{ "id": "36870", "author": "12", "cnmid": "0", "title": " IPL 2018: Billings, Watson help CSK pull off heist against KKR", "lang": "en", "series": "331", "cup_year": "2018", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Chennai, April 11 (CRICKETNMORE) - Sam Billings' 23-ball 56 coupled with Shane Watson's 19-ball 42 helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pull off a heist as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by five wickets in a thrilling IPL game, held", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Chennai, April 11 (CRICKETNMORE)<\/strong> - Sam Billings' 23-ball 56 coupled with Shane Watson's 19-ball 42 helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pull off a heist as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by five wickets in a thrilling IPL game, held amidst strong protests on the issue of Cauvery waters here on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Needing 17 runs in the last over, Ravindra Jadeja 11 (not out) hit a six off R Vinay Kumar with four runs and one ball remaining as Dwayne Bravo (11 not out) watched from the other end.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Chasing 203, Watson and Ambati Rayudu (39 off 26; 3x4, 2x6) gave CSK a dream start before they got out and KKR reined in with a one more wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But Billings and skipper MS Dhoni (25 off 28; 1x4, 1x6) kept their chances alive with a 54-run stand for the fourth wicket and after Dhoni got out Billings cut loose.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The England top-order batsman brought up his 50 in 21 balls, sweeping Tom Curran (2\/39), whom he took for 17 runs in the 15th over, to the leg side to bring up the landmark.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Curran got his wicket in the same over but Jadeja and Bravo ensured the job was done.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

CSK got off to a flying start. Watson made his intentions clear from the off, spanking R Vinay Kumar for a two fours and a six in the first over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

At the other end, Rayudu (39 off 26; 3x4, 2x6) took a liking to Piyush Chawla hitting the wrist-spinner for two sixes and a four in the fourth over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The pair added 75 runs for the opening wicket before Watson holed out to Rinku Singh at cow corner trying to pull Curran.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

After the Powerplay, CSK were well on course at 75\/1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav 1\/27) then removed the set Rayudu with a lofted delivery outside off-stump which went to substitute Shivam Mavi at extra cover as the batsman played away from his body.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

From that point, CSK's surge took a dip and the asking rate started shooting up. Suresh Raina (14), who was dropped by Curran on 6, could not capilatise on it and with cramps affecting him, pulled a Narine delivery to Vinay Kumar at long on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Dhoni and Billings -- given a second life by Robin Uthappa who dropped him at mid off -- fought well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Chawla broke the stand just the home side looked to be making a fight out of it with a low ball that Dhoni feather-edged to Karthik who took a sharp catch behind the stumps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The match was not over though with Billings continuing his big-hitting before Curran got his revenge on his international teammate as the England batsman holed out to Uthappa at long off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Earlier, Andre Russell smashed an unbeaten 36-ball 88 to help Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) recover from early jitters and post a mammoth 202\/6 in 20 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

There was unprecedented security at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium with a lot of traffic restrictions around the stadium and the arrival of the teams accompanied by tight surveillance. The toss for the game was taken at 7.43 p.m., a delay of 13 minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Life in several parts of the city was thrown out of gear after many Tamil outfits staged protests against the holding of IPL matches in Chepauk stadium to demand a Cauvery Management Board from the Centre.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Coming to the game, KKR were reduced to 89\/5 at one stage after being put in before Russell (1x4, 11x6) took the home team bowlers to the cleaners with some lusty blows.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The 29-year-old West Indian all-rounder was at it from the word go and in the 19th over smoked compratriot Dwayne Bravo for three back-to-back sixes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Russell was ably supported by skipper Dinesh Karthik (26 off 25 balls) and Robin Uthappa (29 off 16 balls) at the beginning.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 205\/5 in 19.5 overs (Sam Billings 56, Shane Watson 42; Tom Curran 2\/39) beat Kolkata Knight Riders: 202\/6 in 20 overs (Andre Russell 88, Robin Uthappa 20; Shane Watson 2\/39)<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/CSK-VS-KKR-Match-5-IPL1.jpg", "alt_img": "Images for CSK VS KKR", "alt_title": " IPL 2018: Billings, Watson help CSK pull off heist against KKR", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": " IPL 2018: Billings, Watson help CSK pull off heist against KKR", "seo_desc": "Check out IPL 2018: Billings, Watson help CSK pull off heist against KKR on Cricketnmore.com", "seo_keywords": "IPL 2018, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders", "tag": "", "tagging": "IPL 2018,Chennai Super Kings,Kolkata Knight Riders,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "ipl-2018-billings-watson-help-csk-pull-off-heist-against-kkr", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2377", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2018-04-11 01:03:49", "updated": "2018-09-06 13:04:26", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": null, "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2018-04-11 01:03:49", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2018-04-11 01:03:49", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/ipl-2018-billings-watson-help-csk-pull-off-heist-against-kkr-36870" }