बैंगलोर vs चेन्नई, मैच 35, शारजाह क्रिकेट स्टेडियम, शारजाह, 24 September 2021 - कमेंट्री

WIDE! Way down the leg side from around the stumps. Wide called and the scores are now level.

That's it, Chennai have won the game. Patel hurls across a length ball, on the middle stump line. Suresh Raina makes room for a big heave across the line but fails to middle his shot. It flies behind mid-wicket, Mohammed Siraj runs but it falls away. The batsmen cross. Chennai win by 6 wickets!

Length ball, around off. Dhoni taps it towards covers for a run.

Slower one, banged into the pitch and around leg stump. Raina hangs back and nudges it to behind square leg for a single.

FOUR! Poor delivery, that's too easy for MS Dhoni. It's slow and banged into the pitch again. The ball doesn't rise up much and Dhoni pulls it powerfully to the left of the fielder at deep square leg for a boundary.

Good-length ball, on off. Dhoni mistimes his pull to short mid-wicket.

Full and straight, driven straight back to the left of the bowler. Mohammed Siraj dives and stops it.

FOUR! That should do it now for Chennai. On the hips and Dhoni just nudges it fine and the ball races away into the fine leg fence. Chennai need 2 runs in 12 balls.

Angled in at middle and leg. Dhoni pushes it back to the bowler.

Flighted delivery, on off. Dhoni drives it down to long on for a single.

Hasaranga bowls this one into the pitch and on leg stump. The ball stops a bit and takes Raina by surprise. He defends it a bit awkwardly back towards the bowler.

Once again the ball just stops a bit and induces the false shot from Raina. Raina looks to nudge it on the leg side but closes the face of the bat early. The ball goes off the leading edge towards backward point. He wants a run but is sent back.

FOUR! Dragged down and punished by Suresh Raina. Raina goes deep in his crease and pulls it hard towards wide long on. Devdutt Padikkal should have stopped it but fumbles and it's a free boundary for Chennai.

SIX! BANG! Suresh Raina has hit that one right off the screws. On leg stump and it's the wrong one again. Raina picks it and smokes it well over the square leg fence for a biggie. This should calm the nerves in the Chennai camp as it was getting close.

FOUR! That is poor from Yuzvendra Chahal. Slower, off-cutter from Patel. Rayudu just guides it to short third man but the ball goes through Chahal's fingers and into the fence. He was late into his dive, almost dived over the ball.

FOUR! Now Harshal Patel bowls a poor delivery. This is not what Virat Kohli was hoping for after the break. A full toss, around off. Ambati Rayudu slashes it behind backward point for a boundary.

Nicely bowled slower delivery, outside off and deceives Ambati Rayudu completely. He tries to cut but misses.

OUT! CAUGHT! Harshal Patel just has this knack of getting the big wickets and he delivers yet again. Is it too late though? Short in length outside off and Ambati Rayudu pulls it off the toe end of the bat, straight to AB de Villiers at mid-wicket. De Villiers isn't going to drop those and Bangalore will look to take advantage of two new batsmen at the crease. 24 needed off 26 balls.

It's the cutter again, on off and angling into the body. Dhoni looks to tuck it away but inside-edges it back onto the thigh pad. The ball goes nowhere.

On the pads and this is flicked away to deep square leg for a run. Dhoni runs the first run hard but has to settle for only a run. 23 runs needed now off 24 balls.

Floated, full and on off. Rayudu prods and pushes it through covers. They take one.

Loopy ball, around off. Raina defends it to covers off the front foot.

CATCH IT...Safe! Floated, full and outside off, Raina skips down the track and lifts it towards covers. The ball lands short of the man in the deep. They take a single this time.

Full and on off. Rayudu works it towards long on for a single.

FOUR! Raina is a really good player of spin bowling. Googly and outside off, Raina leans into the shot and rockets it over covers. The ball races away to the boundary.

Full and on off. Raina skips down the track looking to heave over the leg side. The ball takes the inside edge and goes onto his pads. Chahal ends his spell with a wicket, as he gave away 26 runs.

