Chennai Super Kings became the first team to be officially eliminated from the IPL playoffs race after the MS Dhoni-led side lost to the Punjab Kings by 4 wickets. This marked the first time in the history of the franchise when they failed to qualify for the play-offs in back to back editions.
Prabhsimran Singh and PBKS captain both scored half centuries as Punjab chased down Chennai’s 191-run target in 19.4 overs. Priyansh Arya chipped in with a nifty 23 while Shashank Singh aptly supported his captain with 23 runs.
Earlier, Sam Curran braved testing conditions to produce an imperious 88 but a late four-wicket burst from Yuzvendra Chahal, including a hat-trick, kept Chennai Super Kings to 190 all out against Punjab Kings.
Curran’s first fifty of the season (88 off 47 balls, 9×4, 4×6) as he anchored the recovery process of his side from a precarious 48 for three in the power play.
With their backs against the wall, Curran teamed up with Dewald Brevis (32) to carefully plot CSK’s way back into the contest with a robust 78-run fourth-wicket stand and turned on the heat on PBKS bowling.
Until the 16th over, CSK coasted well at nearly nine runs an over when the England all-rounder picked Suryansh Shedge to attack.
The first two balls were struck for sixes over long-off and deep square leg, and on the third legitimate delivery it took a splendid diving effort from Shreyas Iyer to save a certain third six in the over.
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But Curran wasn’t done yet as he pierced gaps on the next two deliveries to get as many boundaries, eventually collecting 26 off the PBKS novice. Curran eventually fell in the 18th over, getting an edge while attempting to duck under a Marco Jansen bouncer, but not before producing a knock of spunk and substance from any batter in the famed yellow jersey this season.
Chahal, who was wicketless until the penultimate over, was hit for a six by MS Dhoni (11) but the bowler had him caught at long off on the second delivery.
On the fourth, Deepak Hooda (2) played one meekly towards backward point while on the fifth, impact substitute Anshul Kamboj (0) was cleaned up.
Noor Ahmad (0) tried to put one away but ended up miscuing his shot and Jansen came in from long-on to complete the hat-trick, which was the leg-spinner’s second in the IPL.