A clinical performance in both bowling and batting helped Punjab Kings (PBKS) to outplay Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 7 wickets in their fortress at Chepauk. With a convincing win, PBKS now stands 7th in the points table, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive. Chasing a target of 163, PBKS reached home in 17.5 overs, thanks to Jonny Bairstow’s and Rilee Rossouw’s fine knocks of 46 and 43 respectively. The two batters made the chase a cakewalk for PBKS.
Batting first, Ajinkya Rahane and Ruturaj Gaikwad gave CSK a slow and steady start. stitching a 64-run partnership for the opening wicket. Left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar brought PBKS back into the game with a double strike in the 9th over, dismissing Rahane for 29 and Shivam Dube for a golden duck. Ravindra Jadeja (2) walked back without troubling the scorers.
Impact player Sameer Rizvi failed to make a good impact and scored a run-a-ball 21. Moeen Ali and MS Dhoni chipped in with 15 and 14 respectively. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a fighting 62-run knock to help his side post a challenging 162/7 in 20 overs. Rahul Chahar (2/16) and Harpreet Brar (2/17) spun their web to trouble CSK batters in the middle overs.
In reply, CSK started well with Richard Gleeson dismissing Prabhsimran Singh for 13. But Bairstow and Rossouw showed no fear and played attacking innings to score runs at a good pace. Both batters smashed every CSK bowler to the boundary ropes. Dube and Shardul Thakur found a way to remove Bairstow and Rossouw, however, PBKS was way ahead of CSK in the chase. Shashank Singh and Sam Curran played unbeaten knocks of 25 and 26 to clinch a comfortable victory.
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