Punjab Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first, Jordan comes in for Pooran. Chennai Super Kings playing with the same side.
Chennai pretty much depends on their openers, Ruturaj (12) departs early on a short ball. Three quick wickets of Moeen (0), Uthappa (2), and Rayudu (4) puts Chennai under pressure. Dhoni (12) tried to counterattack the spinners but Bishnoi gets him out with a googly. Faf Du Plessis (76) played a terrific knock under pressure and help CSK reach 134-6. The middle-order is an issue for CSK they must address that before the playoffs.
Arshdeep Singh (2 for 35) and Chris Jordan (2 for 20) impressed with the ball.
If Punjab Kings want to cross KKR on net run rate, they need to chase 135 runs in 17 balls which is impossible. If they want to cross Mumbai Indians on NRR, they should chase this under 14 overs. In response, openers started well before Mayank (12) and Sarfaraz (0) fells back-to-back. The skipper KL Rahul was taking the game away single-handedly.
KL Rahul scored 98 runs off just 42 balls and sealed the game for Punjab Kings by 6 wickets under 13 overs. With this victory Punjab Kings still have an outside chance to qualify for playoffs, their NRR is -0.001. If KKR loses with a huge margin and SRH beat MI, Punjab will qualify for playoffs.
Serious concerns for CSK before the playoffs, three back-to-back loses and their out of form middle order. Only Shardul Thakur managed to put some pressure on Punjab with 3 wickets for 28 runs. Deepak Chahar got 1 wicket for 48 runs, leaked a lot of runs.
KL Rahul gets the player of the match award for his unbeaten 98 runs off just 42 balls.
