CSK vs SRH Ball by Ball Commentary

6:43 PM IST That is it from this game! Chennai have romped their way to the top of the table. Hyderabad's struggle continues as they stay foot at the bottom of the table and succumb to another loss. The action in the league continues and it is a doubleheader Thursday on 29th April 2021. First up, defending champions, Mumbai take on Rajasthan. That game begins at 1530 local (1000 GMT). While Delhi take on Kolkata in the second game of the day which begins at 1930 local (1400 GMT). Make sure you join us for those games. Till then, goodbye and take care!

6:16 PM IST That is it from this game! Chennai have romped their way to the top of the table. Hyderabad's struggle continues as they stay foot at the table and succumb to another loss. The action in the league continues and it is a doubleheader Thursday 29th April 2021. First up, defending champions, Mumbai take on Rajasthan. That game begins at 1530 local (1000 GMT). While Delhi take on Kolkata in the second game of the day which begins at 1930 local (1400 GMT). Make sure you join us for those games. Till then, goodbye and take care!

5:56 PM IST Ruturaj Gaikwad is the MAN OF THE MATCH, says that it means a lot but he is disappointed that he couldn't finish it off. Adds that the wicket was a bit two-paced. Tells that he planned which bowlers to target and that he cashed in on it. Tells that he wants to perform for his team in each and every match.

5:55 PM IST Chennai skipper, MS Dhoni says that the batting performance was superb and it was a good wicket and it was coming on nicely but says that does not mean bowling was poor. Adds that there was no dew and 170 was below par. Goes onto say that the opening partnership was brilliant. States that addressing the issues is crucial and identifying them earlier gives security to the teammates. Goes onto say that the change of venue and the quarantine period was longer in the last season. Adds that the players have taken more responsibility this season. Goes onto say that they have not changed a lot of players in the last few years and they appreciate the players who are not playing and the only way they can put it forward is having interactions with them and they try to give them a frame of mind where they know they will play a game.

5:57 PM IST Hyderabad skipper, David Warner, takes responsibility as he says he batted slow and takes full responsibility for the batting. Credits Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson for the way they batted. Warner says he hit 15 good shots to the fielders and says those are the things that make or break an innings. Warner admits he took too many balls. Warner says they still got to 170 and were unable to take wickets and it was tough to pull it back on such a good surface. Credits Chennai openers for the way they batted and they knew once they set in it was going to be difficult. Warner says Williamson was going to bat at 4 as that is his job in this side. Warner says it is about being positive. Warner says they need to hit gaps from batting perspective. Tells they are a bunch of fighters. Admits they will be hurt but says they will come back stronger.

5:57 PM IST Faf du Plessis says that being the highest scorer so far feels good but adds winning is important. Tells his partnership with Ruturaj is going well and tells that makes their side's batting more fearful. Faf says he is just looking to do the basics right and says he looked at things he did well last season and improve on the things that did not fall in place. Faf says it was a good wicket and he thought 170 was a touch shorter and tells 190 would have been a good score for them. Tells that it slowed down a bit as the ball got older but says it was a very good wicket to bat. Faf says they have a nice balance. Tells there are 3-4 changes that they can make now. Tells that they have more depth in the squad. Faf jokes he is disappointed as Jadeja is picking all the catches and he is the Superman at the moment. And he is happy to have got a few chances to catch tonight.

5:57 PM IST Earlier in the evening, Warner and Pandey struggled against a motivated Chennai bowling lineup. The bowlers bowled tight lines and did not give many free runs. But a late blitz by Williamson and Jadhav got them to a respectable total. In the end, the total was not adequate enough for this pitch.

5:57 PM IST Hyderabad came on to bowl when the pitch had eased out a bit. They needed early wickets but that did not happen. Sandeep Sharma bowled well at the start but didn't pick up the early wickets. Khaleel, Suchith and Kaul were quite expensive. Rashid took 3 big wickets but the damage had already done by the Chennai batters. The target wasn't the biggest and they had a tough time defending it.

