IPL PIX: CSK trounce Sunrisers to seal play-off berth

Images from the Indian Premier League match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, in Sharjah, on Thursday.

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Chennai Super Kings had things their way as they cruised to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League match, in Sharjah, on Thursday.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis scored 45 and 41 runs respectively before Ambati Rayudu and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni overcame a late wobble to take Chennai Super Kings over the line in the final over.

The victory enabled the Super Kings consolidate their position on top of the table and become the first team to seal a place in the play-offs in IPL 2021.

Chasing 135, the Super Kings got off to a decent start, du Plessis and Ruturaj scoring 27 in the first four overs.

Du Plessis and Ruturaj then maintained the momentum in a 75-run stand for the first wicket.

However, Ruturaj was dismissed by Jason Holder in the 11th over, and CSK were reduced to 75 for 1.

Moeen Ali and Du Plessis then put on a 28-run stand before CSK were rattled by the loss of quick wickets.

First, Rashid Khan dismissed Moeen and then Holder snared Suresh Raina and Du Plessis in the same over to bring back the Sunrisers back in the game.

CSK scored just 10 runs in the next three tense overs. However, Rayudu and Dhoni stayed calm and overhauled the target without any further hiccups, scoring 31 runs to seal victory.

Earlier, Chennai Super Kings put up another disciplined bowling performance to restrict Sunrisers Hyderabad to 134 for 7.

The Sharjah surface, which produced high-scoring games last year, has been a complete contrast this season with its slow nature making stroke-making difficult.

The Sunrisers innings never got the momentum it needed and ended up with a total that the Super Kings should chase down comfortably.

Josh Hazlewood (3 for 24) and Dwayne Bravo (2 for 17) were the stand out bowlers for CSK.

Wriddhiman Saha played some delightful shots during his 46-ball 44 but the majority of the Sunrisers batters struggled to get going.

Saha's two sixes off Deepak Chahar in third over was the highlight of his innings. The first one was a hoick over midwicket and the second was more like a lofted straight drive that cleared the ropes comfortably.

His opening partner, Jason Roy, fell cheaply, caught behind off Josh Hazlewood, as he went for a wild slog.

Skipper Kane Williamson struck two fours in his run-a-ball 11 before he was trapped in front by Dwayne Bravo with a full delivery that swung away slightly and crashed into the New Zealander's pads.

The Sunrisers were left reeling at 74 for 4 after the well-set Saha top-edged one off Ravindra Jadeja and was caught by Mahendra Sigh Dhoni.

The Hyderabad side, reeling on 97 for 4 in 15 overs, badly needed a final flourish in the last five overs.

Abdul Samad (18 off 14) and Abhishek Sharma (18 off 13) hit a few sensational shots before Hazlewood removed both in the 17th over.

The Super Kings were brilliant in the death overs, conceding only 37 runs. 

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