The defending champions RCB in CSK’s first win their first game of the season by 23 runs thanks to opener Uthappa’s IPL-best 88 and Shivam Dube’s 95 not out.
Chennai Super Kings ended their losing streak in the Indian Premier League with a 23-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday night, thanks to veteran Robin Uthappa’s 50-ball 88 and Shivam Dube’s 46-ball unbeaten 95.
CSK were reeling from four straight defeats, their worst start in the IPL, and the Uthappa-Dube show was just what they needed. Pitted against the in-form RCB, the yellow team was transformed after a third-wicket partnership of 165 runs in just 74 balls—the highest third-wicket partnership in IPL history and the second-highest for CSK.
After being reduced to 42/3, RCB was always up against it in the chase. They had reached 140/6 after 15 overs, with in-form finisher Dinesh Karthik batting on 13 off six balls. The equation had been reduced to 77 out of 30 balls. Karthik targeted Mukesh Choudhary in the 17th over, hitting two sixes and a four in a 23-run over, but he was unable to get support from the other end.
Read More: IPL 2022: Pat Cummins joined Chris Gayle and Ravindra Jadeja with THIS record
SIXER SPREE
After waiting until the 10th over, Dube and Uthappa went on a six-hitting spree against the RCB bowlers. The left-hander hit eight sixes to complete his transformation into a lethal T20 batter, while Uthappa hit nine. Uthappa’s 88-run knock is his highest IPL score, surpassing his 87 against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 RCB in CSK’s first win.
After Moeen Ali’s run out at 36, Dube joined Ujtappa in the seventh over. Dube had reached 16 off 14 balls at the end of 10 overs, while Uthappa had reached 23 off 22 balls. Being on familiar ground aided the Mumbai-based player, who appeared to be in complete control from the start. He gambled by sending the ball over the fence, but he also placed the ball in the gaps to relieve early scoreboard pressure RCB in CSK’s first win.
“It was all about keeping things simple, nothing out of the ordinary.” Straight-line hitting. I’m used to this terrain. “Today is dry, and there is no dew yet,” Dube said to the announcer during the inning break RCB in CSK’s first win.
Uthappa, who has been in excellent form, made certain that he capitalized on the start this time.
Faf du Plessis’ strategy of pushing his spinners’ overs during the middle innings backfired. It is here that the two heavyweights seize the initiative.
They went from 60/2 after 10 overs to 13 runs each in the 11th and 12th overs bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga and Shahbaz Ahmed. Uthappa then hit three sixes off Maxwell in the 13th over to amass 19 runs. They added 13 more runs in Hasaranga’s next over, putting them neck and neck at 46 runs each.
Read More: Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, S-Cross, and more are on sale for up to Rs 47,000
HARSHAL IS MISSING
In an attempt to control the hitting, RCB captain Du Plessis removed his spinners and replaced them with pacer Akash Deep, but the two were unstoppable. Deep was smashed for 15 runs, with Uthappa picking up a six and a four, and Dubey finishing the 15th over with a boundary, bringing the total to 133/2 RCB in CSK’s first win.
RCB was clearly missing Harshal Patel, who had left the team bubble due to a family bereavement.
Mohammed Siraj was targeted for 18 runs in the 17th overs, with Uthappa hitting two more sixes. The first hit was streaky, flying off the outside edge over the third man, but the second was a breathtaking shot in which Uthappa danced out and flat-batted straight down the ground. Pacer Akash Deep appeared rattled as he conceded 24 runs in the 18th over, sending down four wides while completing his final two balls.