Cricket News India – CSK vs GT Qualifier 1: The ‘Yellove Army’ has scripted history by qualifying for the IPL finals for the 10th time. Thanks to an all-round performance by Chennai, that table-toppers Gujarat Titans succumbed in the crucial Qualifier 1 fixture. The match unfolded with CSK batting first & posting a decent 172-run total on board.
CSK openers Devon Conway & Ruturaj Gaikwad provided their team with a stable start by registering an 87-run stand for the opening wicket. Gaikwad was the aggressor by scoring 60 runs in 44 balls with seven fours & one six. While Conway played a supportive knock & could manage just 40 runs in 34 balls at Chepauk’s slow pitch. But after their dismissals, there was a collapse for Chennai as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Their middle order couldn’t set the momentum right with Shivam Dube dispersing for just 1 run while Rahane (17) & Rayudu (17) failed to convert their start into good scores. In the end, Jadeja’s 22 off 16 balls & Moeen’s 9 runs off 6 balls, helped CSK to end their innings at 172 runs. For Titans Shami (2-28) & Mohit Sharma (2-31) were the pick of the bowlers as they scalped two wickets by conceeding a few runs.
CSK’s bowlers rattled Gujarat’s in-form batting order
In reply, the Titans got off to a poor start as they lost their opener Wriddhiman Saha (12) & Hardik Pandya (8) in the powerplay overs, reducing Titans to 41-2 in 5.5 overs. Saha lost his wicket to in-form Deepak Chahar while Theekshana got the better of Hardik Pandya. Then came Dasun Shanaka & Shubman Gill for Gujarat’s rescue & the duo stitched a crucial 31-run stand but couldn’t get going as Theekshana struck again to send Shanaka back to the pavilion. Last match’s centurion Shubman Gill fought a lone battle by amassing 42 runs off 38 balls with four fours & one six. But Theekshana struck again to send him back in the 14th over reducing GT to 88-5. Wickets kept tumbling with Miller (4), and Tewatia (3) getting dismissed early in the run-chase.
Then came Vijay Shankar & Rashid Khan for Gujarat’s rescue by playing some meaty shots & getting Gujarat back into the game. Rashid scored 30 runs off 15 balls while Vijay Shankar scored 14 runs off 10 balls. However, they got dismissed in the 18th & 19th over putting Gujarat under pressure. The lower order comprising Noor Ahmad (7) & Shami (5) failed to face CSK’s fiery bowling attack & were able to post 157 total on board. Chennai won the match by 15 runs & thereby fixed their position in the Final. For Chennai, Ravindra Jadeja starred with the ball by returning with outstanding figures of 2-18.
CSK vs GT Qualifier 1: Brief Scores
Chennai Super Kings 172-7 in 20 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 60, Devon Conway 40, Mohammed Shami 2-28, Mohit Sharma 2-31) beat Gujarat Titans 157 all-out in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 42, Rashid Khan 30, Ravindra Jadeja 2-18, Maheesh Theekshana 2-28) by 15 runs
Also read, Gujarat Titans Lose All 10 Wickets For First Time In IPL
