New Delhi, Apr 13 (IANS): Since the beginning of the IPL 2022, Chennai Super Kings were struggling to find a win and needed some magical performance and the batting duo of Shivam Dube and Robin Uthappa did that by playing sensational knocks to guide the Ravindra Jadeja-led side to the first win of the season.
Once RCB skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and going by the trend, he opted to bowl first, it seemed that once again things won't be easy for CSK and exactly there were some worries for the defending champions in the powerplay. After losing the wickets of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (17), Moeen Ali (3), CSK were in a spot of bother at 36-2 after 6.4 overs but Dube and Uthappa had other plans on Tuesday night.
However, after spending enough time in the middle, both batters decided to free their arms. RCB delayed the introduction of spinner Wanindu Hasaranga probably because of the presence of a left-hand batter but he was brought on in the 11th over with Dube immediately launching into him, hitting him for a six and a four.
In the 12th over, he hit the left-arm spin of Shahbaz for another six. Not to be left behind, Uthappa sent Maxwell into the bigger leg-side boundary for three sixes in the 13th over. The hitting was so clean that Super Kings didn't worry about hitting into the bigger boundary and it continued till the end of first innings as 83 runs were scored in the last 5 overs. Uthappa played a couple of cute ramps, but Dube just sat deep in the crease and smoothly punished errors in length.
During their important stand of whopping 165 runs off just 74 balls for the third wicket, Uthappa smashed 9 sixes and four boundaries while Dube hit eight sixes and five fours and propelled Chennai Super Kings to a mammoth 216/4 in 20 overs. Shivam Dube's knock of 95 not out has also become the highest individual score in a CSK-RCB encounter equalling 95 by Murali Vijay in IPL 2011 final in Chennai.
For RCB, Akash Deep conceded 58 runs in his four, while the otherwise economical Wanindu Hasaranga gave away 35 in his two overs and picked two wickets. The most economical on the night was Hazlewood (1/33), but even he went for over-8 an over.
Chasing a huge total, batters -- Shahbaz Ahmed (41), Suyash Prabhudessai (34), Dinesh Karthik (34) tried their best, but it was not enough as RCB lost the game by 23 runs. After losing four consecutive matches, it was the first victory for four-time champions CSK in the ongoing IPL season.
"We were looking for the first win and I am really happy that I contributed to the team. It's an honour for me. I am more focused this time and focusing on basics. I spoke to many seniors - Mahi bhai also helped me to improve the game. He said, 'Just be focused, just be still, just let the skill work in the game," said Shivam Dube, Player of the Match, after his heroics with the bat.
"I wanted to time the ball really well. I tried to maintain my balance. Yuvi pa is always a role model for a left-hander. Many people told me that I bat like him. As the situation demands, as the captain and coach tell me, I am ready to bat anywhere," he added.