅The duo once again put together a perfect platform in a 73-run opening stand (45b) for the likes of Rahane and Dube to finish with an elan.
