IPL 2022: CSK vs SRH Highlights: Gaikwad-Conway star in Super Kings win to make Dhoni's return a success

Pune, May 1: Change of leadership also resulted in a change of fate for Chennai Super Kings as the defending champions defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 13 runs in the reverse fixture in the IPL 2022 here at MCA Stadium, Pune on Sunday (May 1).

MS Dhoni's return as CSK captain became special as the Yellow Brigade registered its third win of the season and kept its playoff hopes alive by earning two crucial points.

Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway's record partnership and a clinical bowling performance helped CSK eke out a win in front of a rapturous Pune crowd. It was a sea of yellow all over as fans came out in big numbers to support the four-time champions and Dhoni on his return as skipper.

Chasing a massive 203, Sunrisers had a fine start as the in-form opening duo of Kane Williamson and young Abhishek Sharma provided the team with a fine start in the powerplay. The duo added 58 runs for the first wicket in 5.4 overs. But things changed drastically for the SRH when Sharma (39) and Rahul Tripathi (0) were dismissed off successive deliveries on the last two deliveries of the powerplay.

Williamson and in-form Aiden Markram then tried to bring down the net run rate for their side but they too were dismissed at crucial stages. While Markram (17) was dismissed by Michell Santner, Williamson was clean bowled by Dwaine Pretorious for 47.

Nicholas Pooran, however, played some good hands in the end and scored an unbeaten 33-ball 64 as SRH reached 189/6 in the stipulated 20 overs. The southpaw - who got a couple of reprieves as CSK fielders spilt some sitters - made most of the opportunity and slammed a fine half-century. It was his late hits that ensured SRH didn't lose much on net run rate.

For CSK, left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with 4/46 from his four overs. Barring the final over in which he leaked 24 runs, Choudhary had bowled exceedingly well as he had conceded 22 from his three overs and picked up 4 wickets.

CSK spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja (3-0-15-0), Mitchell Santner (3-0-36-1) and Maheesh Theekshana (4-0-26-0) did well and prevented SRH batters to free their arms.

Earlier in the day, Gaikwad and Conway hammered the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack into submission, notching up a scintillating 182-run partnership, the highest opening stand of the season, to post an imposing total.

Gaikwad (99 off 57 balls) was at his destructive best as he smashed six sixes and as many fours before falling short of a deserving hundred by just one run.

His opening partner Conway, playing only his second game of the season, made an unbeaten 85 off 55 balls studded with eight hits to the fence and four maximums.

Gaikwad was in his zone as he stood on his backfoot, waiting for the ball to come to him and played some exceptional shots to dominate the formidable SRH bowling unit.

Anything short was pulled with immaculate ease, while pitched up deliveries were treated with equal disdain as Gaikwad didn't miss a trick to send SRH on a leather hunt during his classy innings.

Conway too showed great temperament as he was the perfect foil for Gaikwad. He bide his time initially before going for the big shots in the slog overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0/22) was the best bowler on display, while pace sensation Umran Malik had a really bad day in office, having conceded 48 in his four overs. T Natarajan (2/42) picked up two wickets but went for runs.

After a watchful start, Gaikwad produced two superb pull shots to deposit Jansen over fine leg area for two maximums, while Natarajan was sent across the mid-wicket area.

After the powerplay, CSK were 40 for no loss, their best opening partnership this season.

Gaikwad continued to find the boundaries as SRH's sensational pacer Malik was sent on a leather hunt with the opener smashing him over cover before lifting him over long-on for another maximum.

Conway then got into the act, sending Aiden Markram for a boundary at fine leg before going down the wicket for a flat six over the bowler's head.

Malik cranked up the pace, bowling the fastest delivery of the tournament, but ended up conceding two boundaries off Gaikwad's blade as the opener completed his half-century off 33 balls.

Gaikwad then launched into Markram, clobbering him for successive sixes as the 100 was up in the 11th over.

Malik was again in his line of fire as he slogged him over long-on for a boundary before lifting him over long-off for another maximum.

Conway also used his sweep shots to good use and was rewarded for his placements as he completed his fifty in 39 balls with a top-edge six off Marco Jansen in the 15th over. He ended the over with another four and a six as 20 runs came off it.

Natarajan was brought back but he too conceded 13 runs with Gaikwad producing another pull. Conway too sent one over the bowler's head in the 18th over.

Gaikwad, however, missed out of a deserving hundred when he gave an easy catch at point just one run short of the three-figure mark.

Back at the helm of affairs, Dhoni promoted himself but couldn't make an impact as he was holed out by Malik off Natarajan.

(With PTI inputs)