Indian Premier League 2023 is currently in the middle of the group stage games. And we have already seen so many ups and downs. After many low-scoring games, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings played a high-scoring game where 416 runs were scored in two innings. But this was not the high-scoring game of this season.
Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 444 runs at Chinnaswamy Stadium. CSK batted first to set a target of 227 for the hosts. RCB came close to the target after fifties from Faf and Maxwell but fell short of just 8 runs.
Throughout the 15 seasons of the IPL, there were 16 games where more than 425 runs were scored in a single game and three where the mark of 450 runs was breached. But it was the game between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals where both teams scored 469 runs. Let’s return to the memory lane to shed light on the highest-scoring IPL game ever played.
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CSK vs RR – Match Details
It was the third season of the IPL. The 32nd game between CSK and RR was scheduled at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The hosts, CSK, had won just three of their first 8 games, while RR had an extra win in the same number of games. CSK was coming from a win against Royal Challengers Bangalore by 5 wickets. On the other hand, RR had suffered a defeat of 67 runs at the hands of Delhi Daredevils.
This was CSK’s chance for redemption after losing their away game against RR by 17 runs. For CSK, their opening batter Murali Vijay was in the form. But they had never gone past the 200 runs in this season. RR had already played a 200-plus game against Mumbai Indians, losing by just 4 runs. Yusuf Pathan had scored a century in that game yet fell short of the 213 runs target.
Both teams were looking to secure a playoff spot at this tournament stage, so this match was crucial for their chances of making it to the knockout stages. The Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to bat first, putting the Rajasthan Royals in the position of having to chase a target.
CSK – Set up a huge target of 247
In the scorching heat of Chennai, CSK started the innings with Matthew Hayden and Murali Vijay. The openers set the tone by putting a 62-run partnership in just 6 overs. Hayden was the first to return to the dugout after scoring 34 runs in 21 deliveries. Vijay continued his innings with Suresh Raina. Just when the lefty-righty combination was working well for CSK, RR skipper, Shane Warne sent Raina back to the pavilion for 13. This actually proved to be the best thing that happened to CSK.
The departure of Raina opened the door for another left-hander Albie Morkel. In 11 overs, CSK scored 97 runs for the loss of two wickets. At this point of the game, both batters decided to hammer the RR bowling attack. Vijay opened his muscles using the RR bowlers' pace, whereas Morkel went for his trademark slogging. Vijay registered his fifty by hitting Warne for a six. The duo added 73 runs in the next four overs to take CSK to 170 in 15 overs.
The 16th over from Sumit Narwal resulted in the costliest over of the game. Both Vijay and Morkel hit 2 sixes each to take out 26 runs in Narwal’s over. Vijay reached the three-digit mark by hitting Shane Watson for a classic straight drive in the 18th over. The duo had a stand of 152 runs in 11 overs. RR managed to take three wickets in the final over, but the damage was already done. Murali Vijay scored 127 runs off 56 balls. His inning included 8 boundaries and 11 sixes. While Morkel’s 62 off 34 balls came with 5 sixes. The Chennai storm stopped at 246 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Shane Watson took 2 wickets for 47, whereas Shrikant Wagh and Shane Warne took 1 wicket each.
RR – Fell short by just 23 Runs
In response to Chennai's mammoth total, the Rajasthan Royals knew they had a tough task ahead of them. However, they were not going to go down without a fight. RR openers started the chase without trying anything silly by taking 62 runs in the powerplay. Both Michael Lumb and Naman Ojha were looking in the great touch.
It was the eighth over when Albie Morkel came to the rescue for CSK again, but this time with the ball. Lumb gave an easy catch to Srikanth Anirudha. Morkel then took out the dangerous Yusuf Pathan in the same over for 4 runs. The credit of the wicket was entirely given to Doug Bollinger, who parried the ball over the ropes and hopped across it to take the catch.
With 2 for 80 in 8 overs, Shane Watson joined Ojha. Just like Vijay and Morkel, the duo continued to hammer the CSK bowling attack Between 11-15 overs, Watson and Ojha added 70 runs to take RR to 175 with 8 wickets in the hand. Watson attacked the mid-wicket boundary, especially in the 15th over, where he hit three sixes to Muthaih Muralidharan. But Bollinger bowled an exceptional 16th over to send Watson back on a slower off-cutter. Watson scored 60 runs off 25 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes.
The wicket proved costly for the RR, as Ojha didn’t find another partner on the opposite side who could hit as ferociously as Watson. With 39 needed in the last two overs, Bollinger once again showed his death-over skills by giving just 4 runs. The Royals fell 23 runs short of the target to finish the innings on 223 for the loss of 5 wickets. Naman Ojha remained not out on 94 in 55 deliveries.
Top Players in the match
The Chennai Super Kings put up an incredible batting performance, with Murali Vijay being the standout player of the match. His century was the fastest of the 2010 IPL season and the third-fastest in IPL history at that time. Albie Morkel's contribution with the bat and the ball to break the crucial opening stand and the dangerous Yusuf Pathan were also crucial in setting up and defending the huge total for the team.
For the Rajasthan Royals, Naman Ojha's innings was a standout performance. He played some breathtaking strokes and looked good for a century before falling short. It was an all-rounders game where just like Albie Morkel, Shane Watson tried to bring his team out of the crunch situation. His 2 wickets by ball and 60 off just 25 went underappreciated.
But in a game where 469 runs were scored, Doug Bollinger proved his T20 supremacy by giving just 15 runs in 4 overs.
