This was an intensely royal contest that tested the hearts of not just the players but also of those watching Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings scrap hard in the Tata Indian Premier League 2023 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Chasing 201, Punjab Kings’ four-wicket win off the final delivery packed so much into so little time that nobody could afford to take their eyes off the ball, even for a moment. Here are our takeaways from a thrilling match.
Punjab collective just trumps Conway and company
Punjab’s batters refused to give up under tremendous pressure – from Dhoni’s captaincy, some smart bowling, loss of wickets, a sharp catch on the line and the mounting asking rate. After the bowlers were unable to pin Chennai below 200, it was up to the Punjab batters to make a match of it with a thrilling chase.
The Chennai Super Kings total of 200 for four was built around Devon Conway’s classy unbeaten 92 (52 balls, 16 fours, one six), his 86-run opening stand with Ruturaj Gaikwad (37, 31 balls, four fours, one six), Shivam Dube’s 28 (17 balls, one four, two sixes) and MS Dhoni’s final-over flourish (13 not out, four balls, two sixes).
No Punjab Kings batter made a half-century, but nearly everyone lent his shoulder to the wheel to pinch victory from the home heroes.
Liam Livingstone (40, 24 balls, one four, four sixes), Sam Curran (29) and Jitesh Sharma (21) put Tushar Deshpande and Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling to the sword, collecting 41 runs in the 16th and 17th overs to build on the 50-run opening stand between Prabhsimran Singh (42, 23 balls, four fours, two sixes) and Shikhar Dhawan, the skipper.
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Boundary catch with ballerina footwork
When Matheesha Pathirana, Chennai’s slinging fast bowler, castled Curran, Punjab needed 30 off 17 balls. Jitesh and Sikandar Rana (13 not out from seven balls) stepped up. There was additional drama when SK Rasheed, an 18-year-old, held a catch on the line and, with footwork that would do a ballerina proud, stayed clear of the boundary rope when the momentum made him slide.
Two overs undo Chennai plans
It could well have been a perfect game for Chennai but for an over each from Deshpande and Jadeja. From Dhoni winning the toss to getting off to a great start, from sustaining the momentum to scripting a great finish, from applying early brakes on Punjab’s chase, the home side could have asked only for little more from its players.
In a game that saw 401 runs being scored, Chennai could have done with 10 more runs. Despite the fireworks from the first over to the last, Ravindra Jadeja’s 12 off 10 balls stuck out as the sore point. Though he made up for that sluggishness with a couple of key wickets when he came on to bowl, his stay at the crease will be remembered for the wrong reasons.
Conway class sets tone for Chennai
Gaikwad and Conway stitched together their fourth 50-plus opening partnership to get Chennai motoring along towards a big total. Raza provided the breakthrough for Punjab with a sharp leg-break that set up the first of two stumping dismissals for Jitesh.
Conway’s footwork and timing were the hallmarks of his third successive half-century at Chepauk this season. He finished with 92 not out to lift his average in four home matches to a stupendous 133. He made the gaps in the field seem wider than they were with delectable ease.
After Gaikwad’s dismissal to a stumping, Dhoni’s ploy of employing left-hand pairs worked well. Dube and Moeen Ali (10, six balls, two fours) teamed up with Conway to ensure that the run-rate was close to 10. But Jadeja’s arrival with four overs left slowed things down before Dhoni’s spurt in the end took it back to 10.
Another raucous reception for six-hitting Dhoni
As could be expected, the Chepauk crowd gave Dhoni a welcome loud enough to drown the sound of the wind and waves on the nearby Marina beach. He walked in with less than an over left for the end of the innings but clouted the last two deliveries from Curran for a six each square on either side of the pitch to give the fans their money’s worth.
Of course, the fans would not have bargained on watching a first home defeat after batting first in an afternoon game in the IPL. Put that down to the steely resolve of the Punjab batters to defy all odds and script a great last-ball win to keep the side in the hunt for a play-off berth. It was a gladiatorial contest worthy of a full house.