Sam Billings played a gem of an innings as Chennai Super Kings once again pulled off a thrilling chase beating Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets in the IPL 2018 at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.
Chasing a stiff target of 203, CSK won the match with a ball to spare as Ravindra Jadeja deposited military medium stuff from R Vinay Kumar into stands.
The adventurous Billings, with a blazing 56 off just 23 deliveries, emerged the hero in his first game for the host.
In the first half of the game, after Dhoni opted to field, Andre Russell’s blitzkrieg held the audience spellbound. His 36-ball unbeaten 88 contained an astonishing 11 sixes. He was much like a heavyweight puncher prowling around in the ring.
Here’s how cricketing world reacted to the match:
What a game and what a victory for @ChennaiIPL again. Another thriller. The return to home base has been spectacular. Sam Billings deserves an extended run in the @IPL this year. What a tournament #vivoipl2018
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 10, 2018
Snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat…CSK is making a habit of it. Win-the-Toss-Field-Win-The-Game…trend continues. Unbelievable. #CSKvKKR #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 10, 2018
Bravo the other night & Billings tonight. Story of CSK’s IPL so far.#CSKvKKR
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 10, 2018
Full on Paisa vasool match and it was #WhistlePodu . The crowd deserved the match , the first in almost 3 years at Chepauk. Sam Billings was simply outstanding #CSKvKKR
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 10, 2018
Over 400 runs scored & the Chennai crowd deserved it,having waited for almost 3 years. Russell’s hitting was of the highest class but in the end Sam Billings batted wonderfully under pressure and Chennai have now won both games from a difficult situation. Congratulations #CSKvKKR
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) April 10, 2018
When CSK chased 200+ in IPL history:
2012 v RCB: Ravindra Jadeja hit Vinay Kumar for a boundary and finished the game
2018 v KKR: Ravindra Jadeja hit VInay Kumar for a six and finished the game#CSKvKKR#coincidence
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) April 10, 2018
With 17 required off the last over, Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja seal the deal in Chennai to help CSK defeat KKR by 5 wickets in a thrilling encounter. #CSKvKKR #CricketMeriJaan
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 10, 2018
What a fitting home coming for @ChennaiIPL ,always been a Champion side, proving it yet again, a treat for the crowd in #Chepauk and the people of #TN coming to cheer amidst so much #CSKvKKR #IPL2018
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) April 10, 2018
In some situations, there is no more dangerous batsman in the IPL than Andre Russell #JustSaying #IPL2018
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 10, 2018
.@Russell12A Are you serious?? #IPL2018
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) April 10, 2018
CSK CSK CSK what a match… @sambillings you beauty 👊 @ShaneRWatson33 superb job once again with bat an ball @RayuduAmbati hitting the ball sweet… thanks all the fans for coming and cheering in big numbers #yellowarmy #whitslepodu @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/1uncBIV933
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/MoeenAli/status/983775124808597504
SIR! VICTORY! #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 #CSKHomeComing #Yellove #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/aHmS5xMezl
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 10, 2018
Over 400 runs. Chasing 200 + runs. Last over finish. What more advertisement for cricket and for the IPL. People who witnessed it LIVE have more reasons to remember this match for a long time. @ChennaiIPL on a roll. Amazing victory 👏#CSKvKKR
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 10, 2018
How well @sambillings played to see us through on a cliff hanger game.Thanks ppl for coming in massive numbers and cheering us all the way through.Neenga nenaicha allikittu varathukku nanga mannu illai da malai #eduda vandiya poduda whistle
— Imran Tahir (@ImranTahirSA) April 11, 2018
😱😱😱😱 #ipl
— Danielle Wyatt (@Danni_Wyatt) April 10, 2018
Another ridic game. Good to see the @ECB_cricket boys doing well @IPL @sambillings and @_TC59 #CSKvKKR
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) April 10, 2018
Great to see Prince Harry @sambillings smoking it to all parts of Chennai tonight …… #IPL
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 10, 2018
Yet another exiciting finish to the game for @ChennaiIPL. Credit must go to @sambillings for his brave half century. #WhistlePodu all the way! #CSKvKKR
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 10, 2018
It's just been 4 days of this year's IPL but it's been breathtaking.. Can Sam Billings be the Big Sam for @ChennaiIPL definitely raised the expectations
— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) April 10, 2018
Some chase that! Well played Sam Billings. Superb striking.
CSK looked like they’d messed it up till his rescue act.#CSKvsKKR #IPL2018— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) April 10, 2018
#CSKvKKR another exciting finish for CSK !! Superb Win
— zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) April 10, 2018
We have missed @Russell12A haven't we? Maybe unless you are bowler 😬#CSKvsKKR #IPL2018
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 10, 2018
Let’s give a big whistle to our purple cap holder @ShaneRWatson33 and our MOM @sambillings #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/7NwP7CZixa
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 10, 2018
A nail-biting encounter comes to an end as @ChennaiIPL win an absolute thriller at Chepauk! On to the next one. 💪#CSKvKKR #KKRHaiTaiyaar #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/DitFtmd01I
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2018
