Match Center

Right then, this is it from Match number 49 where Chennai faced a humbling defeat against Punjab that too, in their own backyard. This marks their fifth defeat in ten games. Well, things are really heating up in the Points Table as Punjab further creeps ahead with two more crucial points with four wins now. Next up in the Indian T20 League is another high-octane clash between the table-toppers Rajasthan who will clash against the hosts Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday, 2nd May. That match will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). But as always, you can join us for the pre-match build-up. Till then, take care, cheers!

Harpreet Brar is the Player of the Match for his outstanding display with the ball. He begins by saying that he enjoyed the game and it was a good wicket to bowl. Adds that he and Rahul Chahar bowled well and the ball was getting a good purchase. Adds that he has a good amount experience of playing with big players over the years which has helped him a lot. Says it's the nature of the game that you will go for runs on a given day but he aims to ball as many dot balls as he can to exert pressure on the opposition. Adds that the wicket helped the spinners and ends up by saying he's very delighted to contribute to his team.

Sam Curran, the captain of Punjab, says that he is very happy with the win. Tells that a win in Chennai sends a huge amount of confidence in the group. Adds that they are slowly starting to find form and any team finding momentum at the back end of the tournament is dangerous. Shares that they know that they need to win all their games but they want to take it one game at a time. Feels that winning the toss was huge in these extreme conditions. Further says that Kagiso Rabada set the tone for them nicely and Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar were the pick of the bowlers for them. Mentions that Chahar straight away said yes, when he was handed the ball for the 19th over, which shows the confidence he has. Feels that it is important to be creative and with pace bowlers going the distance, he felt that going to spin was the way to go in the 19th over and it worked. Ends by saying that they will be playing against Chennai in a few days' time and even though the conditions will be different, they will take confidence from this win into that game.

Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony...

Rilee Rossouw is up for a quick chat. He credits the bowlers for restricting a side like Chennai on 163. Adds that Jonny Bairstow provided them with a great start and also appreciates the spin duo of Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar for dominating the mid-overs in the first innings. Says he keeps it pretty simple, to see the ball closely and hit every poor ball thrown at him.

The skipper of Chennai, Ruturaj Gaikwad says that they were 50-60 runs short. Adds that the pitch was not that great but improved in the second half and there was dew as well. Jokingly says that he has practised to improve his toss record and he has been winning it in practice but cannot win in matches. Shares that it was very difficult with the dew and he was surprised to win against Hyderabad by the margin they did, given the conditions. Tells that no one has control over the dew but what they can do is to bat better in the first innings. Adds that they have been batting well but tonight's wicket was a tough one to bat. On losing Deepak Chahar in the very first over, he replies that there are phases where you really want to get a wicket and suddenly you have only 2 bowlers who can get a wicket. Further adds that the spinners found it difficult with the dew. Ends by saying that they still have 4 games to go and hopes to turn things around.

Earlier in the game, Punjab opted to let Chennai take the first swing. However, after a wicketless Powerplay, the spinners managed to unsettle Chennai's top order, taking three wickets in quick succession during the middle overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane initially provided some stability, but once Rahane departed, Chennai's pace noticeably slowed down, resulting in two more quick wickets. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad held his ground bravely, witnessing a rapid collapse at the other end. Despite Moeen Ali's attempt to increase the scoring rate with a brief cameo, boundaries were scarce during the middle overs. Even though MS Dhoni provided a small flourish towards the end, Chennai could only muster a modest total. In response, Punjab started their chase well, receiving valuable contributions from all their batters, and comfortably reached the target.

Meanwhile, Chennai really needed a miracle to pull off a heist while defending a moderate target. However, their plans were disrupted when Deepak Chahar pulled his hamstring and had to leave the field in the very first over. Making his debut in the Indian T20 League, Richard Gleeson made an impressive start, claiming his maiden wicket after bowling consecutive dot balls. Once the fielding restrictions were lifted, Chennai wasted no time in introducing spin in tandem to apply pressure on the Punjab batters. But it was Shivam Dube, rolling his arm after a hiatus of two years, who struck gold with just his second delivery, grabbing that important breakthrough for his side. But they couldn't stem the flow of the runs due to extremely dewy conditions and some predictable lines and lengths. Shardul Thakur got the better of Rossouw but it was just too late and Chennai just didn't had enough on the board to defend. In addition to their woes, the depletion of bowling resources has been a cause of a headache for the team in yellow as now, Mustafizur Rahman will travel to execute his national duties.

Punjab started their chase steadily, though they suffered an early setback with Prabhsimran Singh's dismissal inside the Powerplay. However, Rilee Rossouw and Jonny Bairstow maintained their composure, capitalizing on loose deliveries and finding the boundaries when needed. Despite the early wicket, Punjab managed a decent start with 52 runs on the board by the end of the Powerplay. They continued to find boundaries consistently, ensuring that the scoreboard kept ticking over with runs before Bairstow eventually got out in the tenth over. However, the asking rate was very well under control, and with Rossouw in full nick, Punjab didn't panic. The game was well under Punjab's clutches and with wickets in hand, and no real risks, Sam Curran and Shashank Singh cruised the visitors to their fourth victory of the season.

Punjab's impressive streak persists as they secure their fifth straight win over Chennai, confidently breaching the fortress of Chepauk this time. They become the second team to defeat Chennai five consecutive times after Mumbai. Chennai might have lamented being at least 20-25 runs short of a more competitive total at the end of their innings, which could have injected further excitement into the match.

THAT'S IT! Punjab get home and become the second team to win five successive games against Chennai! Richard Gleeson bowls it on a back of a length, over middle, Shashank Singh turns this one towards deep square leg. The batters think about coming back for the second. The throw from the deep is a wayward one, well wide of MS Dhoni, allowing the batters to take the second run.

Leg bye! Goes full and straight, on middle, Sam Curran with another hoick across the line, similar to the previous delivery and gets beaten on the inside edge again. The ball rolls on the off side and the batters cross.

Given LBW but Sam Curran successfully overturns it! Pitched up from over the wicket by Richard Gleeson, on middle and leg, Sam Curran goes deep in his crease to swing across the line. Gets pinged low on the front pad and the ball rolls on the off side. Up goes the finger but Curran takes the review. There is nothing on UltraEdge. However, the ball has pitched outside leg on Ball Tracking.

FOUR! Shivam Dube gets beaten all ends up by the spin and concedes a boundary. Fuller and at the stumps, Sam Curran heaves across the line and it comes off the inside half of the bat. The ball spins away from Debut at deep mid-wicket on the second bounce and trickles into the fence. Just a hit now away Punjab.

Sam Curran cannot make the Free Hit count. Slower and fuller, on off, Sam Curran goes deep in his crease and swings with all his might but does not make any connection.

NO BALL! That has slipped out of Richard Gleeson's hands! Loses the grip of the ball and ends up serving a beamer, outside off, Sam Curran is caught by surprise as the ball zips past him before he can lay any bat on it.  Free Hit coming up.

On the off-stump line, on a hard length, Sam Curran swipes without much timing to deep mid-wicket and picks up a single.