Wriddhiman Saha's solid 67 not out after a top-class bowling performance set up Gujarat Titans' (GT) seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSk) in the IPL on Sunday, securing a top-two finish in the team standings.
Gujarat bowlers put up a clinical show to restrict CSK to a below-par 133/5 despite a fine half-century by Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Saha, who struck eight boundaries and a six in his 57-ball knock, anchored the chase nicely to get Gujarat home in 19.1 overs.
Meanwhile, CSK skipper Dhoni rued team's ninth defeat in the 15th season of IPL 2022 and said batting first was not a very good idea.
"To start off, batting first wasn't a really good idea. The fast bowlers their ball wasn't coming on. That's why the batsmen found it tough to hit. The second half it got slightly better. Spinners I felt both halves it was pretty even. Bit more runs in the middle overs would have been good. Sai bowled really well. We could have pushed Shivam up the order but that defeats the purpose of giving Jaggi the extra game. We wanted Jaggi to spend some time in the middle. I think Pathirana is an excellent death bowler. A bit similar to Malinga. With his action, the margin of error for him is quite big. With a slingy action, he doesn't get a lot of bounce. He has got that slower one as well. We will try to give guys ample time in the middle. I feel it's important to give guys who haven't got a chance to feature in the 11," Dhoni said in the post match presentation.
While CSK were already out of the play-off race, the win for Gujarat guarantees them a top-two finish on the points table in their debut season, providing them with two opportunities to reach the final.
Saha first added 59 runs in just 7.1 overs with Shubman Gill (18) to lay the foundation of the win.
CSK tried to make a mini comeback by grabbing two quick wickets in the middle overs but it was too little and too late.
Earlier, CSK lost opener Dewon Conway (5) in the third over as Mohammed Shami (2/19) gave Gujarat the first breakthrough. Shami’s angled delivery from round the wicket moved away after pitching which Conway nicked it to wicket-keeper Wridhimman Saha.
Gaikwad (53 off 49 balls) first forged a 57-run second wicket stand off 39 balls with Moeen Ali (21 off 17) and then added another 48-runs with Narayan Jagadeesan, who also struck an unbeaten 39 off 33 balls to guide CSK to 133/5.
