PBKS vs CSK: PBKS fights off CSK to restart campaign

PBKS vs CSK: Punjab Kings completely edged out Chennai Super Kings despite Ambati Rayudu’s valiant 39-ball 78 runs. PBKS managed to win the game by 11 runs to pick up important points and return to winning paths after consecutive losses at the Wankhede Stadium. Shikhar Dhawan was the star performer for PBKS with a 59-ball 88.

PBKS vs CSK: The Ambati Rayudu show

The experienced batter had put on a wonderful exhibition of various shots to give PBKS a sudden skip to the heartbeat. CSK was in a damaged position of 40/3 when Rayudu walked out to join hands with Ruturaj Gaikwad. Robin Uthappa, Shivam Dube, and Mitchell Santner were shown the way back to the pavilion way too early. He smashed Rahul Chahar through the covers followed by making use of the loose deliveries from Rishi Dhawan to fetch a boundary and a six.

The skipper Liam Livingstone’s leg-spin was also not spared as Rayudu cut him through backward point and then swept him over the deep midwicket. Rayudu shifted gears when he lost the batting partner, Gaikwad in the 13^th over. He punished Rahul Chahar by reaching half-century with a stylish six over the deep backward square-leg. CSK was found to be back in the hunt with 47 required off four overs. However, in an attempt to keep up with the required rate, Rayudu was caught off-guard by a yorker from Kagiso Rabada.

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PBKS vs CSK: The calm and composed Arshdeep

It was the spearhead Arshdeep Kaur who set the foundation for the fall of Chennai. Even though Rishi Dhawan finished the game for Chennai with the dismissal of MS Dhoni in the last over, it was Arshdeep who started it off. The batters found it difficult to pick the line and length of Arshdeep as he charged from behind the umpire. He gave away only 5 and 8 runs in the 17^th and 19^th overs and was the unsung hero of PBKS’ win.

PBKS vs CSK: Shikhar Dhawan leads the batting department

The road to victory was paved by Shikhar Dhawan. The opener along with Bhanuka Rajapaksa stitched together a partnership of 110-run stand after the skipper Mayank Agarwal was dismissed in the sixth over. His shift from the off-stump guard to the leg-stump guard against the Chennai pacer, Dwayne Bravo was one of the highlight moments of the match day.

Dwayne Bravo leaked a few boundaries in the 16^th over due to the sudden change in the strategies of Shikhar Dhawan. This shrewd strategy helped him to hit a couple of boundaries off Bravo through the off-side in the 16^th over. Mukesh Choudhary was also a bowler who came under severe pressure, as Shikhar cracked three fours in the 12^th over while facing the left-arm bowler.

Liam Livingstone, who is in fine form, chipped in with a breezy 7-ball 19 at No. 4 to help the team to a very decent total on a slightly two-paced card. CSK, on the other hand, didn’t help their case by squandering a few opportunities to give Rajapaksa reprieves and bowling 11 wides.