So, the first Qualifier of IPL 2021 is done & dusted, and it was nothing short of drama. Chennai Super Kings won the game with four wickets to spare. Although, the way CSK skipper made it look like an easy win at the end might have given the wrong idea about what took place in the 40 overs yesterday.
But seriously, what’s with this Chennai franchise and its consistency, though? They finished 7th last year and are now the first finalists of this year’s edition, making it their ninth appearance no less there! So, let’s have a look at how did last night’s event unfolded.
Chennai Super Kings won the game with four wickets to spare
1st Innings: Fearless Shaw and Pant show in the end
The DC batting saw early departures of Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, but the way Prithvi Shaw played his natural game came out as the saviour for the team (60 runs of 34 balls). After Shaw missed out on a big score, Hetmyer and Pant supported the total with an 83-run partnership. The DC captain’s 51 run not out innings saw the team post 172 runs at the expense of 5 wickets.
1st Innings: Fearless Shaw and Pant show in the end
For the CSK’s bowling unit, Hazlewood provided a breakthrough for his team from the start itself by picking Dhawan and Iyer. However, with a bit of fair luck on the chances received by the DC batters, CSK bowlers would have liked to reduce the score by 20 runs.
2nd Innings: A Gaikwad classic and the timely return of the ‘finisher’
One thing which the DC bowlers perfectly did was breaking the CSK opening partnership, CSK’s biggest success story this season. But the man who came one man down (as Suresh Raina’s replacement) was where they had no plans for. Robin Uthappa proved clinical for CSK batting by providing a gritty counterattack of 63 runs in 44 balls. CSK’s culture of backing players has once again come fruitful this year in the form of Uthappa.
Afterwards, Robin was dismissed by Tom Curran, credit to a brilliant catch from Shreyas Iyer. Iyer’s lack of contribution in batting was well compensated in fielding in the form of 2 brilliant catches and one run out.
A Gaikwad classic saw CSK sailing through the game
Later on, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s calm as a cucumber inning of 70 runs (in 50 balls) brought back the balance for CSK and later on, the cherry was put on top by the Skipper himself, demolishing the best bowler of DC for this match (Tom Curran) with two balls to spare.
It was the last over which showed the significant difference between the two teams. A young captain losing his cool, and the experienced one seeing through his team’s win calmly.
Conclusion
This season, a six on 6 wins for CSK while chasing, and the decision to bat second by MS was spot on. Ruturaj Gaikwad was adjudged as the player of the match for his 70 runs (in 50 balls) contribution. The game could have been an easy win for men in yellow, but they’ll still happily take this nonetheless.
On the other hand, this is the second consecutive last over loss for DC, and they will indeed be gutted beyond words. A dire need for someone like Marcus Stoinis as a batsman and the sixth bowling option. They will ponder upon their mistakes in this game and feel grateful for another shot at the trophy.
With us fans, Pant & Co too are looking forward to their next opponents from the eliminator 1 match up.