PBKS register 4th victory in IPL T20, defeat CSK at MA Chidambaram Stadium

In a thrilling encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured a commanding seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The victory marked PBKS’s fourth win of the season and showcased a stellar performance from both their bowlers and batters.

PBKS won the toss and opted to field first, riding high on confidence following their recent record-breaking run-chase in Kolkata. CSK, with a few changes to their lineup bringing in Richard Gleeson, started steadily with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane laying a solid foundation. Gaikwad notched his 50th boundary of the season with a well-placed shot early on.

However, PBKS fought back impressively during the middle overs, stifling CSK’s momentum with tight bowling from Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar. The crucial turning point came when Rahane was caught in the deep, followed swiftly by Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja departing in quick succession.

CSK’s innings struggled to gain momentum thereafter, with PBKS maintaining disciplined lines. Kagiso Rabada and Harshal Patel bowled tight overs, conceding minimal boundaries until Gaikwad injected some impetus towards the end, scoring a vital half-century before falling to Arshdeep Singh.

Chasing 163 for victory, PBKS began confidently despite an early injury forcing Deepak Chahar off the field. Prabhsimran Singh provided a fiery start before Johnny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw took charge, forming a brisk partnership of 64 runs.

Bairstow’s departure didn’t stall PBKS’s charge as Rossouw continued the assault, hitting boundaries with ease until Shardul Thakur ended his innings. Shashank Singh and Sam Curran then guided PBKS to a comfortable victory, with Curran finishing unbeaten on 26 alongside Shashank’s 25 not out.

PBKS achieved the target with 13 balls to spare, showcasing their dominance in both departments of the game. With this win, PBKS solidifies their position in the IPL 2024 standings, displaying their potential as serious contenders in this season’s campaign.