IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans beat Chennai Super Kings to secure top-two finish

After a tough 67-run unbeaten top-class bowling performance by Riddhiman Saha, the Gujarat Titans set a seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the IPL here on Sunday, taking a place in the top two in the team standings.

Despite Ruturaj Gaikwad’s great half-century, the Gujarat bowlers showed a clinical performance to limit CSK to below 133/5.

Saha, who hit eight boundaries and a six off his 57-ball six, chased down Gujarat in 19.1 overs.

Although CSK had already been knocked out of the play-off race, Gujarat’s win guaranteed them a place in the top two of the points table in their debut season, giving them two chances to reach the final. Saha added 59 runs in just 7.1 overs. Shubhaman Gill (18; 3 × 4) laid the foundation for the victory in the over.

CSK tried to make a small comeback by taking two quick wickets in the middle over but it was too short and too late.

Saha, who was dropped by Ruturaj at 21, hammered and pinched an unlisted CSK attack in the power-play.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mukesh Chowdhury (0/28) made his intentions clear by hitting three boundaries in the opening over and then playing arbitrary shots, of which he had only six in the fifth over.

However, CSK debutant pacer Mathisha Pathirana (2/24) trapped Gill in front of the wicket in eight overs. Hardik Pandya (7) was the second victim of Pathirana Gujarat trailed by 100/3.

But without the pressure of any run-rate, David Miller (20 not out 15; 1 × 4) and Saha completed the chase without any hiccups.

Earlier, CSK lost opener Dion Conway (5) in the third over as Mohammad Shami (2/19) gave Gujarat their first victory. Shamir moved away from the round the wicket after pitching an angular delivery which was handed over to Conway wicket-keeper Riddhiman Saha.

Gaikwad (53 off 49 balls) first made a second wicket partnership of 57 off 39 balls with Moin Ali (17 off 21; 2 × 6) and then added another 48 runs with Narayan Jagadisan, who scored an unbeaten 39 off 33 balls. Ball, for the third wicket.

CSK, however, suffered a fall in the middle order and could add only 24 runs in the last five overs.

Gaikwad, who hit four boundaries and a six, initially played cautiously as CSK moved to 15/1 after four overs as Hardik Pandya (0/8) and Shami did not give them a chance to free their arms.

Gaikwad then went ahead in the fifth over, where Yash Dayal scored 15 runs. The right-handed batsman hit Dayal with two boundaries and a six in the fine-leg over.

In the next over, Moin hit two sixes in a row off leg-spinner Rashid Khan (1/31), a pool and a sweep shot, as CSK added 17 runs in the sixth over and went 47/1 at the end of the power-play.

Gaikwad played a strange shot when he and Ali completed a 50-run stand for the second wicket off just 32 balls.

When it looked like the pair would score big, it was left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore (1/31) who broke the stand by removing Ali, who gave Rashid Khan a sitter in the ninth deep-mid-wicket. Over

Jagadisan started with a boundary but the fall of the wicket was hindered by the flow of runs.

After 13 overs, CSK 90/2, was scheduled for a big score.

Jagadisan then enters Sai Kishore (1/31), hitting him a boundary and maximum in the 15th over, where CSK collects 13 runs.

But Gujarat beat CSK by Gaikwad, who caught deep mid-wicket, and Shivam Dubey (0) quickly trailed by 114/4.