Clinical CSK ride on Gaikwad, Kartik to complete double over MI

Composed half-centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma helped CSK script a league double over Mumbai Indians with a convincing eight-wicket victory at Chepauk on Saturday. In a batting innings of two halves, Mumbai Indians lost steam to post an underwhelming 159/7 despite a fighting fifty from Naman Dhir. CSK suffered early setbacks but the third-wicket pair paced the chase well to pick up the two points.

Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 159/7 in 20 overs (Naman Dhir 57 off 37, Ryan Rickelton 37 off 24; Anshul Kamboj 3-32, Noor Ahmad 2-26) lost to Chennai Super Kings 160/2 in 18.1 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 67* off 48, Kartik Sharma 54* off 40; Jasprit Bumrah 1-20) by 8 wickets.

Dhir-Rickelton lift MI in Powerplay

Anshul Kamboj struck off his second ball, sending Will Jacks packing for one. Dhir and Ryan Rickelton quickly course-corrected, putting on a 58-run partnership in 32 balls. Rickelton was the aggressor, surviving a run-out scare and taking a liking to Mukesh Choudhary and Prashant Veer with five sixes combined. He raced to 37 off 23 before Noor Ahmad made the breakthrough on a two-paced pitch.

The flip in the second-half

By the halfway mark MI were 90/2 courtesy a quick cameo from Suryakumar Yadav (21 off 12). The innings stalled thereafter. Dhir held one end but lost too many partners. Tilak Varma was in and out quickly as Noor bagged his second. Skipper Hardik Pandya struggled to get going. Dhir got to a 34-ball fifty, broke the shackles with a six, then lost his wicket in the same over off Overton. From 90/2 in the first ten, MI managed only 69/5 thereafter.

Gaikwad-Urvil set the base

Like MI, CSK lost a wicket cheaply when Sanju Samson fell to Jasprit Bumrah. Gaikwad laid into Trent Boult, kicking off the third over with a drive and closing it with a pull and flick for a four and six. Krish Bhagat was taken to the cleaners as Urvil hacked big sixes in an 18-run over. AM Ghazanfar was welcomed with a six by Gaikwad, but the spinner broke the partnership as Urvil dragged a carrom ball onto his stumps for 24 off 12. CSK finished the Powerplay at 62/2.

Kartik-Gaikwad master the chase

After the 49-run stand was broken, Gaikwad anchored while Kartik Sharma looked for boundaries. Gaikwad reached a 34-ball fifty at the start of the 14th over, then collected two boundaries to step on the gas. The ask was 22 off the last four overs when Kartik took on Ghazanfar – 4,0,6,0,4,0 – to seal the points. He soon completed his maiden fifty, helping CSK swap with Delhi Capitals for sixth place.

Mumbai have a quick turnaround as they travel home for Monday's game against Lucknow Super Giants. CSK takes on DC at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.