On Thursday, CSK became the first to secure a berth in the IPL 2021 playoffs after beating SRH in Sharjah by six wickets.
The Kings clinched another comprehensive win to add to their tally for the tournament. MS Dhoni’s men have won nine of their eleven games and are sure of finishing in the top four.
Their aim will now be to consolidate their numero uno spot in the table and ensure they have an extra opportunity during the next stage just in case they falter initially.
On the day, CSK opted to retain their preferred combination of four quicks and two spin bowling all-rounders despite another dry, spin-friendly surface in Sharjah. Apart from that, Dhoni decided to bowl first and bowled just four overs combined between Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali.
That raised a few eyebrows among the fans and experts, but Dhoni and CSK went ahead with conviction behind their moves and were also rewarded for the same. Pacers Josh Hazlewood (3/24) and Dwayne Bravo (2/17) were the two major shining lights for CSK with the ball.
Hazlewood got SRH’s in-form opening batter Jason Roy (2) early in the powerplay, and returned to pick up two further wickets near the end-overs. Questioned by some for his usefulness post the initial stage of games in certain corners, Hazlewood stitched together a spell and ended with figures that will definitely boost his confidence for the rest of the competition.
Bravo also made a telling blow to SRH just after the field restrictions were lifted as he dismissed captain Kane Williamson LBW for 11. Later in the innings, a fantastic mix of slower balls and his stock delivery helped Bravo once again enjoy a wood over the opposition batters.
Ravindra Jadeja was in his element as well and gave away only 14 runs off his three overs. The spinner’s quota was completed by Moeen, whose one over went for just 5. Dhoni would have his own reasons for not bowling more overs of spin.
But it did seem that the decision may haunt CSK back when Deepak Chahar (0/32) and Shardul Thakur (1/37) proved really expensive. However, the work done by Hazlewood, Bravo and Jadeja was such that SRH could manage only 134/7 in their 20 overs, which wasn’t far away from a winning score on the surface, but still less than ideal.
That also SRH reached because of Wriddhiman Saha’s sedate knock of 44 off 46. Saha’s strike-rate was less than 100, but in dropping anchor from one end, he ensured SRH’s inexperienced lower middle-order batters didn’t have to come in earlier than they are capable of as of now. Useful cameos thereafter from Abhishek Sharma (18), Abdul Samad (18) and Rashid Khan (17) allowed SRH to cross the 130-mark.
In the second half, SRH could never really put CSK’s batters under pressure. CSK’s two in-form openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (45) and Faf du Plessis (38) took their time initially but then got going and stitched together a partnership of 75 runs. Gaikwad then fell to Jason Holder (3/27), but Du Plessis held firm with his new partner Moeen (17) and helped CSK cross the 100-mark with six overs to spare.
Holder triggered a bit of a collapse for SRH when he got Du Plessis, and Suresh Raina (2) in quick succession, which was just after Rashid (1/27) had gotten Moeen. But even as the asking rate went above six an over for a brief period, it was never out of the reach for CSK.
Ambati Rayudu (17*) and Dhoni (14*) got some timely boundaries and finished off the proceedings. Dhoni hit that trademark six of his to end the game and take CSK to the playoffs.
Brief scores
Sunrisers Hyderabad 134/7 in 20 overs (Saha 44, Sharma 18, Hazlewood 3/24, Bravo 2/17) lost to Chennai Super Kings 139/4 in 19.4 overs (Gaikwad 45, du Plessis 41; Holder 3/27, Khan 1/27) by 6 wickets.