6:28 PM IST Chennai had a dream start as Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad stitched up a century stand in no time. They both were looking to finish the game but Gaikwad fell to Rashid. Moeen Ali came out and played a few big strokes but soon perished to Rashid and du Plessis joined him back in the hut on the very next ball. But in the end, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja stitched up a 25 run stand to get them over the line. They win this match by 7 wickets.

5:28 PM IST End of what has been a thumping win for Chennai. They win their 5th match in a row and with this, they move to the top of the table. On the other hand, Hyderabad are in deep trouble now.

6:03 PM IST FOUR! Raina finishes the game with a lovely cover drive. A nice juicy full toss around off from Sandeep. Raina leans forward and drives it with elegance through covers to wrap up an emphatic win in style. CHENNAI WIN BY 7 WICKETS!

5:26 PM IST Length ball outside off, Jadeja punches it to sweeper cover and takes a single.

5:27 PM IST Full on middle and leg, Raina swivels it to deep mid-wicket for one. Over to you, Jadeja. Just a boundary needed to win the game.

5:26 PM IST Change. Sandeep Sharma (3-0-18-0) to bowl the penultimate over.

5:24 PM IST Edged and away! Low full toss on middle. Raina gets on his knee and looks to slog it over mid on but gets an inside edge which sees the ball misses the stump and go to fine leg. Just 5 needed to win.

5:23 PM IST Bouncer around leg. Raina ducks. The umpire is happy with the ball so no signal.

5:22 PM IST IN THE AIR AND FOUR! Vijay Shankar goes for the catch but does not get there and it goes to the fence. Full on the pads, Raina flicks it but does not time it well.  It goes high in the air and falls away from Vijay Shankar at deep square leg. He charges for the catch and dives but the ball bounces in front of him and goes to the fence.

5:22 PM IST On the pads, Raina flicks it but finds Warner at short mid-wicket.

5:21 PM IST FOUR! Good shot! Raina moves away from the stumps. Kaul bowls it very full on off, slightly behind the yorker length as Kaul follows him outside leg. Raina drives it straight as an arrow and gets a boundary through long off.  500th boundary for Raina in the league.

5:20 PM IST Low full toss around off. Raina pushes it back to the bowler.

5:19 PM IST Back of a length delivery outside off. Raina taps it to point and takes a quick run. The fielder has a shy at the bolwer's end but misses. Raina thinks of two but Jaddu has overrun so just a single. 14 needed off the final 3 overs.

5:19 PM IST Raina moves away from the stumps and looks to pull. He mistimes it and chops it to short mid-wicket.

5:17 PM IST Slower ball on middle, Jaddu glances it towards fine leg for a single. Just 15 needed now.

5:16 PM IST WIDE! The ball probably slips out of Khaleel's hand. He misses his line and sprays it down the leg side. Has to reload that.

5:15 PM IST Back of a length delivery outside off, Jadeja hops and taps it to point.

5:15 PM IST FOUR! That was going to the ropes the moment it left the bat! Shorter around off, it sits well for Jadeja. He pulls it from the middle of the bat through mid-wicket for a boundary.

5:14 PM IST Well bowled and well played! Right in the blockhole from Khaleel. It is on middle and off. Raina does well to get bat on ball and jam it behind point for one. Khaleel asked the question but nothing from the umpire.

5:14 PM IST Change. Khaleel Ahmed to bowl his final over. He went for 28 in his first three.

5:13 PM IST Raina gets off the mark and keeps the strike. Fuller on off, Raina drives it to the left of mid off and takes a single.

5:11 PM IST Short agan. It is on off and middle, Raina hops and blocks it.

5:11 PM IST Good length delivery pitching on off and going away with the angle. Raina looks to poke but misses.

5:10 PM IST Bouncer to welcome Raina! He ducks under it.

