An all-around performance by the Chennai Super Kings led by Faf du Plessis's destructive knock of 86 runs off 59 deliveries powered the Chennai Super Kings to a 27-run win against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Dubai International Stadium.
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After being asked to bat first, the opening combination of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis laid a solid foundation for the side with a 61-run partnership in eight overs. The duo have been in sublime form in the competition and are the leading run-scorers in the tournament with 635 and 633 runs, respectively. En route to this partnership, the 24-year old Gaikwad became the youngest player to win the Orange Cap after he scored a well compiled 32 off 27 deliveries before being undone by Sunil Nairne.
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Despite his wicket, du Plessis anchored the innings allowing the likes of Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali to express themselves and attack the bowling unit in the middle overs. The South African batter displayed an array of strokes all around the ground and scored a scintillating 86 off 59 deliveries studded with seven boundaries and three sixes to propel the Super Kings to a mammoth total of 192/3 in their quota of 20 overs.
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The 37-year old was well supported by the middle order as Uthappa, and Moeen too scored a quickfire 31 off 15 and an unbeaten 37 off 20 to give the side much-needed impetus in the back end of the innings to power the team to a high score.
Chasing 193 runs for the coveted title, the Knight Riders started the run chase in a commanding fashion, with Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer forging a crucial 91-run partnership. While the southpaw was the aggressor of the two and scored 50 off 32 balls at a strike rate of 156.25, Gill anchored the innings and notched up his half-century (51) at a strike rate of 118.60.
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However, the wicket of Iyer in the 11th over dented the side as they struggled to get going in the middle overs and lost a flurry of wickets. Despite a late fightback from Lockie Ferguson and Shivam Mavi down the order, the boys in Purple and Gold fell agonisingly short by 27 runs in the summit clash.
