Chennai Super Kings scored 162/7 in 20 overs, where as Punjab Kings scored 163/3 in 17.5 overs.
So, finally Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets.
At Chepauk, it wasn’t the home team executing the spin choke.
Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar demonstrated their prowess, clinching four wickets without conceding a single boundary as Punjab Kings secured their fifth consecutive victory against the Chennai Super Kings.
The triumph was masterminded by these spin maestros, who contained the hosts to 162/7, a target easily surmountable under the heavy dew.
This win ensured that PBKS, despite a sluggish start to the season, remained within striking distance of playoff contention.
CSK’s second home defeat further weakened their position in the top four.
The decisive factor in the game was the significant disparity in spin bowling.
PBKS’ spin duo, Brar and Chahar, overshadowed their CSK counterparts, Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali.
Despite facing the challenge of the dew, Brar and Chahar executed brilliantly, particularly during the crucial middle overs, where CSK failed to find a single boundary.
| Harpreet+Chahar | Jadeja+Moeen | |
|---|---|---|
| Overs | 8 | 5 |
| Runs | 33 | 44 |
| Wickets | 4 | 0 |
| ER | 4.13 | 8.8 |
| 4s/6s | 0 and 0 | 4 and 2 |
Power Play: Steady start, explosive finish
CSK 55/0 [RR: 9.16, 4s/6s: 9/0]
Despite losing the toss for the ninth time in 10 games, CSK navigated through a Power Play that had two distinct phases.
The initial four overs yielded just 23 runs as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane grappled with the red-soil wicket, offering considerable bounce and some seam movement, especially for Kagiso Rabada.
However, overs five and six, delivered by Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran, brought CSK 32 runs.
Arshdeep was repeatedly cut away for fours, twice by Gaikwad and once by Rahane.
The latter then added three more fours in the next over, pulling, driving, and cutting Curran to give CSK their first wicketless Power Play of the season.
Middle Overs: Brar shines; bat struggles
CSK 47/3 [RR: 5.22, 4s/6s: 0/0]
Harpreet Brar [2-17] and Rahul Chahar [2-16] orchestrated a remarkable choke in the middle overs, with CSK failing to find boundaries off the bat in nine overs.
This accomplishment is significant, having occurred only four times in IPL history and not since the RR v MI clash in IPL 2021.
Brar dismissed Rahane with a miscued slog-sweep and became the first left-arm finger-spinner to dismiss Shivam Dube since 2022 when Dube missed an attempted sweep.
Meanwhile, Chahar trapped Ravindra Jadeja leg before wicket with a well-spun leg break.
Both spinners maintained excellent lengths, capitalizing on the bounce and turn offered by the red-soil wicket.
This period saw CSK’s Sameer Rizvi and Gaikwad attempting to navigate through the tough phase.
The 15th over witnessed a rare loose delivery from Harshal Patel, resulting in a wide that raced to the fence, amidst an otherwise sensational bowling display.
Death Overs: CSK finds momentum, but PBKS holds firm
CSK 60/4 [RR: 12.00. 4s/6s: 3/4]
CSK managed to break the dry spell after 55 balls without a boundary off the bat.
Rabada dismissed Rizvi, following which Gaikwad struck a boundary and a six off Curran, propelling CSK’s score.
Gaikwad’s aggressive innings propelled him past 50 and to the top of the season’s run charts.
However, Arshdeep’s yorker cleaned up Gaikwad, halting his impressive knock at 62 off 48 balls.
MS Dhoni joined the fray, but Rahul’s tight over saw the dismissal of Moeen Ali.
Dhoni managed a four and a six in the final over but was dismissed for the first time this season while attempting a risky run.
Despite a late surge, CSK finished with a below-par total.
Punjab Kings
Power Play: CSK loses Chahar; PBKS surges
PBKS 52/1 [RR: 8.67, 4s/6s: 8/1]
While Rahul had a memorable day, his cousin Deepak had one to forget.
CSK, already facing an uphill battle defending a modest total in dewy conditions, suffered a setback as Deepak hobbled off with an apparent hamstring injury after bowling just two balls.
Richard Gleeson dismissed Prabhsimran Singh early, but Rilee Rossouw’s aggressive start, including two fours off his first two balls, and Jonny Bairstow’s brisk innings put PBKS in control.
Middle Overs: Spinners struggle against dew
PBKS 83/2 [RR: 9.22, 4s/6s: 8/3]
The first two overs after the Power Play dictated the game’s direction.
Gaikwad introduced spin, but Jadeja and Moeen were expensive, conceding 10 and 11 runs respectively.
Dube claimed Bairstow’s wicket, but Rossouw’s aggressive knock and solid partnerships put PBKS comfortably ahead.
Death overs: PBKS seals the deal
PBKS 28/0 [RR: 9.88. 4s/6s: 1/1]
The final phase was a mere formality as Sam Curran and Shashank Singh guided PBKS to victory with ease, crossing the finish line with 13 balls to spare.
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