CSK march into IPL 2023 final; GT to play Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by 15 runs in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday night (May 23) to march into the final of IPL 2023. This is a record 10th time that the MS Dhoni-led Chennai franchise are in an IPL title clash.
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After scoring 172/7 in 20 overs on their home ground – MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, CSK bowled out the defending champions GT for 157. Shubman Gill was GT’s top scorer with 42 off 38.
GT will have another chance to qualify for the final as they play in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on Friday (May 26). They await the winner of Eliminator in Chennai on Wednesday between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
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CSK, who have won the IPL title four times, all under Dhoni, will face the winner of Qualifier 2, on Sunday (May 28) in Ahmedabad.
CSK’s master tactician Dhoni made the best use of home advantage to take the four-time champions to a 10th final in 14 editions. CSK did not take part in 2016 and 2017 editions.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (4-0-18-2) did the star turn for the Super Kings with a brilliant spell during which he strangled the opposition batters to avenge the defeat suffered in the tournament opener.
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Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana and Deepak Chahar also finished with two wickets each.
Chasing 173, GT lost Wriddhiman Saha (12) in the third over. Skipper Hardik Pandya (8) could not make much impact at number three, miscuing a cut off Theekshana for Jadeja to pouch a catch at point.
Sri Lanka’s limited overs teams captain Dasun Shanaka (17) could not get going as well and his reverse sweep off Jadeja landed in the hands of Theekshana.
𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 🙌@ChennaiIPL enter the #TATAIPL Final for a record 10th time! 🥳#TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #GTvCSK pic.twitter.com/f5nfAfMc7X
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 23, 2023
Jadeja made things tougher for GT by castling the dangerous David Miller (4) to leave the opposition at 88 for 4 in the 13th over. The Titans slipped further when Rahul Tewatia was bowled by Theekshana for 3.
Rashid Khan made the CSK fans nervous with a 16-ball 30 towards the end but it was not enough for the Titans.
Earlier, a disciplined bowling performance by the Gujarat Titans on a tricky surface helped the defending champions restrict Chennai Super Kings to 172 for 7.
Put in to bat by GT captain Hardik Pandya, the Super Kings batters had a tough time on a slow pitch as they were not able to force the pace.
Talismanic skipper Dhoni lasted only 2 balls for his 1 run, much to the disappointment of an adoring Chepauk crowd.
𝘿𝙊 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙎!
🎥 Join the Chennai Super Kings as they celebrate a spectacular win and become the first finalists of #TATAIPL 2023 🙌#TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #GTvCSK | @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/ZLPIY2gEEu
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 23, 2023
For the home team, Ruturaj Gaikwad was the best batter, scoring a superb 60 off 44 while the others could not make a substantial contribution.
Pacer Mohammed Shami (2 for 28 in 4 overs) was the best bowler while Mohit Sharma (2/31) also picked up two wickets. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed scalped a wicket each and put pressure on the batters in the middle overs.
Gaikwad had a stroke of luck when he was caught by Shubman Gill off Darshan Nalkande only for the delivery to be declared a no-ball. He capitalised on the let-off and played some superb shots. The very next ball after he got a reprieve, he smacked a six and hit a four from the next delivery.
The in-form Gaikwad did not get bogged down against the spin of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed, the key bowlers for GT. He scored freely against all the bowlers and got CSK off to a brisk start with 49 being scored in the powerplay.
Gaikwad appeared to slow down after having outscored his opening partner Devon Conway with whom he shared yet another half-century stand. He fell trying to force the pace, to a catch by David Miller off Mohit Sharma. Ajinkya Rahane (17 off 10), who came in at No.4, hit one six before being Nalkande’s only scalp as the scoring slowed down.
Conway was not his usual fluent self and struggled with his timing all through his innings. Ambati Rayudu (17 off 9) crossed the 6,000-run mark in T20 cricket during the course of his cameo. The home team did well to collect 35 runs off the last three overs.
The celebrations begin in the @ChennaiIPL camp as they get one step close to a victorious season 🙌#CSK register a 15-run win in #Qualifier1 over #GT 👏🏻👏🏻
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/LRYaj7cLY9#TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #GTvCSK pic.twitter.com/WaGTRKNdXH
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 23, 2023
(With agency inputs)
