A day after 986 runs were scored in the two IPL matches played in Delhi (Delhi Capitals vs. Punjab Kings) and Jaipur (Rajasthan Royals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad), Sunday’s fixture between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans felt like a palate cleanser for fans who were recovering from the gluttony of fours and sixes they were served.
In a game that seemed like an aberration in the world of T20 cricket, the Titans bowlers, especially the pacers, had the Super Kings batters hopping on a challenging surface and set up a comfortable eight-wicket win for their side here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Opting to field, Kagiso Rabada (4-0-25-3) and Mohammed Siraj (4-0-23-1) produced a superb display of accurate fast bowling in the PowerPlay to restrict the Super Kings to a modest total of 158 for seven. For CSK, Ruturaj Gaikwad waged a lone battle, scoring an unbeaten 74 (60b, 6×4, 4×6) on a two-paced pitch.
Titan’s pursuit was guided by local boy B. Sai Sudharsan, who backed up his century from the previous game with a fine 87 (46b, 4×4, 7×6). The left-hander drove well, pulled the half-trackers over the ropes and chipped away at the target meticulously.
Once he crossed 50, Sai Sudharsan floored the pedal, smacking five out of his seven sixes as Shubman Gill’s men cantered home in 16.4 overs. The fate of the contest, though, was sealed in the afternoon when Rabada broke the back of the host’s batting in the PowerPlay (3-0-16-2).
The South African had the in-form Sanju Samson caught behind, and three balls later, dismissed Urvil Patel. Siraj then inflicted further damage when he bounced out Impact Player Sarfaraz Khan for a golden duck. From there, the runs just dried up for CSK, who crawled to 28 for three at the end of six overs.
Ruturaj accelerated towards the end, scoring his last 54 runs off just 23 balls. But by then, the damage had been done for the five-time champion, which slumped to its fifth defeat in eight matches.
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