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Images from the IPL 2022 match between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MCA International Stadium in Pune on Sunday.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway's effortless six-hitting exhibition was well complemented by a four-wicket haul from Mukesh Choudhary as Chennai Super Kings notched up an emphatic 13-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL 2022 match at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Sunday.
Gaikwad (99 off 57 balls) and Conway (85 not out off 55) put SRH's attack to the sword, notching up a scintillating 182-run partnership -- the highest opening stand of the season, as CSK posted an imposing 202/2 after being invited to bat.
In reply, SRH fell short, reaching 189/6 in 20 overs despite late heroics from Nicholas Pooran (64 not out) and a 47-run innings by skipper Kane Williamson at the top.
Choudhary emerged with the best figures for CSK, scalping 4/46, while Mitchell Santner (1/36) and Dwaine Pretorius (1/40) took one wicket each.
The win, which coincided with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's return to captaincy, kept CSK afloat for an improbable play-off berth as they now have six points with five matches remaining, while SRH remained in the fourth position with 10 points in the overall standing.
Abhishek Sharma (39) and Williamson gave their team a flying start to their chase but Choudhary struck twice in two balls to reduce SRH to 58/2 in six overs.
While Sharma was caught by Dwaine Pretorius at long-on, Rahul Tripathi was out for a duck after giving catching practice at short third man.
Aiden Markram hit two sixes before falling prey to Mitchell Santner.
Pooran hit Ravindra Jadeja for a six before unleashing a monstrous reverse sweep for another maximum, while Williamson too notched up a one-handed six to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The SRH skipper, however, was trapped in front by Pretorius as it became 126 for 4 in 15th over.
Pooran then kept fighting in vain while scoreboard pressure took a toll on the other batters.
Earlier, Gaikwad and Conway hammered the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack into submission with their superb strokeplay.
Gaikwad was in his zone as he stood on his backfoot, waiting for the ball to come to him and played some exceptional shots to dominate the formidable SRH bowling unit.
Anything short was pulled with immaculate ease, while pitched up deliveries were treated with equal disdain as Gaikwad didn't miss a trick to send SRH on a leather hunt during his classy innings.
Conway too showed great temperament as he was the perfect foil for Gaikwad. He bide his time initially before going for the big shots in the slog overs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept things tight as he conceded just 22 runs in his four overs, while pace sensation Umran Malik had a really bad day in office, having conceded 48 in his four overs. Thangarasu Natarajan (2/42) picked up two wickets but went for runs.
After a watchful start, Gaikwad produced two superb pull shots to deposit Jansen over fine leg area for two maximums, while Natarajan was sent across the mid-wicket area.
With Conway back at the top, CSK started off steadily to reach 40 for no loss in the Powerplay -- their best opening partnership this season.
Gaikwad continued to find the boundaries as SRH's sensational pacer Malik was sent on a leather hunt with the opener smashing him over cover before lifting him over long-on for a six.
Conway then got into the act, sending Aiden Markram for a boundary at fine leg before going down the wicket for a flat six over the bowler's head.
Malik cranked up the pace, bowling the fastest delivery of the tournament clocked at 154kph, but ended up conceding two boundaries off Gaikwad's blade as the opener raced to his half-century off just 33 balls.
Gaikwad then launched into Markram, clobbering him for successive sixes as the 100 was up in the 11th over.
Malik was again in his line of fire as he slogged him over long-on for a boundary before lifting him over long-off for another maximum.
Conway also used his sweep shots to good use and was rewarded for his placements as he brought up his fifty from 39 balls with a top-edge six off Marco Jansen in the 15th over. He ended the over with another four and a six as 20 runs came of it.
Natarajan was brought back but he too conceded 13 runs with Gaikwad producing another pull. Conway too sent one over the bowler's head in the 18th over.
Gaikwad, however, missed out of a deserving hundred when he gave an easy catch at point just one run short of the three figure mark.
Back at the helm of affairs, Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself but couldn't make an impact as he perished for eight in his hunt for quick runs in the final over.