Deepak Chahar’s four-for guides CSK to 6-wicket win over Punjab Kings

Deepak Chahar produced an outstanding opening spell to assist Chennai Super Kings beat Punjab Kings by six wickets to register their first victory within the 14th version of the Indian Premier League right here on Friday.
After medium-pacer Chahar’s 4 for 13 enabled CSK to limit the Punjab crew to a below-par 106 for eight, Moeen Ali (46, 31 balls, 7x4s, 1×6) placed on 66 runs for the second wicket with opener Faf du Plessis (36 not out, 33 balls, 3X4s, 1X6) to safe the win for the three-time champions.
CSK completed at 107 for 4 in 15.4 overs with Sam Curran (5 not out) scoring the successful runs.
With the goal in sight, CSK misplaced the wickets of Suresh Raina (8) and Ambati Rayudu (0) to Mohammed Shami (2/21) in consecutive balls within the 15nth over.
Ali opened up after a moderately cautious begin, and performed some beautiful drives and in addition hit a giant six. He was holed out to Shahrukh Khan within the deep off leggie Murugan Ashwin (1/32) with CSK needing 17 runs for victory.
Arshdeep Singh offered the early breakthrough for Punjab, when he had a struggling Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) caught at deep mid-wicket.
However, the Aussie tempo duo of Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith couldn’t make a lot of an impression for the second consecutive recreation.
Earlier, Chahar rocked the Punjab batting line-up with an outstanding four-over spell throughout which he picked up 4 wickets, together with that of ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle.
Aiming to bounce again after being outclassed by Delhi Capitals of their opening match, CSK bowlers justified skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s resolution to bowl first by decreasing Punjab to 26 for 4 within the powerplay (first six overs) after which to 26 for 5 earlier than M Shahrukh Khan (47 off 36, 4X4s, 2X6s) led a short revival.
Chahar began the Punjab slide within the very first over by sending again Mayank Agarwal (0) with a magnificence which nipped away from center stump to hit the off stump. Chahar stored up the stress and elevated CSK’s woes along with his consistency and conceded solely two fours in his four-over spell.
In-form Punjab skipper Okay L Rahul (5) was run-out by an excellent direct hit from Ravindra Jadeja, who was fielding at short-cover, because the batsman tried to scramble for a single.
Jadeja was within the act within the fifth over once more, grabbing an outstanding catch, diving full-length to dismiss Gayle for 10 to offer Chahar his second wicket.
Nicholas Pooran bagged his second straight duck, pulling a brief supply straight into the fingers of Shardul Thakur at long-leg.
Deepak Hooda (10), who performed a blinder in Punjab’s first match towards Rajasthan Royals, couldn’t repeat his heroics, lobbing a easy catch to du Plessis because the crew slipped to 26 for 5 within the seventh over.
Tamil Nadu’s power-hitter Shahrukh Khan was the one Punjab batsman to make an impression earlier than falling to Sam Curran within the closing over as CSK was throughout their opponent.
Shahrukh Khan and Jhye Richardson (15, 22 balls, 2x4s) added 31 runs for the sixth wicket, in what was one of the best partnership of the innings.
Murugan Ashwin (6) then added 30 runs along with his Tamil Nadu teammate Khan to assist Punjab’s trigger in an in any other case nightmare evening for them.
Sam Curran (1/12), Moeen Ali (1/17), Dwayne Bravo (1/10) have been the opposite wicket-takers for CSK.
Dhoni, enjoying his 2 hundredth recreation for CSK, received the toss and selected to bowl.