First game on Sunday, saw the Chennai Super Kings take on Punjab Kings in a crucial match. The game was played at the MA Chidambaram stadium or what is called as the Chepauk Stadium. Both the teams came into the 41st game of the tournament with loses. Chennai had lost to Rajasthan Royals, while Punjab Kings had conceded 256 against Lucknow to lose by 56 runs.
The story as it happened –
Chennai Super Kings captain won the toss and decided to bat first on what was a warm day at Chennai. The home team went in with the same side, while Punjab made one change as Harpreet Brar came into the side.
MS Dhoni loses his cool at Maheesh Theekshana –
Chennai skipper, MS Dhoni has always been known as “Captain Cool”. In what was turning out to be a key chase, Dhoni was also getting restless. The incident happened in the 16th over with Tushar Deshpande bowling to Liam Livingstone. The Englishman had hit Deshpande for two successive maximums.
Deshpande, bowled one short only to hit Livingstone on his body. Maheesh Theekshana who has been sloppy on occasions in the field, dove forward to stop the ball. The dive though was in vain as the bell sped for a 4. MS Dhoni was not too pleased at the effort as he was seen getting angry at the Sri Lankan. Even coach Stephen Fleming could be seen fuming.
— CricDekho (@Hanji_CricDekho) April 30, 2023
Chennai top order gets off to a good start –
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway continued their good form with the bat for Chennai this season. The pair added 86 for the 1st wicket in 9.4 overs as they punished the Punjab bowling unit. Gaikwad scored 37 before he was stumped by Jitesh Sharma off Sikandar Raza. In walked Shivam Dube who added another 44 runs with Conway for the 2nd wicket before he was out for 28 falling to Arshdeep Singh.
Conway’s 92 helps Chennai post 200 on the board –
The star for Chennai Super Kings with the bat was Devon Conway who posted his 5th half century of the season. The kiwi scored, 92 not out off 52 balls with 16 fours and a six. Moeen Ali (10), Jadeja (12) and MS Dhoni with 13* off 4 balls with 2 sixes helped Chennai reach the 200 mark.
Punjab gets off to a flier –
Chasing 201 at Chennai was never going to be an easy task, but Punjab Kings openers were off the blocks. Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh scored 50 for the first wicket in mere 26 balls. Dhawan scored 28 off 15 balls as he fell to Tushar Deshpande. Atharva Taide and P. Singh then continued the fightback with the bat.
Two quick wickets lost but Punjab mount a fightback-
Prabhsimran Singh was batting on 42 off 24 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. The youngster charged down the track to Jadeja as Dhoni whipped off the bails. Taide, was out caught and bowled by Jadeja for 13 to reduce Punjab Kings to 94/3. The visitors still needed 107 off 58 balls.
Liam Livingstone and former CSK player and IPL’s costliest buy Sam Curran then joined forces. Livingstone led the charge as he added 44 runs in 33 balls with Curran for the 4th wicket. The Englishman scored 40 off 24 balls with a four and 4 sixes in his knock.
Punjab take home a win in the last ball –
Jitesh Sharma who has impressed everyone this season with the bat, came out swining. Sam Curran was out for 29 when he was bowled by Pathirana, but Sharma continued the fight. Jitesh scored 21 off 10 balls with 2 fours and 1 six before substitute Shaikh Rasheed caught him in controversial fashion.
Punjab needed 9 off the last over with Raza and Shah Rukh Khan batting, and the equation was soon 3 off 1. That’s when Pathirana bowled a slower bouncer which Raza pulled over the square leg and by the time the fielders could field the ball, the two batters had run 3. Chennai fans were shocked as Punjab had pulled off a memorable heist.