IPL 2021: Gaikwad Helps Chennai Cruise To A 7 Wicket Win Over Hyderabad

Ruturaj Gaikwad's 75 helped Chennai Super Kings(CSK) cruise to a seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad(SRH) in the 23rd match of IPL 2021 on Wednesday. 

Brief Score: Sunrisers Hyderabad - 171/3 (Manish Pandey - 61; David Warner - 57) & Chennai Super Kings - 173/3 in 18.3 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad - 75; Faf du Plessis - 56)

IPL 2021, Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 23rd Match

Chasing a target of 172, CSK openers - Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis - gave a good start to the innings scoring 50 runs inside the powerplay. Both the batters kept on playing the shots, on a pitch that was brilliant for batting. 

Gaikwad and Du Plessis added 129 for the first wicket in just 13 overs. The uncapped Indian opener was the aggressor among the two as he smashed 75 off just 44 balls with the help of 12 fours. 

Du Plessis got out soon after scoring 56 from 38. Rashid Khan's three quick wickets came in too late for SRH as Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja finished the game with nine balls to spare. 

Earlier, Hyderabad opted to bat first. Jonny Bairstow got out early after scoring just seven and David Warner was joined by Manish Pandey in middle. SRH scored just 39 in the powerplay. 

The Warner-Pandey duo kept on rotating the strike throughout the middle overs along with some occasional boundaries in their 106 runs stand from 87 balls. Warner, in particular, looked very frustrated during his 57-run-knock off 55 balls as was neither able to middle the ball nor finding the gaps. 

Pandey scored 61 from 46 in which he hit five fours and a six before getting out. Kane Williamson only faced 10 balls in his innings but helped SRH get to a respectable score with his 26 balls blitz at the end. Kedar Jadhav's 4-ball=12 too was crucial. 

With the win, CSK has now moved back to the top spot in the IPL points table with 10 points while SRH is now at the bottom with only two points.