IPL 2021: All-Round Chennai Defeats Hyderabad By 6 Wickets

An all-round performance helped Chennai Super Kings beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the 44th match of IPL 2021 in Sharjah on Thursday. 

Chasing a modest total of 135, the game was more or less set by CSK openers - Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf Du Plessis' 75-run partnership in 61 balls. The two started well and scored 47 in the powerplay, and made sure no wicket was lost on a pitch that was tricky to bat on. 

Gaikwad made 45 off 38 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes before Jason Holder made the crucial breakthrough for SRH. Du Plessis continued to bat, rotating the strike, and shared a 28-run stand with Moeen Ali. 

Ali scored 17 from 17 before Rashid Khan cleaned him up. CSK looked in a spot of bother as they lost three wickets in the space of six balls as SRH sniffed a comeback. 

However, Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni stuck around and made sure no more wickets were lost. Needing just three in the last over, Dhoni finished things off in style to close the match. 

Earlier, SRH was asked to bat first here in Sharjah. Chennai struck early as Hyderabad lost hard-hitting opener Jason Roy early. Wriddhiman Saha and Kane Williamson managed just 41 in the powerplay. 

Williamson got out soon as CSK continued to contain runs in the middle runs. The pressure of not getting enough boundaries made SRH batters lose patience and get out. 

Saha, although was the top-scorer with 44 runs, but took 46 balls and only hit one four and two sixes. Abhishek Sharma and Abdul Samad looked tried to be aggressive as they shared a 35-run partnership. Rashid Khan finished SRH's innings with a 13-ball-17. 

Brief Scorecard: 

Sunrisers Hyderabad - 134/7 (Wridhiman Saha - 44; Josh Hazlewood - 3/24) 
Chennai Super Kings - 139/4 in 19.4 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad - 45; Jason Holder - 3/27)