Raza helps Punjab down Chennai in last-ball thriller

Raza helps punjab down chennai in last-ball thriller0

On Sunday, Punjab Kings won a thrilling Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings by four wickets, thanks to the efforts of Zimbabwean batsman Sikandar Raza who helped them achieve a stunning chase on the last ball.

In pursuit of 201 runs to win, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, and Jitesh Sharma played aggressive innings before Raza, who was born in Pakistan, secured the victory with his unbeaten score of 13 in Chennai.

Matheesha Pathirana, a Sri Lankan fast bowler, was given the responsibility of bowling the last over in a match where Punjab needed nine runs to win. Raza managed to score three runs on the final ball and celebrated with his arms outstretched. Punjab has moved up to fifth place in the table of ten teams, just below Chennai, while Gujarat Titans hold the top spot as the defending champions.

Devon Conway’s impressive 92 runs off 52 balls were not enough as Chennai scored 200-4 after choosing to bat first. Livingstone and Curran, the most expensive player in the tournament, helped Punjab recover from a shaky start at 94-3.

Livingstone and Curran scored 57 runs off 33 balls before Livingstone was out and Curran was bowled by Pathirana, who has a similar style of play as Lasith Malinga. Jitesh, the wicketkeeper-batsman, scored quickly in 10 balls but was eventually out to Tushar Deshpande, who took three wickets, while Raza remained steady.

Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh gave Punjab a good start in their chase, but the team struggled after their departure. Chennai’s total was built by an 86-run opening partnership between Conway and Gaikwad.

The batsman made his fifth fifty in six innings in just 30 balls, hitting a boundary off Raza while playing aggressively with Shivam Dube. However, it was the captain, M.S. Dhoni, who thrilled the audience at the Chepauk stadium by hitting two sixes off the final two balls by Curran, one over backward point and the other a pull over deep mid-wicket. Dhoni’s performance was highly appreciated.

This season is probably going to be Dhoni’s final season as a player for the four-time champion team. He is receiving a warm welcome from fans at each venue, with many sporting Chennai’s yellow to support him.

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