Chennai Super Kings defeated Gujarat Titans by 83 runs to put a dent to GT’s Top 2 chances but CSK themselves ended their season as the bottom-placed team, something that has never happened to the MS Dhoni-led franchise in their long illustrated history. The last time they got close to the bottom was when they finished the 2022 season as 9th, just above the Mumbai Indians at 10th.
On Sunday, they were pretty close in avoiding finishing bottom if they restricted to 121 or below after potting 230 in the first innings. They had GT on the ropes snapping up 7 wickets before 121 runs but ultimately, it was for naught as a six by Arshad Khan in the 16th over helped Gujarat cross 121 runs.
Earlier, the seasoned Devon Conway and promising Dewarld Brevis produced fifties of contrasting character, laying the foundation for ’ healthy 230 for five. Once the Super Kings elected to field first on a super hot noon, their batters vindicated the call by skipper MS Dhoni.
Conway and Brevis led the charge with a 52 off 35 balls, and a 23-ball 57 on a smooth pitch. But Conway’s knock was put to shade a bit by cameos by Ayush Mhatre (34, 17b) and Urvil Patel (37, 19b), who made runs at a respective strike rate of 200 and 194 ensured runs came at a fast clip for .
The Chennai outfit raced out of the paddock, making 44 in just 3.4 overs, made possible by Mhatre’s brutal assault on pacer Arshad Khan. Mhatre carved Arshad for 2, 6, 6, 4, 4, 6 in the second over to milk 28 runs and Chennai rarely let that momentum slip. Mhatre, who was recently appointed as the India U19 skipper, soon fell to Prasidh Krishna, skying him to in the deep.
But Brevis, who smashed India pacer Siraj for 6, 6, 4, justified his ‘Baby ABD’ tag to perfection, smashing GT bowlers all around the park. The South African played a belligerent knock of his own to raise 74 runs for the entertaining fifth wicket alliance with in which the latter contributed just 21 off 18 balls. It was the CSK’s young batters’ final innings of this , and it might have given a note of optimism for the management too for the next season.
