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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ended their losing streak with a convincing win by 23 runs over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai. Defending champions CSK got their first points in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season, thanks to a storm of sixes by Robin Uthappa, Shivam Dube followed by a four-wicket haul from Maheesh Theekshana.
Theekshana magic in powerplay
The run chase barely looked on track with skipper Faf du Plessis getting out after scoring just eight runs. Du Plessis became Theekshana's first victim of the day. Former skippper Virat Kohli failed to make an impact in the run chase as he became Mukesh Choudhary's only wicket of the day. Opener Anuj Rawat could not replicate his previous innings and scored just 12 runs. He was trapped in front of the stumps by the Sri Lankan spinner as well.
A lot was expected from Glenn Maxwell in the huge run chase and he looked promising at the start. Maxwell played a cameo of 26 off 11 deliveries but got out to his old foe Ravindra Jadeja. This was the fifth time Jadeja dismissed Maxwell in IPL.
Some fightback from RCB
Despite big names falling early, the run chase was not finished. Shahbaz Ahmed continued his form and shared a crucial partnership with debutant Suyash Prabhudessai which helped RCB stay in the game. The two shared a 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket. In his final spell, Theekshana got rid of the two batters. Shahbaz scored 41 runs from 27 deliveries whereas Prabhudessai scored an 18-ball 34.
Jadeja got two more wickets dismissing Wanindu Hasaranga and Akash Deep. RCB's designated Dinesh Karthik kept RCB in the game with his 14-run 34. However, in the end, it became too tough for him to pull off alone. Bravo got Karthik's wicket in the 18th over.
Easy win
Tailenders Mohammed Siraj and Josh Hazlewood scored few crucial runs towards the end to help narrow down the margin of loss which can come in handy when net run rate comes into play. Chasing 217, RCB scored 193/9 in 20 overs.
Gaikwad fails again, mediocre first 10 overs
CSK got off to a mediocre start in the powerplay overs. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad's bad phase continued as became Hazlewood's first victim on RCB debut. Uthappa scored just one six in the first six overs as the scoreboard read 35/1. With Moeen Ali getting run out in the seventh over, Uthappa and Dube took their time before going after RCB bowlers. CSK's score read 60/2 after 10 overs. Both batters were batting at just above run-a-ball.
Dube, Uthappa's record-breaking partnership
In the last 10 overs, RCB bowlers were hit towards every possible part of the ground. RCB conceded more than 10 runs in every over between 11-20 overs. With a flood of sixes, both the batters reached their respective half-centuries in the 15th over. RCB clearly missed their start bowler Harshal Patel’s services.
The brutal onslaught continued and Uthappa registered his career-best IPL score. The veteran scored 88 runs from 50 deliveries including four fours and nine sixes. He was dismissed by Hasaranga in the penultimate over. The two shared a 165-run stand, the highest partnership for the third wicket in IPL history.
Dube continued to hit big while skipper Jadeja got out for a golden duck. Dube remained unbeaten for 95 off 46 deliveries. He missed his maiden IPL century but helped CSK post 216/4, the highest total of the season. The southpaw's knock was studded with five fours and eight sixes. A total of 17 sixes were hit, making it the highest by CSK in an innings.
