*CSK VS GT REVIEW:*
*SPIN TO WIN AS A COLLECTIVE BATTING DISASTER DROWNS GUJARAT:*
Deepak Chahar went for just three in his first over, it was the sign of a good game coming in for the swing bowler. He dismissed Saha within the powerplay with MSD thé mastermind setting up the perfect trap. While Gill caressed boundaries at will and kept the run scoring on, CSK were tightening the screws. Spin came in the fifth over and did not take long to create an impact. Theekshana got the better of GT skipper as Hardik coming out to bat at 3 for the nth time, failed. It’s hard to understand the strategy behind Hardik batting at 3, he has been abysmal at that position and it’s ultimately hurting GT as a group. GT, already two down within the power knew that scoring isn’t going to be straightforward specially with the ball gripping and stopping. The spin duo of Theekshana and Jaddu, were on a mission to wreck havoc on the opposition and they rightfully, choked GT with spin in the middle. Gujarat were lacking options to score boundaries and singles were all they could get as Dhoni displayed another captaincy masterclass. Shanaka, who was given a promotion today fell to the mastery of Jadeja as he lost patience while Miller lost focus and his stumps were shattered.
The onus was on Gill to up the ante but a comeback over from Chahar with the old ball was enough to remove Gill, who gave a running catch to Conway at the boundary. GT were reeling as 5 had already gone back to the hut. This is where Tewatia joined hands with Shankar. The latter, coming in as the impact substitute, was expected to take on the bowling given this was his home ground and he started on a good note but just like always, his partner ran out of luck and fell to a beaut of a delivery from Theekshana. Now with 58 required off the last four, to be bowled by Tushar Deshpande and Theekshana, Rashid started threatening CSK as he raced away to 15 off just 7. Deshpande was on the receiving end of trouble but Pathirana stopped the run flow in his third over, leaking a mere 4. This was the over which involved the wicket of local boy Shankar and a stunning piece of fielding from Senapati to run Darshan out.
Now with over 30 required off the final two, the CSK bowlers kept their calm and delivered good deliveries, in the process taking the much important wicket of Rashid Khan and bowling GT out for 157. CSK, now in their 10th IPL final, will look to replicate something similar but at a different venue where conditions on offer will be hugely different. GT have yet another opportunity to have a shot at the final game on the 28th but will have to wait for the result in the Eliminator.
*CSK RIDE ON THEIR OPENING GUNS AGAIN:*
Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad, the star opening pair of this years TATA IPL, only behind Virat-Faf from RCB again proved why they are rated so highly. They were instrumental in setting the tone of the game early on, having negated the threat of Shami and then taking on the bowling. They lasted for 11 overs together, judging the pitch well and scoring accordingly. Though Conway struggled for timing at the back end of his innings, Ruturaj was flawless from the word “go”. Out came Dube and out went Dube as the southpaw was dismissed for a mere 1 today. The next two batters, Rahane and Rayudu, got out for cheap scores as CSK began to lose the plot in the middle. They went back for a collective 34 off 19 balls. CSK were poised at 125/3 at the end of 15, with the hope of collective another 60 odd runs in the last five. But Chennai never got the finish they were after despite Jadeja fighting hard for his 16 ball 22. MSD, as per reports playing his last game at home, recorded a rare failure today with a score of just 1, but a 15 run over from Shami proved to be the difference eventually as CSK got hold of a 15 run win. Rashid had a rare off day today as he went for 37 in his four but another impressive outing for Shami, Mohit and Noor would give them the much needed confidence ahead of an important clash that awaits them at the 26th.