Chennai Super Kings (CSK) succumbed to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by four wickets in a nail-biting Indian Premier League (IPL) contest at the Chepauk Stadium on Sunday (April 30). CSK's batting brigade yet again fired and helped the four-time champions post a huge target of 201. But CSK's bowlers failed in their mission to limit Shikhar Dhawan's men and lost the match which went down to wire.
With Sikandra Raza on strike PBKS needed just three runs off the last ball which Matheesha Pathirana was bowling. Raza held his nerves won the match for his side as he cleared the infield and ran three runs to leave CSK shellshocked.
Meanwhile, CSK skipper Dhoni rued his team's loss and revealed the reason behind the hapless defeat.
“We lost it in a couple of overs in the middle. You need to be aware what you need to bowl and be clear because the batters will be going for it. Also towards the end of our innings, could we have got 10 more? Because our bowling needs exposure, and we should be doing better with the bat. The pitch had turn, there was some turn when it hit the seam. The slower balls gripped. I think 200 was par but we bowled two bad overs. Pathirana bowled well but other than that, we need to see if the plans were wrong or the execution was bad,” Dhoni said.
Devon Conway missed out on a century but notched his fifth half century of the IPL 2023. Conway struck a scintillating 92 off 52 riding on 16 fours and a six. Dhoni did the rest by lighting up the Chepauk Stadium with his vintage avatar as he hammered two big sixes off the final over to help CSK post a 200-run total.
In reply, opener Prabhsimran Singh top-scored for PBKS with 42 off 24 balls while Liam Livingstone made 40 to help PBKS chase down the 201-run target with four wickets to spare. For CSK, Tushar Deshpande (3/49) was the pick of the bowlers while Ravindra Jadeja returned figures of 2/32.
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