CSK vs PBKS: Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran chip in with crucial knocks to help Punjab pip Chennai

Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

The Indian Premier League 2023 has been an enthralling affair so far as fans have got to see several mouth-watering clashes. The ‘Super Sunday’ on April 30 treated fans with another edge-of-the-seat thriller as Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings locked horns in Match 41 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Punjab ended up winning the thrilling encounter on the last ball as they successfully chased down 200 with four wickets in hand.

After opting to bat first, CSK posted a massive 200/4 in the first innings courtesy of Devon Conway’s sensational 92* off 52 balls. In reply, PBKS were in a spot of bother on 94/3 after 10.2 overs when Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran got together at the crease and kept their team in the hunt.

The game seemed to be running away from the visitors as they required 82 runs off the last five balls. Livingstone brought his side back in the game as he smacked 22 runs in the 16th over bowled by Tushar Deshpande. The 29-year-old was dismissed for a well-made 40 off 24 balls on the fifth ball of the 16th over and it brought an end to the 57-run stand off 33 balls between him and Curran.

After losing his partner, Sam Curran kept Punjab in the hunt with his knock of 29 off 20 balls. PBKS needed just 31 to win off the last 18 balls having six wickets in hand. Pathirana cleaned up Curran on the first ball of the 17th over and once again tilted the balance in favour of CSK.

However, brilliant cameos from Jitesh Sharma (21 off 10) and Sikandar Raza (13* off 7) took Punjab home on the last ball of the match as they registered their fifth win of the season. Sikandar Raza emerged as the hero for Punjab on the final ball as he smartly guided the ball towards deep square leg with his team requiring three runs to win.

Courtesy of their win, Punjab climbed to the fifth spot on the points table with 10 points from five matches.