The Chennai-winning-Express has finally halted in their 3^rd match against Kings XI Punjab. The Dhoni-led men suffered a –run defeat against the former Chennai player—Ravichandran Ashwin’s side.

Winning the toss CSK opted to bowl first. Chris Gayle started for his new team and returned to his old-self to showcase 33-ball 63 runs’ innings. Aaron Finch came to bat at 5 and scored a second successive duck as Imran Tahir trapped him lbw.

Four more useful innings from Lokesh Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, and Yuvraj Singh helped Punjab post a total of 197 runs for 7 wickets.

Tahir bagged two wickets for KXIP, as many scalps as Shardul Thakur, while Harbhajan Singh, Shane Watson, and Dwayne Bravo picked up a wicket each.

While chasing the daunting total, CSK kept losing wickets at regular intervals. No batsmen could meet the expectations except for Ambati Rayudu and the captain—MS Dhoni himself.

Rayudu made 49 runs before returning to the pavilion but Dhoni singlehandedly kept alive CSK’s dreams of winning. He clubbed 79 runs off 44 deliveries and remained unbeaten as CSK ended up four runs short of Punjab’s total.

Ashwin and Mohit Sharma took one wicket apiece. Andrew Tye also got two wickets to his name while helping the home side clinch a victory.

KXIP have a tough match ahead as the man led by Ashwin will have to face the clinical Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 19. CSK will take on Rajasthan Royals on the next day.

 

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