Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings in last-ball thriller

The Punjab Kings batters held their collective nerve to win a 400-run thriller beating the Chennai Super Kings by six-wickets off the final ball in their IPL match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday afternoon.

Chasing a target of 201 for victory Punja required nine off the final over from Sri Lanka side-armer Matheesha Pathirana whose first five deliveries were all superb leaving Zimbabwean all rounder, Sikandar Raza, requiring three to win off the final delivery.

A desperate scoop over square leg failed to reach the boundary but there was just time to scramble back for third run with batting partner Shahrukh Khan (2*). Raza made just 13 runs from seven balls but they will be 13 precious runs to his team mates.

Earlier Devon Conway’s prolific form continued with a fifth half century in nine matches to propel CSK to a daunting total of 200-4 after choosing to bat first – no team had ever chased over 200 to win at in Chennai.

The New Zealand opener finished unbeaten on 92 from 52 balls using precision, timing and innovation rather than power to collect 16 fours and a solitary six.

An opening stand of 86 with the almost equally prolific Ruturaj Gaikwad (37) ended with a stumping by Jitesh Sharma off the bowling of Raza but Shivam Dube maintained the momentum with two sixes in a brisk 28 from 17 balls.

Englishman Moeen Ali (10) departed in the same manner off the bowling of leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and the usually prolific Ravindra Jadeja 12 from 10 balls) was kept in check by some skilful death-bowling from Arshdeep Singh (1-37) and Kagiso Rabada (4-0-34-0).

The run chase was given a flying start by impact substitute Prabhsimran Singh (42 from 24 balls) and captain Shikhar Dhawan (28 off 15) who added 50 for the first wicket in just 4.2 overs and Englishman Liam Livingstone maintained the momentum with four sixes in his 40 from 24 balls.

Sam Curran struck a timely six and a four in his 29 from 20 balls to keep his team in touch and Jitesh Sharma’s 21 from 10 balls took the game to the wire before Raza’s final ball heroics gave Punjab victory.

The home side remain in a share of second place with 10 points from nine games and are now joined by Punjab in a logjam of four teams, all two points behind leaders Gujarat Titans.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

PUNJAB KINGS: Atharva Taide, Shikhar Dhawan(c), Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma(w), Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh