The IPL has started with an bang in Dubai with the first three matches thrilling encounters. The first match between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings was an epic with Chennai chase down 163 with 4 balls remaining. The Indians made an impressive score off 162 with Quinton De Kock making 33 off 20 balls and Saurabh Tiwary making 42 off 31 balls include 3 four and 1 six. But it was the Superking’s day with hero’s of the chase was South African captain Faf du Plessis with 58 off 44 balls included 6 fours and Ambati Rayundu with 71 offf 48 balls included 6 fours and 3 sixes. Sam Curran got the Super Kings over the line with 18 off 6 six balls. So it was good start for the runners up of last years tournament.
Then game 2 was between Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings was one to watch as it went to a superover with both teams making 157. For the Capitals it was Marcus Stoinis with 53 off 21 balls as they made an competitive total as Mohammed Shami was the main destroyer of the Capitals innings with 3 wickets. Then it was the Kings turn turn to chase down the total and was looking good with K L Rahul and Mayank Agarwal making a crucial partnership of 30 but then crumble with losing 4 wickets for 5 runs with Ravi Ashwin being the main destroyer taking 2 of wickets. But Agarwal hung in there for 89 but couldn’t get the win for the Kings. Marcus Stoinis was the star with the ball as he took 2 wickets and kept the Capitals alive in the match. As the innings finished with the score tied it was time for the first super over of the tournament. Boy did this provide us with some drama as Kagiso Rabada come up clutch with the ball with taking 2 wickets and restricting the Kings to 2 runs as the Capitals won with Pant making the runs to win their first match of the tournament.
It is hard to back up from Game two to Game three but it too did impress. The Royal Challengers Bangalore took on the Sunrisers Hyderabad where Bangalore won by 10 runs. The match was highlighted by AB DE Villers who made 51 and Devdutt Padikkal made 56. Also Aaron Finch and Virat Kohli made both quick fire innings of 29 and 14 to help Bangalore make 163. The Sunrisers had a dangerous batting lineup with David Warner and Jonny Bairstow opening up but didn’t work out with Warner getting run out for only 6. But Bairstow kept up his part of the bargain with 61 but they fell 10 runs short as the Challengers bowlers were too good with young guns Shivam Dude taking 2/15 and Yuzvendra Chahal taking 3 wickets in the win. So that is the big news coming out of the IPL this week.