5:10 PM IST Siddarth Kaul is back in the attack.

5:10 PM IST Short ball on middle, Jadeja pulls it to deep square keg and gets off the mark with a single.

5:10 PM IST Fuller on off, Jadeja pushes it to mid off.

5:08 PM IST OUT! It is the umpire's call on hitting and Faf du Plessis has to go! Rashid Khan gets two in two! Googly, lands on off and turns back in. Faf du Plessis plays defends down the wrong line and the ball hits his pads. The umpire raises his finger and Faf du Plessis reviews it right away. There is nothing on the Ultra Edge and the ball is just clipping top of leg on Ball Tracker. Faf du Plessis has to go here.

5:10 PM IST Back-to-back wickets and it sees Suresh Raina walk out to bat! Also, Siddarth Kaul is back in the attack.

5:07 PM IST Review time! Faf du Plessis has been adjudged LBW but he has taken it upstairs.

5:06 PM IST Who will walk out to bat to put the finishing touches in this game? It will be Ravindra Jadeja!

5:06 PM IST OUT! TAKEN! Moeen Ali can't finish the game off for Chennai! Loopy ball, around off. Moeen Ali gets low and looks to go big over mid-wicket. But only gets the top edge. The ball goes high in the air towards wide long on, Kedar Jadhav settles under it and takes it easily.

5:04 PM IST FOUR! Dispatched! Too easy for Moeen Ali! Shorter ball, on the pads. Moeen Ali waits for it and smacks it to the square leg fence.

5:03 PM IST Loopy ball, outside off. Faf du Plessis pushes it wide of point for one.

5:03 PM IST Flatter ball, around off. Pushed away to sweeper cover for one.

5:02 PM IST FOUR! Well, Chennai batters are in a hurry to finish this game! Short and wide outside off. Moeen Ali pulls it handsomely to the mid-wicket fence.

5:02 PM IST Loopy ball, but way down the leg side. Wided.

5:01 PM IST Full toss, on the pads. Moeen Ali flicks it down to fine leg for one. Just 35 needed in the last 6.

5:00 PM IST Bowls a bumper, around middle and leg. Moeen Ali ducks under it.

4:59 PM IST Back of a length ball, outside off. Faf du Plessis swivels and pulls it along the ground to deep mid-wicket. Just a single.

4:59 PM IST Shorter ball, on the off pole. Moeen miscues his pull and the ball goes to deep mid-wicket for one.

4:58 PM IST FOUR! Off the mark in style! Length ball, but down the leg side. Moeen Ali flicks it well past the leg gully for a boundary.

4:58 PM IST Low full toss, outside off. Faf du Plessis pushes it past the bowler for one.

4:57 PM IST Strategic Time-Out! Chennai are in firm control of this chase. A solid partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis have ensured that they should win this easily. Hyderabad on the other hand, need a miracle to get back in the game. Moeen Ali comes out to bat and Khaleel Ahmed to bowl now.

4:53 PM IST OUT! BOWLED! Rashid Khan has his man, but is it too little too late? A wonderful delivery brings equally wonderful innings to an end. Leg break, lands on middle and turns away a touch. Gaikwad looks to defend but the ball goes past his bat and crashes in the stumps.

4:53 PM IST FOUR! Another one! Poor ball and punished! Flatter ball, down the leg stump. Gaikwad gets low and sweeps it to te square leg fence.

4:52 PM IST FOUR! What an innings the young lad is playing here! Shorter ball, on the sumps. Gaikwad rocks back and pulls it to the mid-wicket fence.

4:52 PM IST Just a single as this is eased down to long on.

4:51 PM IST Loopy ball, outside off. Pushed down to sweeper cover for one.

4:51 PM IST FOUR! Dropped and four! Nothing is going Hyderabad's way! Fuller ball, outside off. Ruturaj Gaikwad gets the outside edge while looking to defend but gets the outside edge. The keeper can't hold on to it and the ball goes to the fence.

