CSK vs PBKS: Raza helped Punjab Kings to clinch a thriller of a victory over Chennai by 4 wickets

 Punjab Kings defeated Chennai Super Kings by four wickets in Match 41 of IPL 2023, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on Sunday. PBKS successfully reached 201/6 in 20 overs, courtesy of brilliant knocks from Prabhsimran Singh (42), Liam Livingstone (40), and Sam Curran (29). Sikandar Raza's (13*) final over heroics won them the match. Tushar Deshpande took three wickets for CSK's bowling department but was too expensive. It caused the reason behind Chennai's loss mainly in the game. Ravindra Jadeja scalped two dismissals. CSK reached 200/4 in 20 overs, after an unbeaten knock of 92 runs off 52 balls, packed with 16 fours and a six. MS Dhoni (13*) also had a late cameo in the final over, smacking two sixes in the last two deliveries. Read the match report of the CSK vs PBKS clash and share your thoughts in the comments.

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CSK vs PBKS: IPL 2023 Match Report

A brilliant start from Chennai Super Kings as the openers added 86 runs for the first wicket

Chennai Super Kings won the toss & decided to bat first. Ruturaj Gaikwad & Conway got off to a brilliant start with the bat. Once again the pair constructed a huge partnership. Ruturaj started off with a boundary in the first over. Conway carried the run rate with some classy shots all around the ground. The pair added 57 runs without losing a single wicket in the powerplay.

Conway smashed his fifth half-century of the season but Sikandar Raza trapped Gaikwad in the ninth over. Gaikwad tried to smash a big hit by stepping up but missed big time. Jitesh Sharma made no mistake and stumped him for 37 runs. Gaikwad did his job quite brilliantly but once again failed to extend his start to a big inning.

Conway remained not out with 92 runs, Dube's cameo and Dhoni's consecutive sixes put up a huge total

Dube who is in brilliant form after a hot & cold start, once again started his inning really well. Conway carried on with singles & doubles, and he also smashed boundaries when needed. Dube smashed some big hits and it looked like CSK will put up a huge total but Arshdeep Singh broke the partnership at the right time. He sent Dube home for 28 runs in the 14th over. Although the run rate didn't drop as Conway played a brilliant inning. Moeen Ali and Jadeja played small cameos but it didn't affect Punjab too much.

Punjab Kings did really well in the death overs after leaking plenty till 15 overs. Conway continued his inning but couldn't get the help he needed that time. It felt like CSK will be able to score 190-195 runs but thanks to Dhoni, they ended with 200 on the scoreboard. Conway remained not out till the end with a brilliant inning of 92 runs while Dhoni scored 13 runs in just 4 deliveries with two consecutive sixes in the last two deliveries. Arshdeep, Raza, Curran & Rahul Chahar scalped 1 wicket each for Punjab Kings.

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CSK vs PBKS: IPL 2023 Match Report

Punjab started in style while chasing the target of 201 runs

Dhawan & Prabhsimran Singh came into the chase and started to hunt the opposition bowlers right from the beginning. Due to an inexperienced, fast-bowling side, Chennai struggled in the powerplay. Dhawan scored plenty of boundaries while Prabhsimran also not fell behind the skipper. Punjab Kings accumulated 36 runs in the first 3 overs. Akash Singh proved expensive in his first 2 overs as Dhoni had to try different continuously. The openers added a 50-run stand before Tushar Deshpande got rid of Shikhar Dhawan in the 5th over. Although it didn't affect the game as Prabhsimran was already set and was looking dangerous.

Jadeja picked up crucial wickets and shifted the momentum

Jadeja dismissed the dangerous Prabhsimran in the ninth over and gave the wicket to his team which was needed. Prabhsimran had to go home with 42 runs. He played his part but didn't show maturity at the end. This wicket gave control to Chennai's bowling side and they took it really well. Atharva Taide who played a big inning in the last game, struggled throughout and eventually lost his wicket. Ravindra Jadeja trapped him and gave a huge blow to Punjab Kings.

Sam Curran took responsibility and constructed a brilliant partnership with Livingstone. Although they were set, CSK led the show and it was almost over for Punjab Kings before a huge over from Tushar Deshpande. Punjab Kings smashed 24 runs in the 16th over and it completely changed the momentum of the match. Deshpande dismissed Livingstone in the same over but he did his job really well. Liam Livingstone departed after scoring 40 runs with 4 sixes and a boundary.

Jadeja's last over of the spell was also expensive as Punjab accumulated 17 runs from the next over. Pathirana brought CSK back into the game by dismissing Sam Curran in the 18th over. The young medium pacer bowled really well in the game and restricted the batters from going for the big hits.

Punjab Kings registered a thriller of a victory despite Pathirana's brave bowling performance

It was just not the day for Deshpande. He got rid of Jitesh Sharma in the 19th over but didn't truly restrict the flow of the runs. Deshpande leaked too many runs and it went in favour of the Punjab Kings. He ended with 3 wickets but an expensive 49 runs in his 4-overs spell. Pathirana got only 9 runs to defend in the last over. he did his best to stop Raza and Khan from reaching the target and he almost got succeeded. He bowled brilliantly in the last over and didn't give a chance to score a boundary. Punjab got a little bit lucky in the end as they managed to score 3 runs in the last delivery. That was it as Punjab Kings clinched the victory over the hand of the opposition.

Punjab Kings won the CSK vs PBKS clash by 4 wickets and climbed to the 5th position in the points table. For CSK, Pathirana and Jadeja were the best. Jadeja scalped 2 wickets with an economy of 8 per over in his 4-over spell. Pathirana on the other side, picked up a single wicket after a 4-over spell. He also gave 32 runs but the numbers sometimes don't justify the performance.