CSK enter 10th IPL final with 15-run win over Gujarat Titans

Chennai Super Kings tamed a tenacious Gujarat Giants by 15 runs on a sticky surface to enter their 10th IPL final in Chennai on Tuesday and extend their remarkable consistency in the tournament. CSK did well to reach 172 for 7 on a slow pitch in Qualifier 1 after Hardik Pandya opted to bowl. Considering the conditions, it turned out to be much more than a competitive total as Gujarat Titans had a rare off day to end with 157 all out in 20 overs. Rashid Khan made the CSK fans nervous with a 16-ball 30 towards the end but it was not enough for the Titans.

However, the defending champions will got another shot to make a second successive final in Qualifier 2 on Friday. CSK's master tactician M S Dhoni made the best use of home advantage to take the four time champions to a 10th final in 14 editions. CSK did not take part in 2016 and 2017 editions. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (4-0-18-2) did the star turn for the Super Kings with a brilliant spell during which he strangled the opposition batters to avenge the defeat suffered in the tournament opener. Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana and Deepal Chahar also finished with two wickets each.

Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scored with a classy 60, Ravindra Jadeja (22 and 2 for 18) starred with the bat and ball and Deepak Chahar picked the crucial wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill to take the Super Kings to script a memorable victory as their home fans cheered on.

Gujarat Titans suffered an early setback in their chase when Deepak dismissed Chahar Wriddhiman Saha in the third over of the innings. Hardik Pandya came in at No.3 in a high-pressure game, but he was removed by Maheesh Theekshana soon after, as GT tottered in the Powerplay. The onus was now on Shubman Gill, who had hit two back-to-back hundreds before the first qualifier