IPL 2023: Chennai Defeats Gujrat By 15 Runs In First Playoff Match; Reached Final Of 16th Season Of IPL
Chennai, 23rd May 2023: While overcoming the challenge of 173 runs set by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Gujarat Titans (GT) could only reach 157 runs in 20 overs in the 71st match of the season. Chennai won the match by 15 runs at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and reached the final.
Shubman Gill (42) and Rashid Khan (30) played a fighting game for Gujarat. But on the strength of Dhoni’s captaincy and Chennai boys’ strong bowling, Chennai reached the final of the 16th season of IPL. Deepak Chahar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mahish Theekshana took two wickets each for Chennai.
Chasing the 173-run challenge set by Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans got off to a poor start. Wriddhiman Saha went back with 12 runs while skipper Hardik Pandya added eight runs. Gujarat was 45 for two in six overs.
Meanwhile, opener Shubman Gill tried to save Gujarat’s innings. He took Gujarat to 72 runs in ten overs. But from the other side, Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Dasun Shanka, who scored 17 runs off 16 balls and gave Gujarat a third blow.
After this, the middle order of Gujarat collapsed. David Miller was dismissed for four runs. After that, Shubman Gill’s knock of 42 off 38 balls also came to an end. Rahul Tewatia returned after scoring three runs. After Gujarat lost six batsmen within 100, Chennai seemed to have a firm grip on the match.
But for the seventh wicket, Rashid Khan and impact player Vijay Shankar made a strong comeback in the match by creating an aggressive partnership of 38 runs. But Matheesha Pathirana dismissed Vijay Shankar for 14 runs. In this over, Darshan Nalkande was bowled for zero. Now Chennai’s victory was in sight.
But Rashid Khan stood in Chennai’s victory. He scored 30 runs in 16 balls. Finally in the 19th over Tushar Deshpande took the wicket of Rashid. With this wicket, Chennai’s victory was almost assured. Finally, Pathirana dismissed Mohammed Shami for five runs off the last ball of the match to win the match by 15 runs.
