Chennai Super Kings (CSK) registered their first ever win over Gujarat Titans (GT) and at a stage they needed it the most. In Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 Qualifier 1, the MS Dhoni-led side beat Hardik Pandya’s brigade by a comfortable margin of 15 runs at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on May 23 to make it to their 10th IPL final.
In the run chase, the openers were cautious for first two overs. Shubman Gill then hit Deepak Chahar for a six as the bowler missed his line. Wriddhiman Saha hit a boundary in the same over and then got out next ball. In the next over, Tushar Deshpande was hit for one boundary each by Gill and Pandya. Dhoni introduced Maheesh Theekshana into the attack. Pandya did not have enough power in the cut shot as he got caught by Ravindra Jadeja at backward point. After powerplay overs, GT had 41 runs on the board. The flow of runs slowed down as Gill tried to play the anchor role and Dasun Shanaka played himself in. Shanaka took on his countryman Theekshana in the 10th over as he smashed him for a four and a six. At halfway stage, GT were 72/2.
Jadeja got the wicket of Shanaka in the 11th over. The Sri Lankan captain scored 17 runs from 16 balls. Maheesha Pathirana was expensive in his first over as he bowled two many wides. Jadeja, in his last over, took the wicket of David Miller who scored just four runs from six balls. Jadeja conceded just 18 runs and picked up two wickets from his quota of four overs. Chahar got back into the attack and got the prized wicket of Gill. The opener got caught in the deep trying to take on a slower bouncer. The in-form opener scored 42 runs from 38 balls including four fours and one six. Theekshana in his last over got rid of GT's designated finisher Rahul Tewatia. Rashid Khan went after Pathirana hitting him for a four and a six in the 16th over. After that, GT needed 58 runs from 24 balls.
Deshpande was expensive in his third over. Vijay Shankar started off with a six. Rashid hit him for a six and a four to bring GT back in the game. Pathirana in his next over got the wicket of impact player Shankar as Ruturaj Gaikwad took a stunner diving forward. He scored 14 runs from 10 balls. In the penultimate over, Rashid started off with a boundary. Deshpande had the last laugh as Rashid got caught at deep point trying to slice it. The Afghan all-rounder scored 30 runs from 16 balls including three fours and two sixes. In the penultimate over, GT needed 27 runs. It was too big a task for tailenders to pull off as CSK won by 15 runs.
Earlier, Pandya won the toss and opted to field first. Nalkande playing his first match of the season got the big wicket of Gaikwad only to learn that he had bowled a no ball. Gaikwad made Nalkande pay with a six and four off following deliveries. CSK openers got off to a steady start as they posted 49 runs in powerplay overs. They shared their ninth fifty-plus opening partnership for CSK. In the ninth over, Gaikwad got to his fourth half-century of the season from 37 balls. At halfway stage, CSK were 85/0.
Mohit Sharma broke the opening partnership. Gaikwad played it towards long-on fielder Miller. The CSK opener scored 60 runs from 44 balls including seven fours and one six. The openers shared an 87-run partnership. In the next over, Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad knocked over Shivam Dube's stump for a single-digit score. Boundaries dried up for two overs. Ajinkya Rahane hit a six off Nalkande. The pacer responded with a slower ball as Rahane handed an easy catch to Gill at backward point. Rahane scored 17 runs from 10 balls. Ambati Rayudu got off the mark with a boundary in the same over.
Mohammed Shami came back into the attack and got the wicket of Conway. The Kiwi opener scored 40 runs from 34 balls including four fours. Only 12 runs were scored off two overs. In the 18th over, Rayudu went for the big hit and cleared the ropes. Rashid got his revenge next ball. Rayudu departed after scoring 17 runs off nine deliveries. In the penultimate over, Jadeja hit a four. It turned out to be the only boundary from the over. Dhoni was deceived by the slower delivery and got out after scoring just one run from two balls. Shami turned out to be expensive in the final over. First Jadeja started off with a boundary. Moeen Ali got into the act with a massive six. Shami bowled a no ball but came back well with two runs and wicket of Jadeja last ball. Jadeja contributed with a 16-ball 22 as CSK posted 172/7.
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