4:49 PM IST Just a single as this is eased down to long on. 15 from the over. Runs are coming thick and fast here.

4:49 PM IST FOUR! Oh, he is toying with the bowler now! This isn't the worst of deliveries but he has played that so well. Flatter ball, just outside off. Ruturaj Gaikwad makes room for himself and cuts it past point for a boundary.

4:48 PM IST FOUR! Jeez, he makes it look so easy! Loopy ball, outside off. Ruturaj Gaikwad strides forward and smokes it past wide long off for a boundary.

4:48 PM IST FOUR! Dispatched! Fifty for the young Ruturaj Gaikwad! Short ball and he pulls it wide of long on for a boundary.

4:47 PM IST A touch shorter outside off. Faf du Plessis drills it down to long off for one.

4:46 PM IST Jagadeesha Suchith is back on.

4:46 PM IST Loopy ball, outside off. Eased down to long off for one.

4:44 PM IST Fifty for Faf du Plessis and 100 up for Chennai! Fuller ball, on the pads. Faf du Plessis uses his wrists and flicks it wide of deep square leg for a couple.

4:44 PM IST Short ball, on the leg stump line. Faf miscues his pull towards deep mid-wicket for a couple.

4:43 PM IST Shorter ball, outside off. Gaikwad rides the bounce and steers it to sweeper cover for one.

4:42 PM IST Good length ball, outside off. Gaikwad runs it past third man and comes back for the couple.

4:42 PM IST Length ball, outside off. Faf runs it to third man for one.

4:41 PM IST Full ball, on the pads. Flicked away to deep square leg for one.

4:41 PM IST Change. Siddarth Kaul is back on.

4:40 PM IST Beaten! Flatter ball, outside off. Faf du Plessis looks to force it through the off side but misses.

4:40 PM IST Shorter ball, outside off. Pushed away to sweeper cover for one.

4:39 PM IST Flatter ball, outside off. Gaikwad looks to cut it away but misses. There is a bit of an appeal for caught behind but nothing from the umpire.

4:39 PM IST FOUR Excellent shot against one of the best spinners in the world. Shorter ball, on the stumps. Gaikwad rocks back and pulls it to the mid-wicket fence. The ball lands just short of the ropes.

4:37 PM IST Loopy ball, on the stumps. Faf du Plessis drills it to long on for one.

4:37 PM IST Fuller ball, outside off. Pushed to long off for one.

4:36 PM IST FOUR! Oh dear, the fielder makes a mess of it and Faf du Plessis gets another boundary. Loopy ball, around off. Faf du Plessis comes down the track and hits it flat but aerially to long on. The fielder tries to take the ball on the bounce but misses and it goes to the ropes.

4:36 PM IST Flatter ball, outside off. Pushed to covers.

4:35 PM IST SIX! The fielder there is just a spectator! Faf du Plessis comes down the track and smokes it over the man at long on for a maximum.

4:35 PM IST Fuller ball, on the pads. Eased towards deep mid-wicket for one.

4:34 PM IST Flatter ball, outside off. Gaikwad cuts it to the deep point fence for a couple. Excellent batting this.

4:34 PM IST FOUR! Glorious stroke! Ruturaj Gaikwad comes down the track and smokes it inside out to the cover fence.

4:34 PM IST Time-Out! It is all yellow of Chennai at the moment. They are running away with this and looks like going back to the top. Hyderabad have not looked threatening so far with the ball. They need to find a way to get rid of these openers as the only way they can be alive in this contest is by picking up wickets regularly.

4:29 PM IST Googly, lands on off and turns back in. Faf du Plessis is solid in his defence.

4:29 PM IST Loopy ball, around off. Gaikwad punches it past Rashid and to long off for one.

4:29 PM IST Just a single as Faf du Plessis punches it down to mid on.

