The Chennai Super Kings got off to the perfect start in IPL 2019 with a seven-wicket victory against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai on Saturday. The match was almost done and dusted when RCB were reduced to 39/4 at the end of the eighth over and it was all thanks to a brilliant effort by Harbhajan Singh. The off-spinner, who mostly focuses on the IPL, finished with figures of 3/20 in his four overs. ((Full Scorecard))
It was a masterstroke by MS Dhoni to bowl Harbhajan Singh out in the first eight overs. The 38-year-old took up the challenge to bowl with the new ball and made an impact in his second over when he dismissed the dangerous Virat Kohli. The off-spinner made use of the slow wicket and picked the wicket of Moeen Ali in his next over as well. The Englishman misjudged a delivery and presented a catch back to Harbhajan in the sixth over.
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Harbhajan Singh couldn’t believe his luck when Imran Tahir dropped a catch off AB de Villiers’ bat in the eighth over, but in the very next ball, Ravindra Jadeja pulled off a sensational catch to dismiss the South African. Harbhajan ended up taking RCB’s best batsmen in the same innings.
Once Harbhajan had done the damage, RCB found it very difficult to come back into the match and were eventually bowled out for 70 runs. Parthiv Patel was the only RCB batsman to reach double figures his team.
{{/usCountry}}Once Harbhajan had done the damage, RCB found it very difficult to come back into the match and were eventually bowled out for 70 runs. Parthiv Patel was the only RCB batsman to reach double figures his team.
{{/usCountry}}The Chennai Super Kings take on Delhi Capitals in Delhi on Tuesday, while the Royal Challengers Bangalore are up against Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru on Thursday.