NO BALL! A length ball, outside off. This one nips in a bit. Ambati Rayudu stays back and cuts it through point for a single. It's a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit to follow.

Ali could not capitalize on the Free Hit! A full-length ball, outside off. Ali throws his bat at it. The ball flies towards covers but lands in the vacant real area. The batters take a single.

A length ball, on off. Ambati Rayudu drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Patel hurls a length ball, around middle and leg. Ali stays back and pulls it to deep square leg. They take a single.

A dot now! A length ball, around off. Rayudu hangs back and guides it towards short third man but straight to the fielder.

A short ball, on off. Rayudu stays inside the crease and pulls it towards fine leg. The batters take one.

OUT! CAUGHT! Harshal Patel strikes. Ali did not pick up the slower one and he pays the price for it. Full and on the pads. Ali thought the ball would be quicker and he wanted to use the pace on it, but he completely misjudges the delivery. Ali closes the face of the bat early and it flies off the leading edge to mid-wicket. Virat Kohli settles under it and takes an easy catch. 39 needed off 36 balls.

SIX! All the way! This time Moeen Ali gets into the act. Floated full and on off, Ali gets low and slog-sweeps it massively over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum. Chennai look in control of the chase at the moment but in the Indian T20 League, things can change around in a jiffy.

Flatter and on the pads. Ali hangs back and pulls it through backward square leg. The batters call for two and get two easily.

Looped up, on the pads. Ali stays back and flicks it to square leg for a run.

Flighted full and around middle. Ambati Rayudu prods and flicks it to mid-wicket for another run.

Full and on off, Ali reverse sweeps it towards short third man for a single.

Short and on off. Ambati Rayudu works it towards long on for another run. 12 runs off it. Another good over for Chennai.

Looped up, full and on off. Ambati Rayudu skips down the track and drags his attempted heave over mid-wicket for a single.

Quicker. Full and sliding down leg. Ali stays back and looks to sweep it away but misses. The ball clips the pads and rolls to the leg side.

Flatter and outside off. Ali pushes it through covers for a single.

Loopy ball, around off. Ambati Rayudu stays back and pushes it to covers for another single.

Another single! Darted on the pads. Ali flicks it wide of long on for a run.

SIX! BANG! A good end to the over by Ambati Rayudu. Floated, full and around off. Rayudu gets low and smokes it over the long on fence for a biggie. This also brings up 100 for Chennai!

Short and outside off. Ambati Rayudu pushes it to point. The batter takes off for a single. Wanindu Hasaranga collects the ball and scores a direct hit at the striker's end. Ali was safe inside the crease.

Googly, on the pads. Ali tucks it to square leg for another single.

Flighted, full and on middle. Ambati Rayudu works it down the ground towards long on for a single.

WIDE! Loopy ball, outside off. The ball turns away. Ali hangs back and looks to chase it but misses. Wide called and Kohli is unhappy.

SIX! BANG! Floated, full and on off. Ali hangs back and powers it inside-out over the cover fence for a biggie. He connected well.

Flatter and on off. Ali shuffles across and tucks it to mid-wicket for a single this time. 

A single to end the over. Chahal drifts it on the pads. Ambati Rayudu clips it to wide long on for a run. He keeps the strike. A good over for Chennai. 12 runs coming off it. 67 needed in 54 balls.

OUT! Soft dismissal! Bangalore have two in quick time and they have stormed back into this match. Tossed up, landing full on middle, Faf du Plessis kneels down for the sweep shot but is a shade early into the shot. His bottom hand comes off too as he plays it aerially to short fine leg off the top half of his blade. Navdeep Saini grabs the catch safely as he goes down. 86 needed off 65 balls, game on?

FOUR! Ambati Rayudu opens his account with a boundary. Loopy delivery, full and outside off, Rayudu shuffles across and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Flatter and shorter on middle, Rayudu moves back and works it in front of square leg for a run.

Fullish and on the pads, helped to mid-wicket for a quick run.

