Chennai: The Chennai Super Kings The vibe is back. Recruiting new stars Sanju Samson On, the bowling attack has suddenly found its rhythm and the frenzied fans now feel the sensation of a win at home after six successive defeats in Chepauk.Saturday’s 23-run win over Delhi Capitals – CSK’s first of the season – had its share of scares, especially when Tristan Stubbs came out with the big guns towards the end and reduced the target to 32 in the last two overs. But medium pacer Jamie Overton (4/18) continued his stellar work throughout the day to remove stubs at the right time, ensuring CSK cruised home.
Earlier, KL Rahul and Patham Nissanka’s 60-run opening stand also threatened to take the game away from CSK. But pace bowlers Khalil Ahmed, Gurjapaneet Singh, Anshul Kamboj and Overton skidded DC to 76/4, with Sarfraz Khan’s brilliant catch to send Akshar Patel back worth a special mention.However, this game will be remembered for Samson’s first step to becoming the ‘Chitan’ Super King of Chepak. His 115 not out off 56 balls and a 113-run partnership for the second wicket with Ayush Mahatre (59 off 36 balls) gave CSK the perfect platform to set a mammoth target.Sanju gave himself little time in the beginning and chose not to go too hard. He saw the ball in time and waited for opportunities instead of looking for big sixes. His half-century came in 26 balls but he did not hit a single six at that time. Instead, the right-hander opted to use his wrists, slotting the ball into the gap and getting nine 56-ball 115* by Sanju Samson, the first century by a CSK wicketkeeper in the IPL. Prior to this was MS Dhoni’s 84 not out vs RCB in Bengaluru on 21 April 2019. Boundaries that always kept the scoreboard moving.Skipper Rutoraj Gaikwad (15 off 18 balls) struggled to push the run rate but Sanju did enough to keep the fans happy at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The Kerala cricketer though got a life on 52 when Patham Nissanka dropped a relatively easy catch at long-off off Axar Patel.But that was the only blemish in his innings and it gave him confidence that it might be his day. At the other end, he found a formidable ally in young Mahatre (59 off 36 balls). Through the middle overs, the duo switched gears with ease and kept coming up with the big hits when it mattered.Mahatre got a life after crossing his half-century but CSK must have felt they would have been better off if David Miller had accepted the chance at long-on.Mahatre struggled a bit against the slow balls and wide yorkers of Mukesh Sharma and Lungi Ngidi and in a spell of two overs when CSK managed just 12 runs that halted their march a bit. This forced the team management to retire him and allow Shivam Dubey to accompany Sanju as he completed his century with a boundary.