4:28 PM IST Flatter ball, down the leg side. Gaikwad nicely clips it to deep square leg for one.

4:28 PM IST Shorter ball, on the leg stumps. Faf pushes it to long on for one.

4:28 PM IST Flatter ball, on the stumps. Pushed to mid-wicket.

4:28 PM IST The man who will need to be at his best if Hyderabad is to win this game is on now. It is Rashid Khan time. Can the Afghanistan superstar get the breakthrough his side desperately needs?

4:27 PM IST Fuller ball, on the pads. Gaikwad clips it wide of fine leg and picks up a couple. 13 runs from the over.

4:26 PM IST FOUR! Poor ball and punished! Suchith drops his length and bowls a short ball, on the stumps. Gaikwad shifts his weight backward and pulls it to the mid-wicket fence. One bounce and to the ropes.

4:25 PM IST Tossed up, on the stumps. Pushed back to the bowler.

4:25 PM IST Flatter ball, on the stumps. Cut away towards deep point fence. The fielder cuts it off and keeps it down to a couple.

4:25 PM IST FOUR! Wow, excellent use of the feet and the wrists! Loopy ball, around off. Ruturaj Gaikwad comes down the track and whips it wide of long on for a boundary.

4:24 PM IST Loopy ball, on the pads. Du Plessis pushes it to long on for one.

4:24 PM IST Who will bowl post the Powerplay? Will we see the introduction of Rashid straightaway? It will be spin but not Rashid. It will be Jagadeesha Suchith!

4:22 PM IST Serves a length ball, outside off. Gaikwad offers the full face of his bat and pushes it to cover. Chennai end the Powerplay at 50/0. Good start to the chase.

4:21 PM IST Excellent batting this. Punish the poor ball and nudge the good ones for runs. Length ball, on the pads. Faf clips it to deep square leg for one. 50 up for Chennai.

4:21 PM IST A touch fuller, on the pads. Gaikwad clips it to deep mid-wicket for one.

4:21 PM IST Just a single as this eased down to long on.

4:20 PM IST Slower length ball, outside off. Faf du Plessis pushes it uppishly towards mid off.

4:19 PM IST FOUR! Sublime timing by the man in form! Length ball, wide outside off. Faf du Plessis seems to be in a hurry to finish the game and crashes it past mid off for a boundary.

4:19 PM IST Change in bowling. Change of ends for Sandeep Sharma as he will bowl, the final over of the Powerplay.

4:18 PM IST Gaikwad charges down the track. Kaul sees it and bangs it short on middle. Ruturaj pulls it away from deep mid-wicket and gets a couple to finish the over. Another expensive over. 12 from Kaul's first!

4:17 PM IST Now smartly follows the boundary with a single. On middle, du Plessis turns it to the on side for a run.

4:17 PM IST FOUR! Supreme from Faf du Plessis! Good length ball around off, Faf creates some room. He punches it between mid off and cover to get the gap and send it to the fence.  Shot of a man in supreme form.

4:16 PM IST Good running! Another full ball on middle, Gaikwad taps it in front of mid on and calls for a quick run. Ruturaj has to run around the bowler. Williamson charges to the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.

4:15 PM IST Full on middle, Gaikwad defends it to the left of mid on. Too close to the fielder and hence Gaikwad says no to Faf's ask for a run.

4:14 PM IST FOUR! Not the welcome Kaul would have wanted! Kaul starts with a good length ball around off, Gaikwad opens the face of the bat in the last minute and places it between keeper and short third man for a boundary. Runs coming easily for Chennai at the minute.

4:13 PM IST Change. Siddarth Kaul is in the attack now.

4:12 PM IST Around off, Gaikwad strokes it to sweeper cover and keeps the strike. Another 10 run over from Khaleel. Tough start for him so far. Chennai are off to a very good start.

