IPL 2023: 41st Match CSK vs PK: April 30, 2023

A last-ball thriller unfolded at Chepauk as Sikandar Raza’s heroic three runs off Matheesha Pathirana’s final delivery stunned the Chennai Super Kings and the home crowd. Despite a formidable batting performance, with Devon Conway’s unbeaten 92 and MS Dhoni’s late fireworks propelling them to a challenging total of 200, the Super Kings found themselves on the losing side. They had controlled the Kings’ chase for the most part, but Pathirana’s accurate bowling turned the tide in the final over. Despite struggling to hit boundaries, Raza and Shahrukh Khan managed to keep their nerve and needed three off the last ball. Raza pulled off a remarkable shot, landing the ball between deep fine leg and deep midwicket, securing the required runs and sealing victory for the Kings. The Chennai Super Kings were seemingly in control throughout the match, particularly when Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran struggled against the bowling of Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana. However, Livingstone turned the game around with a blistering display, hitting three sixes in four balls off Tushar Deshpande. Although Livingstone was dismissed, Jitesh Sharma and Shahrukh Khan continued the momentum, reducing the equation to 48 off 24 balls. With some big hits, including two consecutive sixes off Ravindra Jadeja, the Kings fought back. However, Pathirana’s delivery to remove Curran’s off stump and Jitesh’s controversial dismissal halted their progress, leaving them with a challenging target of 15 runs from the last eight balls. Kings started their chase aggressively, with Shikhar Dhawan leading the charge and scoring 21 runs off just nine balls. Prabhsimran Singh also contributed with some attacking strokes, pushing the score to 46 without loss in the first four overs. Although Dhawan fell for 28, Prabhsimran continued his aggressive approach until he was stumped off a Jadeja delivery. Kings faced a slowdown as Atharva Taide struggled to score, managing only 13 runs off 16 balls before falling to Jadeja. Livingstone and Curran also found it difficult to score freely against the spinners, allowing the required run rate to climb above 12. However, Livingstone’s onslaught against Deshpande brought the Kings back into the game. The Kings bowlers had to toil in the sweltering Chennai heat against Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, who provided a solid start for the Super Kings. Gaikwad showcased his impeccable timing, while Conway opted for aerial shots, including consecutive boundaries off Curran in the sixth over. Super Kings reached 57 without loss at the end of the powerplay, taking advantage of the spinners. However, Gaikwad’s stumping off Raza’s legbreak brought a breakthrough. To counter the spinners, Super Kings sent Shivam Dube up the order, but he was dismissed after hitting a six. The left-handed duo of Conway and Moeen Ali attacked the spinners, with Conway reaching a half-century off just 30 balls. With the innings heading towards a formidable total, Super Kings lost momentum when Jadeja fell off the first ball of the final over, followed by Dhoni managing just one run off his first two deliveries. However, Dhoni regained his touch and smashed two sixes off Curran’s bowling, helping Super Kings reach 185. Conway remained unbeaten on a brilliant 92 off 52 balls, comprising 16 boundaries and a six. Despite falling short of the 200-run mark, Super Kings had set a challenging target