Clinical CSK ride on Gaikwad, Kartik to complete double over MI

Composed half-centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma helped CSK script a league double over Mumbai Indians with a convincing eight-wicket victory at Chepauk on Saturday (May 2). In a batting innings of two halves, Mumbai Indians lost steam to post an underwhelming 159/7 on the board despite a fighting fifty from Naman Dhir. CSK suffered early setbacks but with the equation not too tight, the third-wicket pair paced the chase well to pick up the two points on offer.

5w9dEjjydXD

Mumbai Indians 159/7 in 20 overs [Naman Dhir 57 off 37, Ryan Rickelton 37 off 24, Suryakumar Yadav 21 off 12; Anshul Kamboj 3-32, Noor Ahmad 2-26] to Chennai Super Kings 160/2 in 18.1 overs [Ruturaj Gaikwad 67* off 48, Kartik Sharma 54* off 40, Urvil Patel 24 off 12; Jasprit Bumrah 1-20] by 8 wickets

Anshul Kamboj struck off his second ball, sending the dangerous Will Jacks packing for just one. However, Dhir and Ryan Rickelton quickly course-corrected, putting on a 58-run partnership in just 32 balls to ensure MI still had a solid Powerplay. Rickelton was the aggressor among the pair, surviving a run-out scare and then maximising as he took a liking to Mukesh Choudhary and Prashant Veer with five sixes combined. He raced to a brisk 37 off 23 before Noor Ahmad made the crucial breakthrough for the hosts on a two-paced pitch.

By the halfway mark MI were up to a commanding 90/2 courtesy a quick cameo from Suryakumar Yadav [21 off 12 balls]. However, the innings stalled thereafter. Dhir held one end up but lost one too many partners to see the innings lose steam. Tilak Varma was in and out in a jiffy - his scratchy knock coming to an end as Noor bagged his second. Skipper Hardik Pandya then struggled to get going. Dhir got to a 34-ball fifty, broke the shackles with a six right after and then lost his wicket all in the same over off Overton. All the lower order could muster was a 150+ finish that felt sub-par even for the conditions. From 90/2 in the first ten, MI could only manage 69/5 thereon.

Like MI, CSK too lost a wicket cheaply when Sanju Samson fell to Jasprit Bumrah in his first over. At the other end, however, Gaikwad laid into Trent Boult - kicking off the third over with a picturesque drive and closing it with a pull and a flick to the legside for a four and six more. Krish Bhagat replaced the New Zealander in the attack and was taken to the cleaners immediately with Urvil hacking big sixes at either end of the 18-run over. AM Ghazanfar was welcomed into the attack with a six too by the CSK skipper, but the spinner managed to break the dangerous partnership. Urvil dragged one - a carrom ball no less - onto his stumps to fall for a 24-run cameo that came at a strike-rate of 200. Nonetheless, CSK finished the Powerplay strong at 62/2.

After the 49-run stand was broken, Gaikwad anchored the innings while Kartik Sharma looked for the occasional boundary or six. The partnership moved at a pace just over run-a-ball but doing just enough to keep up with the asking rate. Gaikwad reached a 34-ball fifty at the start of the 14th over, and then collected two boundaries in quick succession - his first since the Powerplay - to step on the gas at the backend of the chase. The ask was 22 off the last four overs when Kartik took on the returning Ghazanfar - 4,0,6,0,4,0 - to all but seal the two points for his side. He soon completed his maiden fifty, helping CSK swap with Delhi Capitals for the sixth place in the standings.

Mumbai have a quick turnaround as they travel back home tomorrow for their Monday game against the Lucknow Super Giants. CSK gets an extra day off before taking on DC at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday (May 5).