Chennai, Apr 28 (UNI) A near century by skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who once again led
from the front and a fine half century by Daryl Mitchell and final flourish by Shivam Dube,
helped home favourites and five time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to 212 for three
in a crucial contest against Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Chepauk Stadium here
on Sunday night.
After losing an early wicket, Ruturaj (98, 54balls,10x4, 3x6) and Mitchell's 32-ball half
century sustained the innings , before opening in the middle phase and impact player
Shivam Dube once again providing the much needed final flourish with an unbeaten
20-ball 39 with a four and four sixers to provide the much needed respectability to the
total.
CSK scored 120 in the last ten overs to give the much needed impetus to the total.
For SRH pacers Bhunaveswar Kumar, T.Natarajan and Jayadev Unakdat picked up a wicket each.
As has been the norm in this edition with the teams amassing scores in excess of 200 and also
250-plus, CSK yet again crossed the 200-mark leaving the job to the bowlers to defend to keep its hopes alive in knock outs.
Asked to bat first, CSK, in a must win game to keep its hopes alive for a play-off spot, started on a wrong note.
Ajinkya Rahane, pitched into the opening slot along with Ruturaj, once again failed to deliver as CSK lost wicket in the power play in the third over.
However, Ruturaj and Daryl Mitchell, anchored the innings after a somewhat slow start, before opening up.
The duo added 107 runs for the second wicket in 10.5 overs with Ruturaj leading from the front and Mitchell joining the assault as the home team, which scored 50 for one in the power play, reached
92 for 1 at the half way stage and crossed the 100 in the 11th over.
The interesting phase was the middle overs and both Ruturaj and Mitchell, helped by the dew factor, scored briskly as the overs between 10-15 yielded 56 runs, despite losing Mitchell, who scored
52 in 32 balls with seven fours and a six laying a firm foundation for a good total.
This set the stage for Ruturaj, who reached his third half century of the season, and impact player Shivam Dube to consolidate the innings in the final five overs.
And much to the expectations of the packed yellow brigade, Dube and Ruturaj picked up the momentum as CSk reached 200 in the penultimate over.
However, Ruturaj, who was cruising well and on course for his second successive hundred, missed out holing out to long on off left arm pacer T.Natarajan in the first ball off the last over.
Ruturaj scored 98 in 54 balls with 10 fours and three sixers and added 74 for the third wicket with Dube, ending up with third 90-plus score in his IPL career.
The entry of iconic Dhoni, who is sporting a new hairstyle, resounded in the stadium with the decibel level going high.
And he started well with a boundary, before Dube finished with a six as CSK ended up at 212 for three in 20 overs.
Having scored 200-plus in the last match, the CSK's momentum now shifts to the bowlers on how they will be handling the dew factor to keep the rampaging SRH batsmen at bay.
Scoreboard :
CSK innings :
Ajinkya Rahane c Shahbaz Ahmed b Bhuvaneswar Kumar 9
Ruturaj Gaikwad c Nitish Kumar Reddy b Natarajan 98
Daryl Mitchell c Nitish Kumar Reddy b Jayadev Unakdat 52
Shivam Dube (not out) 39
M.S.Dhoni (not out) 5
Extras : (B-1, LB-2, W-6) 9
Total : 212 for three in 20 overs.
Fall of wickets :
1-19, 2-126, 3-200.
SRH Bowling :
Bhuvaneswar Kumar 4-0-38-1
Nitish Kumar Reddy 1-0-8-0
Shahabaz Ahmed 3-0-33-0
T.Natarajan 4-0-43-1
Jayadev Unakdat 4-0-38-1
Pat Cummins 4-0-49-0
UNI GV 2140