Chennai Super Kings scored 212/3 in 20 overs, where as Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 134 in 18.5 overs.
So, finally Chennai Super Kings beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 78 runs.
Chennai Super Kings reclaimed their winning momentum and secured a playoff spot in the standings with a commanding 78-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground.
Spearheading the triumphant charge was captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who narrowly missed out on back-to-back IPL centuries.
Gaikwad’s impressive knock of 98 runs off 54 balls was complemented by a stellar 107-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell, whose brisk 52 off 32 balls showcased his newfound batting prowess.
Posting a formidable total of 212 runs, CSK then showcased astute bowling led by Tushar Deshpande, who claimed 4 wickets for 27 runs, leaving SRH winless in five encounters at Chepauk.
The decisive factor: The Middle Overs
While Gaikwad and Mitchell dominated the middle overs (7-15) for CSK, SRH struggled to keep pace, scoring just over half the runs despite having Heinrich Klaasen at the crease.
This discrepancy was largely attributed to SRH’s early setbacks, courtesy of Deshpande’s three wickets in the Power Play, coupled with CSK’s adept understanding of the pitch conditions and strategic utilization of the ground’s dimensions as a tactical advantage.
| CSK | SRH | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 98/1 | 56/2 |
| Run-Rate | 10.88 | 6.22 |
| 4s/6s | 8 and 4 | 2 and 1 |
Chennai Super Kings:
Power Play: Gaikwad shines, while others struggle
CSK got off to a steady start with a score of 50/1 [RR: 8.33, 4s/6s: 8/0].
Despite Ruturaj Gaikwad’s impressive innings of 33 runs off 17 balls, which included six boundaries, the partnership between him and Ajinkya Rahane, followed by Daryl Mitchell, only managed to accumulate 17 runs off 19 balls.
Rahane continued his challenging season by falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the seventh time, while Mitchell struggled to score, managing only 6 runs off 7 balls during the Power Play.
Middle Overs: Gaikwad and Mitchell accelerate the scoring
CSK surged to 98/1 [RR: 10.88, 4s/6s: 8/4] as Gaikwad and Mitchell upped the ante in the middle overs.
After a slow start with just two fours in the first two post-Power Play overs, the duo took on the opposition bowlers.
Mitchell welcomed Pat Cummins with a six, and Shahbaz Ahmed was dispatched for consecutive fours.
Mitchell reached his maiden IPL fifty off 29 deliveries but fell soon after, ending their fruitful partnership of 107 runs.
Gaikwad continued to anchor the innings, reaching 80 off 43 balls with a flurry of boundaries and sixes.
Death Overs: Gaikwad falls short of consecutive centuries
CSK reached 64/1 [RR: 12.80, 4s/6s: 4/4] in the death overs, with Gaikwad leading the charge.
Despite scoring two fours off Cummins in the 16th over and reaching 89 off 46 balls, Gaikwad faced limited deliveries in the following overs and managed only four runs.
Shivam Dube took over the hitting duties, smashing boundaries off T. Natarajan and Cummins.
Jaydev Unadkat bowled an excellent penultimate over, conceding just 8 runs.
Gaikwad, fatigued, mistimed a slower ball to fall for 98 runs, but CSK’s former captain ensured a strong finish with a boundary off his first ball.
Dube added another six before CSK concluded their innings at 212.
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Power Play: Deshpande strikes early blows
SRH faced early setbacks, reaching 53/3 [RR: 8.83, 4s/6s: 5/2] in the Power Play.
Despite a promising start with Travis Head hitting a boundary off the first ball, Tushar Deshpande bounced back, claiming two crucial wickets.
Head was dismissed after slicing a wide, slower ball, while Impact Substitute Anmolpreet Singh departed for a golden duck.
Aiden Markram managed to find boundaries, but Deshpande’s third wicket restricted SRH to their second lowest Power Play total of the season.
Middle Overs: CSK restrict SRH’s progress
SRH struggled to accelerate in the middle overs, reaching 56/2 [RR: 6.22, 4s/6s: 2/1].
Despite facing challenges with a wet ball, SRH could only manage a run-a-ball rate, with limited boundaries.
Ravindra Jadeja and Matheesha Pathirana claimed wickets, while Shardul Thakur utilized wide lines to thwart SRH’s attempts to score freely.
The pitch conditions, coupled with CSK’s strategic bowling, stifled SRH’s momentum.
Death Overs: SRH falter, conceding ground in NRR
Despite chasing a daunting target, SRH failed to make an impact in the death overs, reaching 25/5 [RR: 7.14, 4s/6s: 2/1].
As they aimed to improve their Net Run Rate, Heinrich Klaasen, Abdul Samad, and Pat Cummins fell to the bowling prowess of Pathirana, Thakur, and Deshpande respectively.
Mustafizur Rahman claimed the final two wickets as SRH were bowled out with seven balls to spare.
What’s next for the teams?
CSK wraps up their three-match home stretch as they face Punjab Kings on May 1.
SRH will then return home to host the table-topping Rajasthan Royals on the following day.
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