Tossed up on off, flicked to the leg side but straight to mid-wicket.

Short and wide outside off, Rayudu gets close to the delivery and cuts it towards point for a run. 79 needed more at the halfway mark.

FOUR! Ruturaj Gaikwad is so good with his innovative shots. Loopy delivery, full and around off, Gaikwad brings out the reverse-batted shot and powers it over backward point.

OUT! Virat Kohli has taken a stunner! He roars in delight but Faf du Plessis asks the batsman to wait as he feels it touched the ground. Nothing on the replays though. It's a clean one, the opening stand has been broken. 86 needed off 70 balls. Coming to the delivery, it's nicely flighted and lands full around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad strides forward to play the inside-out shot probably but only manages to slice it towards backward point. It's dipping in front of the fielder but Virat Kohli reacts in time and dives forward to snap it inches above the surface. The umpires get it checked but as mentioned earlier, it's a clean catch. Can Bangalore capitalize on this breakthrough?

Loopy and full around off, Moeen defends it by getting forward.

Full and flighted outside off, Moeen drags his attempted slog-sweep to mid-wicket.

Beaten! Turning the other way with some extra bounce, Moeen goes on the back foot in defense but misses.

Flatter and on off, skidding away, Moeen tries to defend but it goes off the outer edge towards the first slip fielder.

Loopy and full on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad sweeps it behind square leg for a couple of runs.

Fuller and on off, driven to covers where AB de Villiers made a diving stop.

Slightly short and around off, Gaikwad moves back and strokes it to sweeper cover for one.

Lovely delivery, grips and turns away sharply from around off, Faf du Plessis pushes inside the line but misses it by a big margin.

Floated and on off, Faf du Plessis drags his attempted sweep shot to backward square leg. They cross.

Shortish and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad goes back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one. He keeps strike.

Loopy delivery, full and around leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad drives it down through mid off for a single.

Again the length is very full and the line is on middle, Faf du Plessis knocks it down to wide long on and rotates the strike.

Tossed up, on middle and off, Gaikwad plays late but finds the point fielder.

Two dots now. Fuller one, on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad drives it towards the cover region where the fielder does well to make a diving stop.

A googly around middle and leg, spinning in, Gaikwad gets back and punches it to the off side. Finds the cover fielder.

NOT OUT! Flatter and shorter around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad goes back and cuts it down towards short third man. He looks for a run and Faf du Plessis responds. He races away to the other end where the throw comes and Srikar Bharat breaks the stumps. They appeal, it's referred upstairs but the replays find Faf du Plessis safe.

SIX! Huge! Faf du Plessis is a magnificent Powerplay batsman for Chennai. Saini delivers it on a length and in the line of the stumps, Faf clears his front leg and hoists it over long on for a maximum.

Clever slower one. At 126.9 kph, Saini goes short and on middle, Faf du Plessis tries his best to pull but is way too early into the shot.

FOUR! Boom! A half-tracker again, slower one at 110 clicks, Faf du Plessis picks it up this time, stays on the back foot and pulls it powerfully to the deep mid-wicket. He has knocked the stitches out of this one. 50 up!

Saini goes fuller and on middle, Faf du Plessis drills it down to mid on and picks up a single as the fielder inside the ring cuts it off.

Back of a length, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad punches it off his back foot to the left of extra cover for a single.

FOUR! Bludgeoned. Navdeep Saini speeds in and serves a very full ball around off, Faf du Plessis stays back, clears his front leg and spanks it past the left side of the mid off fielder. It reaches the fence in a flash. At the end of the Powerplay, Chennai are roaring at 59/0, under 100 needed now!

Patel begins with a slower one, full and on middle, du Plessis flicks it through mid-wicket and collects a single.

Short in length and outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad plays it late but finds short third man. It's a no ball for overstepping.  Free Hit coming...

FOUR! Muscled down the ground! Harshal bowls it short and wide outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad shuffles across the stumps a bit and whacks it past the bowler and mid off for a boundary. A slower one picked nicely.

