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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets to become the first tea🍨m to qualify for the playo꧑ffs in the ongoing Indian Prem🔥ier League (IPL) 2021 on Thursday.
Chasing a paltry target of 135, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis gave their side a flying start. The pair formed a tremendous 75 runs partnership for the opening wicket in 10 overs. Gaikwad, who is the second-highest run-getter for CSK this year, made 45 off 38 balls before SRH all-rounder Jason Holder dismissed him.
Soon, CSK lost Moeen Ali (17), Suresh Raina (2) and Du Plessis (41) in quick succession as SRH sent shockwaves to the Super Kings unit. But the low total wasn’t enough to help SRH bowlers take advantage.
Ambati Rayudu (16 no) and captain MS Dhoni (🌺14 no) took the team over the finish line as CSK won the game by six wickets.
Earlier, a brilliant display by CSK bowlers restricted SRH at 134/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha was the only highlight in Sunrisers, who score𒁏d 44 runs💖 from 46 deliveries.
Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers for the Super Kings. The Aussie pacer bagged a three-wicket haul while conceding only 24 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Star all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was also impressive with the ball🔯, taking a couple of 🍌scalps for 17 runs in 4 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Good old times. Good effort by the SunRisers to make 🧔a match out of it but Dhoni finishes off in style and Chennai qualify for the play-offs for the 11th time in 12 seasons. Outstanding
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad)
have reached playoffs/semis for the 11th time in t♑he 12 seasons 𒀰they participated.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath)
Pre- corona( always in top form in . Post-corona- (Theme hasn't changed.) Something never changes in life!
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
Vintage and Qualifying to ꦅplay offs. Good old story!
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Come🎉back Super Kings. First team to qualify for the playoffs after missing out on qualification for the first time last season.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Chennai Super Kings in the last four of an edition for the 11th time out of 12 attempts, the most by any side!
The only time they couldn't do so was in 2020 (finished 7th). And of course, did not participate in 2016 & 2017.— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
Dhoni and a six to finish. The story isn't over yet…..
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
. march into the Playoffs! 👏 👏
The -led unit beats &൲amp; becomes the first team to seal a place in the playoffs. 👌 👌
Scorecard 👉
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL)
Rasiganai vellum Thalaivane 💛 🦁💛
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)
MS Dhoni finishes off in style! 😉 win by 6 wickets! 🏅
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia)
MS Dhoni's six takes CSK to the playoffs
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
Normalcy returns. Dhoni finishes off the game with a six. are in🉐to the playoffs.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh)
🏏🥳 WHISTLE PODU! have been on an unstoppable winning streak, and they 𓄧become the firstꦬ team to qualify for the playoffs in this edition ✨
👀 Can they lift the IPL title this year?
📷 IPL •
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy)
Knocked the playoffs door throughout the last season, broke it down before anyone this sea🐻son. Comeback Super Kings (learning from Starsports).
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)
A six from MS Dhoni to finish the game, we are seen thi🐻s for💯 almost two decades. The Mahi way.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)