Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets on Tuesday night and became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2019 playoffs.
After losing two consecutive away games last week, CSK returned home to the MA Chidambaram Stadium and chased a target of 176 with one ball to spare.
Shane Watson, who before this game had managed 147 runs in ten innings, roared back to form with a scintillating 53-ball 96 to power CSK towards victory. Needing nine from the final over of the game, the hosts lost Ambati Rayudu for 21 with the scores level but managed to win off the penultimate delivery.
Earlier, Manish Pandey’s unbeaten 83 coupled with David Warner’s 57 saw the duo take a surprisingly hapless CSK bowling attack to the cleaners as they helped SRH to post a challenging 175/3.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Once again Watson has bludgeoned the Sunrisers. Been a fabulous innings.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 23, 2019
Historically @ChennaiIPL have been renowned for consistency of selection & trusting in quality & the value of those traits has been displayed today. A lot of teams would have dropped Watson after his poor run of form but CSK didn’t & their faith has been rewarded. #IPL #CSKvSRH
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 23, 2019
Dhoni invests in stocks and holds. Doesn't sell or dump. #Watson
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 23, 2019
Welcome back Watto 😊. I can hear the #CSK fans 😊😊 #CSKvsSRH
— RK (@RK_sports) April 23, 2019
Come to think of it: CSK might win tonight without needing its talisman @msdhoni to bat! Watson has finally answered to his captain’s call #CSKvsSRH
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 23, 2019
Man of the match – Shane Watson#IPL2019 #IPLT20 #CSKvSRH #ShaneWatson #Watto pic.twitter.com/5uQSEpOGpT
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 23, 2019
Rashid cut to size by rampaging Watson tonite
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 23, 2019
Last five overs in the first innings are key. RR yesterday and SRH today – Missed the final flourish and ended up a few runs short. CSK back on track #CSKvSRH
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) April 23, 2019
It's all over in Chennai.
CSK win by 6 wickets.#OrangeArmy #RiseWithUs #CSKvSRH
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 23, 2019
Watto knock 👌👌#CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/ToSgTBCJjc
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2019
96. Hail Watson. Crowd is lamenting cud he not have lasted one more boundary…#CSKvSRH live from chepauk M A chidambaram stadium. pic.twitter.com/yWHZYTc9bG
— Kasturi (@KasthuriShankar) April 23, 2019
CSK become the first team to qualify for playoffs in this season of IPL.#CSKvSRH
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 23, 2019
@ImRaina and whatoo peaking @ the right time at Chepauk! Brilliant shift in momentum through some amazing strokes played by these two! Yellow brigade in the driving seat. #IPL2019 #CSKvSRH
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) April 23, 2019
96(53) – splendid match winning knock by #Watson 👌👏… Welcome return to top form, towards the crucial end of #IPL2019..#CSKvSRH @ShaneRWatson33
— Kaushik LM (@LMKMovieManiac) April 23, 2019
@ChennaiIPL back on track. Good to see Shane Watson in beast mode tonight. That was vintage.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 23, 2019
Top knock @ShaneRWatson33 👏👏😊 @ChennaiIPL
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) April 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/FarziCricketer/status/1120744679677415424
Sr. Watto Strikes! Jr. Watto Approves! #WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvSRH 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/lR6vA2nGT4
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 23, 2019
Well played Watson! pic.twitter.com/cS7WYwuMaq
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) April 23, 2019
Smart Bowler Rashid Khan conducted 44 runs in his 4 over quota courtesy SHANE WATSON
Rashid was showing eyes to watson in 1st over than watson hit 28runs on 8 balls against rashid khan pic.twitter.com/Tc3FUiaRG1
— Muhammad Noman (@Nomancricket29) April 23, 2019
Finally Watson starting to fire, in the latter part of the Tournament. Now for Raina and Kedar to pick up some form going into the qualifiers. #IPL2019 #CSKvSRH
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) April 23, 2019
Chennai Super Kings remains unbeaten at home in 2019.
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) April 23, 2019
The 16 points should take #CSK to the last four in #IPL2019. #CSKvSRH #IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 23, 2019