Slower one again, full and around off, some extra bounce, Ruturaj Gaikwad tries to defend but it takes the shoulder of his bat and rolls in the gap at covers. They cross.

That is punched off the back foot but straight to the fielder at extra cover.

Patel delivers it very full and on middle, Faf du Plessis steps back to make room for a big shot but it takes the inner edge and sneaks behind the stumps. A good diving stop by Srikar Bharat to his left.

CATCH IT...safe! Pace off the delivery, full and around off, Faf du Plessis dances down the track and is early into his flick shot. It flies towards mid on but falls in front of the fielder. They cross for a run. 8 coming from this over, 114 needed off 90 balls.

FOUR! Sweetly played! Full and floated, landing around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad sits down on one knee and sweeps it to the deep square leg fence. Wow!

Googly, short and around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad punches it to covers and steals a quick run.

Short and outside off, Faf moves back and punches it to covers. Straight to the fielder this time.

Another wrong 'un, it's well picked by Faf as he goes back and works it through square leg for a run.

Spinning away from the batsman, on the shorter side, Ruturaj Gaikwad cuts from the back foot but finds the cover fielder.

SIX! Dismissed! What a wonderful way to finish the over! Loopy delivery, full and landing on middle, doesn't matter it's a googly or leg spinner, Ruturaj Gaikwad is down the track in a flash, reaches the pitch of the ball immediately and launches it over long on. 10 from the over, Chennai have raced to 35 in 4 overs.

AERIAL! Just short of the fielder. Siraj darts in cross-seam delivery, on a fuller length around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad tries to flick but shuts the face of his bat a bit early. It goes aerially to short third man but doesn't carry to Navdeep Saini stationed there. The batsmen cross.

Back of a length, around off, Faf du Plessis punches it firmly off his back foot to covers but finds the fielder inside the ring.

Two dots in a row now. Mohammed Siraj fires in a length ball on middle and leg, angling in, Faf du Plessis fails to middle his shot properly and it deflects off his pads to covers.  He looks for a run but is sent back.

Aiyyooo...some extra bounce. Slower one, on a length around leg, it grips and jumps onto the batsman. Du Plessis is taken by surprise and somehow gets it away from the splice of the bat. The ball rolls in the gap on the leg side and they cross.

Straighter in line, it's been flicked with good timing to the left of the deep square leg fielder. Two taken.

Full and angling in on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad bunts it down in front of mid on and takes a quick run.

Starts his spell with a shortish ball on off, du Plessis remains on the back foot and pushes it to covers.

SIX! Faf du Plessis brings out the innovation very early in the chase and has nailed it all the way. Nothing wrong with the delivery, just the class of the batsman. Navdeep Saini sticks to the line outside off, it's served on a length, du Plessis shuffles across the stumps and scoops it all the way over fine leg. Fantastic!

Back of a length, on middle and leg, angling down, Faf tries to glance it across the line but it takes his thigh pad and rolls to square leg. A leg bye is pinched.

Saini goes short and delivers it outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad punches it off his back foot to deep backward point for a single.

Short and around off, du Plessis turns it through square leg and scampers back for the second run.

Saini gets away with a poor delivery. A full toss on middle, du Plessis hangs back and pushes it to covers. A dot ball to finish a 10-run over.

Shot, great timing. This shows that Gaikwad has been in excellent form. Fuller in length, outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad strides forward and drives it to the left of mid off for a single. Chennai are underway.

Back of a length, outside off, Faf du Plessis stays back and plays it down to the off side. He lets out a big shout of no immediately.

Uppish but in the gap! Short in length again, outside off, du Plessis slices his attempted square-cut wide of backward point. They cross.

FOUR! Poor length and line. Short and wide outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad attacks it with all his power and slaps it through the line. It drops in front of the point fielder and bounces over him to go to the fence.

On a length and closer to off, Ruturaj Gaikwad guides it down to third man for a single.

In the region outside off, Faf plays late and helps it down to third man for another run. 8 from the first over.