4:11 PM IST Is that a run out? The umpire has gone upstairs to confirm it. Faf du Plessis is well inside the crease here.

4:12 PM IST NOT OUT! Faf du Plesssis is in! Excellent work from Williamson though. Length ball around off, Faf taps it to cover and takes a run. The fielder scores a direct hit at the bowler's end. The ball deflects off the stump. Williamson shows razor-sharp reflex as he dives and saves the ball to go to the fence.

4:10 PM IST Length delivery on middle, Faf turns it to mid on.

4:10 PM IST Back of a length delivery on off, Faf hops and chops his punch to the side of the pitch on the off side.

4:09 PM IST EDGED AND FOUR! Slower ball around off, Faf looks to play it fine to third man. He though is surprised by the lack of pace on it. He gets it where he wanted to but off the edge. It goes away from diving Bairstow and to the third man fence.

4:08 PM IST FOUR! Faf continues his rich vein of form and Khaleel continues to leak runs from the other end. Slightly short and wide, enough for a man in form to punish. Faf du Plessis slams it through point for a boundary.

4:07 PM IST Length ball on middle, Gaikwad defends it back to the bowler. 6 off the over. Chennai are off to a steady start. 21/0 in the first three.

4:06 PM IST Full around off, Faf knocks it to long on for one.

4:06 PM IST Good shot for one. Length ball on off, Gaikwad punches it to the right of mid on for one.

4:05 PM IST Fullish on off, Gaikwad pushes it to mid off.

4:05 PM IST EDGED AND FOUR! WOW! How lucky is Gaikwad and how unlucky are Hyderabad? Gaikwad moves away from his stumps. Sandeep follows him and bowls it outside leg. Gaikwad looks to drive it through mid off but gets an outside edge. it goes past the leg stump, wrongfoots Bairstow and goes to the third man fence.

4:04 PM IST Full on middle, Sandeep glances it to short mid-wicket.

4:03 PM IST Slower ball to finish the over. It is outside off and away from Faf. He swings but connects with nothing. Expensive start for Khaleel. 10 off his first and no movement for him either.

4:02 PM IST FOUR! Finally Faf gets a boundary! He charges down the track and takes this back of a length ball as a length ball and thwarts it over extra cover for a boundary

4:01 PM IST Back of a length delivery around off, Faf punches it away from sweeper cover and gets another couple.

4:01 PM IST Mistimed from Faf and now this will excite Khaleel! Back of a length delivery on middle, it jags back in. Faf pulls it awkwardly but away from short mid-wicket. Kane Williamson runs and stops it before the ropes with a slide. Faf gets another two.

4:00 PM IST Back of a length delivery around off. Faf punches it sweetly to the right of sweeper cover. Rashid there sweeps it up. Du Plessis gets two but he will be happy with the timing he is getting.

3:59 PM IST Khaleel starts with a fuller ball around off, Faf chops his drive to mid off.

3:59 PM IST Dot to finish the over. Tidy start just 5 from it. The last ball is fuller on off, Gaikwad drives it straight to Vijay Shankar at short extra cover.

3:59 PM IST Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Khaleel Ahmed!

3:57 PM IST Outswinger but this does too much. It keeps going away from outside off. Left alone by Ruturaj and wided by the umpire.

3:57 PM IST Good effort from Vijay Shankar but cannot stop Faf from getting off the mark. Fuller on off, du Plessis drives it right off the meat, indicating how good a touch he is in. It is to the right of short extra cover. Vijay Shankar there dives but parries it to mid off for one.

3:56 PM IST Length delivery on off, Gaikwad strokes it to sweeper cover and gets to the other end.

3:56 PM IST Length ball around off, Gaikwad pushes it to mid off.

3:55 PM IST Good length delivery on off, Gaikwad blocks it to mid on.

3:55 PM IST Inswing for Sandeep Sharma to begin with. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Chennai are up and running straightaway. It is on middle, Gaikwad flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace.