Chennai thumps Gujarat by 63 runs for second straight win in IPL

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CHENNAI, India, March 27, (AP): Defending champion Chennai Super Kings thumped Gujarat Titans by 63 runs on Tuesday for back-to-back home wins in the Indian Premier League.
Chennai put up a sterling all-round show as Gujarat limped to 143-8 against a pace-dominated attack after the home team had used the conditions to perfection and posted an above-par total of 206-6.
Impact player Sai Sudharsan top-scored with 37 off 31 balls, but the rest of the Gujarat batters struggled to put up partnerships with Chennai holding onto some brilliant catches in the deep.

Captain Shubman Gill made a five-ball eight before he played Deepak Chahar (2-28) across the line and was out plumb leg before wicket in the third over of a tall chase.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who relinquished the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad on the eve of the tournament, made a splendid diving catch to his right to dismiss Vijay Shankar, while Ajinkya Rahane took a blinder at deep mid-wicket to dismiss dangerous David Miller for 21.

Rachin Ravindra capped Chennai’s brilliant night with three catches in the deep as fast bowler Tushar Deshpande (2-21) and Mustafizur Rahman (2-30) kept on striking with regular intervals.
Earlier, Ravindra set the tone for Chennai with a 20-ball 46 that featured six boundaries and three sixes. Gaikwad also capitalized on a drop catch when on 1 to make 46 as he provided a solid start of 62 inside the batting power play with Ravindra.

Shivam Dube (51) then didn’t let the spinners settle down in the middle overs with a half-century off 23 balls as the left-hander dominated ace spinner Rashid Khan (2-49) and Sai Kishore.
Rashid had Ravindra stumped in the last over of the power play before the leg-spinner had to wait until his last over to dismiss Dube, who mistimed the googly and was caught at extra cover.

Sameer Rizvi, playing his first IPL season at the age of 20, showed no signs of nerves and smashed Rashid for two sixes as Chennai posted a challenging total.
Chennai had defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets in the season opener while Gujarat notched a six-run win over Mumbai Indians.

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