DC and RCB managed to maintain their winning momentum, while CSK had a roller-coaster ride
At the end of the second week (Sept. 27 to Oct. 4) of IPL 2020, here’s how the players and the eight teams fared:
CSK slip to the bottom of the IPL 2020 table
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) started their second week (Sept. 27 to Oct. 4) of IPL 2020 with a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which was MS Dhoni-led side’s third consecutive defeat in the IPL 2020 after their back-to-back losses to Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in the opening week. The last CSK had lost three consecutive games in the IPL that was back in 2014. Following the three losses, the three-time champions earlier slipped to the bottom of the IPL 2020 points table.
Fortunately for Dhoni, CSK ended the second week of IPL 2020 with a memorable 10-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) that pulled the Chennai side to No. 6 in the table, while KXIP fell to the bottom of the table. CSK’s Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson shared an unbeaten opening stand of 181 runs during their side’s chase of 179 against KXIP on Sunday (Oct.4). This was also CSK’s highest partnership by runs. Their previous best was a 159-run stand that was shared by Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay in a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2011.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians (MI) revived their IPL 2020 campaign as they clinched two back-to-back victories and went at the top of the points table. MI’s latest victory came against SRH when the two sides faced off in the first match of Sunday’s double-header in Sharjah.
Rohit Sharma joins the 5,000-club
MI captain Rohit Sharma became only the third batsman to score 5,000 or more runs in the IPL after his compatriots Virat Kohli of RCB and Suresh Raina of CSK. Rohit achieved the landmark during MI’s IPL 2020 clash against RCB in Abu Dhabi last week. With 5,502 runs at an average of 37.19, Kohli is the leading run-scorer at the IPL with Raina in second place, having scored 5,368 runs at 33.34. While Rohit and Raina have scored a century each in the IPL, Kohli has five hundreds to his name.
Rajasthan Royals register highest-ever successful chase in IPL
The second week of IPL 2020 kick-started with a thriller between RR and KXIP in Sharjah. KXIP openers Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul put up an excellent 183-run stand and that boosted KXIP to 223 runs in 20 overs. En route, Mayank also recorded his maiden IPL hundred, which was his overall second T20 century. In the second innings, KXIP pacer Sheldon Cottrell dismissed big-hitter Jos Buttler in the third over to give the Punjab side a great start.
However, the likes of Steven Smith and Sanju Samson took charge of RR’s chase in the middle overs before Rahul Tewatia produced a cameo. The Uttar Pradesh batsman scored only 17 runs off his first 23 balls, but the tables turned when Cottrell came to bowl the 18th over and Tewatia was on strike. The RR batsman smashed Cottrell for four sixes before adding another end and bagged 30 runs off that over. RR registered the record chase with three balls and four wickets to spare.
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Second Super Over of IPL 2020
The second match of week 2, which was against RCB and MI, saw the second Super Over of IPL 2020. Half-centuries from Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch powered RCB to a great start in the first innings. Later in the innings, RCB’s wicketkeeper-batsman AB de Villiers also scored a fifty as he remained unbeaten on 55 from 24 balls. His knock was inclusive of four sixes and four boundaries. Shivam Duba scored a quick-fire 10-ball 27, including three sixes and a four as RCB posted 201 for 3 in 20 overs. In the second innings, MI had a poor start as they lost three wickets inside seven overs, including Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal for a two-ball duck.
Ishan Kishan was the best batsman for MI on the day, but he could not finish the job as he got out for a heartbreaking 99 from 58 balls. He was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the final over before Pollard smashed the final delivery for a four and the scores ended on a tie. That led to the season’s second Super Over. While Ishan refused to come out to bat because he was physically and mentally exhausted, Hardik Pandya and Pollard walked out to the crease as MI batted first in the Super Over. MI set a target of eight for RCB. AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli sealed the match for RCB with a successful Super Over.
What’s next in IPL 2020?
RR, who started IPL 2020 with two wins, have now suffered losses in two back-to-back matches. Their latest loss came against RCB on Saturday. RR managed to put up only 154 runs in 20 overs before RCB chased it down comfortably with five balls to spare, courtesy of half-centuries from Padikkal and Kohli. RR have their all-rounder Ben Stokes back in the squad. The English player currently is undergoing the mandatory quarantine but is expected to join them for their match against SRH this week. His addition will be a major boost to Smith’s side.
The next week of IPL 2020 will see RCB take on DC and it will be an interesting encounter between the teams that are yet to win the IPL but are looking good at present. Having played four matches each, both DC and RCB have won three each. Whoever wins the match on Monday (Oct. 5) will replace MI as the table-toppers.
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