Mumbai: Punjab Kings (PBKS) bounced back in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with a victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In his 200th IPL game, Shikhar Dhawan blazed with the bat to score an unbeaten 88*(59) as PBKS clinched a 11-run victory.
PBKS, made three changes – Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sandeep Sharma and Rishi Dhawan. CSK bowlers started effectively. Openers – Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan were under pressure to manage 29-0 after five overs.
Maheesh Theekshana provided the opening wicket. PBKS skipper Mayank Agarwal, was caught at backward point. Coming next, Bhanuka Rajapaksa added a four and a six to take PBKS to 72-1 at the half-way mark. Dhawan creamed three fours as the PBKS opener reached his fifty.
The boundaries kept flowing from the bat of Shikhar Dhawan as the hundred partnership was up. Bravo put an end to the partnership, Rajapaksa was caught by Shivam Dube. Liam Livingstone crunched two sixes and one four but Dhawan remained unbeaten on 88 as PBKS posted 187/4 in the first innings.
Chasing a target of 188, CSK lost Robin Uthappa’s wicket on an early note. The opener was caught inside the circle off Sandeep Sharma’s bowling. Ruturaj Gaikwad struck two fours but Arshdeep Singh knocked Mitchell Santner’s stumps. CSK were 32-2 at the end of the powerplay.
Rishi Dhawan dismissed Shivam Dube with an inside—edged onto the stumps. Rayudu hit a four and six each to put CSK at 69-3 at the half-way. Rabada broke the partnership, catching Gaikwad was caught in the deep.
Rayudu reached his half-century in the 15th over when CSK were 70 less in the final five. Rayudu hammered three consecutive sixes followed by a four. The equation was down to 47 runs from 24 deliveries. Rabada cleaned up the stumps of Ambati Rayudu to pull back the momentum.
Arshdeep Singh conceded only 8 runs in the penultimate over thus CSK required 27 off 6 deliveries. MS Dhoni smacked a six on the first delivery but was caught in the deep later. PBKS won the game in the end by 11 runs.
Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 187/4 (Shikhar Dhawan 88*, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 42; Dwayne Bravo 2-42) beat Chennai Super Kings 176/6 (Ambati Rayudu 78, Ruturaj Gaikwad 30; Kagiso Rabada 2-23) by 11 runs.
