Chennai: The Chennai Fortress remained intact as the home favourites and reigning champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) thrashed Gujarat Titans (GT) by 63 runs in an IPL match at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday night.
What was promised as a keen contest, fizzled out to be an one-sided affair as the five-time champs, after scoring 206 for six, restricted their rivals to 143 for eight, in a repeat of last year's summit clash.
On a wicket, which the batsmen flourished, especially by the home team, GT, facing a stiff target, lost three wickets in the power play, the middle order batsmen too chipped in briefly, but ended up on a losing note, as CSK bowlers applied the pressure, picking wickets at regular intervals.
Earlier, asked to bat first, CSK, helped by a brisk top order start by skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (46, 36 balls, 5x4, 1x6) and a dominating 46 by Kiwi batter Rachin Ravindra (46, 20 balls, 6x4, 3x6), wobbled in the middle, before southpaw Shivam Dube (51, 23 balls, 5x6, 2x6) provided the much needed boost in the middle order with useful stands by Ajinkya Rahane and Darryl Mitchell as CSK scored 206 for six.
In reply, GT lost their skipper Shubman Gill early. His opening partner and wicketkeeper Wridhaman Saha promised much hitting four quick boundaries in his 17-ball 28, before the middle order caved in, thanks to a tight and controlled bowling by the CSK bowlers.
Local lad Sai Sudarshan (37, 31 balls, 3x4), the impact player, played a lone furrow once again after his match winning knock against Mumbai Indians the other day, but the other batters wilted under mounting run rate and the CSK romped home without much ado.
For CSK, Deepak Chahar picked up two wickets, along with left arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman and Tushar Deshpande, who wilted under pressure in the last match, each to hasten the end as GT lost wickets trying to force the pace.
The crucial breakthrough for CSK came in the form of part-time medium pacer Darry Mitchell, who got rid of another local player Vijay Shankar, that triggered the GT's collapse.
Cashing in on it, Ruturaj, ably getting valuable inputs from iconic MS Dhoni, marshalled his resources well, shuffled the bowlers, who rose the occasion to fashion a comfortable victory.
The good aspect for CSK was the return of sling bowler Matheesa Pathirana (after recovering from an injury) who pushed GT on the backfoot with controlled bowling.
But a point of worry for CSK is the number of wides he conceded, a matter that needs to be addressed in the coming matches.
In the end, Dube was named man of the match for his outsanding innings after the CSK wobbled in the middle after a rip-roaring start.
CSK is now got perched on to the top of the table with two wins in as many matches, keeping their home record intact.
