Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have stormed into the finals of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a record tenth time after a thrilling victory over the Gujrat Titans in the first qualifier match held at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
After being invited to bat first, CSK posted a competitive total of 172/7 in the allotted 20 overs. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad showcased his brilliance with the bat, notching the highest score of 60 runs, while his partner Devon Conway contributed a valuable 40 runs. Gujrat Titans’ bowlers Moammad Shami and Mohit Sharma managed to grab two wickets each.
In pursuit of the target, Gujrat Titans struggled to keep up with the required run rate and eventually could only muster 157 on the board, falling short by 15 runs. CSK bowlers exhibited a remarkable performance as Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Deepak Chahar, and Ravindra Jadeja, each claiming two crucial wickets. Shubman Gill emerged as the highest scorer for the Titans, contributing a commendable 42 runs, while Rashid Khan’s 30 runs at the end provided some resistance for the losing team.
CSK’s victory was a result of their decent batting and disciplined bowling display, propelling them to yet another IPL finals appearance. MS Dhoni’s side are now one win away from claiming their fifth IPL title.
Gujrat, on the other hand, has one more chance to book a place in the consecutive IPL final. They will face the winner of Mumbai and Lucknow (Eliminator match) in the second qualifier.
