Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings, 18th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

That's more like the CSK we know. They're off the bottom of the table and would hope to kick on towards better things from here. Punjab though sink further. And it's the kind of defeat that can just knock the stuffing out of you. Anyway, that's it from us for today. It's a goodbye from Sagar Chawla on behalf of Vineet Anantharaman, Nikhil Jadhav, Sriram and Siva.

Watson: Nice to bat like that tonight. Felt something slightly off earlier in the tournament, technical thing. Bit more intent on the front leg, getting my weight through the ball. We complement each other well. He's a great guy, love batting with him. With so much experience and success the franchise's had, they believe in the players. Never any panic stations with CSK. Just had to do a few things better.

Dhoni: Did the small things right. Believed in the process. Were looking for the kind of start today. That's where experience counts. It's not about being more aggressive. Watson was looking good in the nets. But what you want is to replicate that. It was just a matter of time that he gets going. Faf is like a sheet anchor for us. He can always confuse the bowlers with shots like the lap shot. They complement each other well. Fleming doesn't get the kind of recognition he should. The good thing between us is that we decide each and every thing between us. It's not like we don't have debates over selections. But it stays between us. Felt the bowlers did a very good job. Felt we bowled according to what our plan was. Momentum with the right kind of shots - I felt Watto and Faf backed themselves to play the shots they're known for. It was very good to watch them out there.

Faf du Plessis: It's coming well. I think the big thing for me it to bat till the end. I don't want to score 30s and 40s and get out. Great that we could get a great partnership tonight. Great that Watto (Shane Watson) got those runs as well for us, he's a big player in our side. I thought in the previous game we were good with the ball, but we didn't bat well. Today Watto was a big plus for us. A lot of guys haven't played cricket, so you hope that you strike form immediately. But when that doesn't happen, it does take a bit of time. Hopefully our guys find their best form over the next 3-4 games. Credit to MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming for sticking with the side. It is a Chennai way to stick with the players more than other teams might even when others feel like making changes. It comes with experience and credit to the management for sticking with the players. It isn't as easy as it looks. (On Fleming getting animated) I saw Fleming, it was very unlike him. Must be the beard that he's growing (laughs). We expect a calm captain and coach, but you want to see that sometimes, it means that he really cares.

KL Rahul: It's hard being on the losing side for so many games on the trot. We need to come back harder and better. There's no rocket science where we are going wrong, it's the execution. When we started batting, the wicket did stop a bit and when the spinners came in there was some grip and turn. If we don't get wickets of the class of Watson and du Plessis, we are in trouble. It's a bit hard to attack as a captain when they are going at 10 runs an over in the powerplay. They are all professional players, so we can expect them to come back better. We need to keep training harder, practising and try to win the key moments in the game. Hopefully we'll be able to bounce back.

Highest opening partnerships in 10-wicket wins (IPL):
184 G Gambhir - C Lynn KKR v GL Rajkot 2017
181 S Watson - F du Plessis v KXIP Dubai 2020
163 S Tendulkar - Dwayne Smith MI v RR Jaipur 2012
155 A Gilchrist - VVS Laxman Deccan v MI Mumbai DYP 2008

21:37 Local Time, 17:37 GMT, 23:07 IST: It's like a CSK from an earlier time. If you've watched them struggle at the top, watched that required rate shoot to 15 and beyond in their run-chases, watched them crash to the bottom of the table, then this is the performance where things start making sense again. Today the opening pair of Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis came out searching for redemption. And they found it in some style. Dhoni had complained of slow starts previously which were pulling the team back. None of that today. Kings XI were denied a wicket in the powerplay for the first time in the tournament, after which they rarely looked like picking one as Watson and du Plessis went from strength to strength. Eventually they finished with the highest opening partnership for CSK in IPL history. Stay with us as we get the interviews up.

Shami to du Plessis, FOUR, low full toss outside off, driven through extra cover. The sweeper gives up. It's a 10-wicket hammering

Shami to du Plessis, SIX, what a ridiculous shot. Slices it one-handed over cover for six. Was a near yorker from Shami and gets creamed by du Plessis

Shami to du Plessis, 2 runs, back of a length at the stumps, swatted wide of deep midwicket. Target in single digits

Shami to Watson, 1 run, full at the stumps from Shami, Watson backs away looking to hit straight. But it flies off a thick edge over point

Mohammed Shami [3.0-0-22-0] is back into the attack

Rudra: CSK's experienced players have proved that "OLD IS GOLD"

Jordan to du Plessis, 2 runs, excellent from Cottrell at third man. They're going to lose this game, but stilll he's throwing himself around. Full ball outside off, sliced away by Faf. Cottrell runs across and dives to save two

Jordan to du Plessis, FOUR, yorker outside off, runs away fine past short third man. Faf reached out to it and got it right off the toe-end. What a miserable return for Jordan this is turning to be

Highest opening partnerships for CSK:
162*S Watson - F du Plessis v KXIP Dubai 2020
159 M Hussey - M Vijay v RCB Chennai 2011
139*M Hussey - M Vijay v KXIP Mohali 2013
134 S Watson - A Rayudu v SRH Pune 2018

Jordan to du Plessis, FOUR, full toss outside off, Faf flays it over point. Now the highest partnership for CSK in IPL

Jordan to Watson, 1 run, overpitched outside off, Watson scoops the drive through point

Jordan to du Plessis, 1 run, low full toss at the stumps, works it to deep midwicket

Jordan to du Plessis, no run, yorker just outside off, jammed to extra cover

Chris Jordan [2.0-0-30-0] is back into the attack