In a stunning display of dominance, the Punjab cricket team secured their fifth consecutive victory over defending champions Chennai in the IPL 2024 series. The 49th league match, held on May 1st in Chennai, saw Punjab outshine the hosts with a remarkable performance, securing a seven-wicket victory.
Winning the toss, Punjab opted to bowl first, restricting Chennai to 162/7 in 20 overs. Despite a valiant effort from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 62 runs off 48 balls, Chennai struggled to post a formidable total.
Chasing 163 for victory, Punjab lost Prabhsimran Singh early but recovered well with Jonny Bairstow and Riley Rousseau forging a crucial 64-run partnership for the second wicket. Bairstow contributed 46 runs off 30 balls before being dismissed, while Roseau scored 43 runs off 23 balls.
Shashank Singh and captain Sam Curran ensured there were no further hiccups as they guided Punjab to victory with an unbeaten partnership. Singh scored 25* off 26 balls, while Curran remained not out on 26* off 20 balls. Punjab reached the target in just 17.5 overs, winning the match by seven wickets.
With this win, Punjab equaled Mumbai record of the most consecutive victories over Chennai in the IPL series. Mumbai had also defeated Chennai five times in a row during the 2018-19 season.
This victory was crucial for Punjab as it marked their fourth win in ten matches, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the playoffs. On the other hand, Chennai faced their fifth defeat in ten matches and now need to win their remaining four matches to qualify for the playoffs.
Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar were the pick of the bowlers for Punjab, taking two wickets each and contributing significantly to their team victory.
As the IPL 2024 series progresses, the competition intensifies, and each match becomes crucial for teams eyeing a spot in the playoffs. With Punjab impressive performance against Chennai, the race for the playoffs has become even more thrilling.