Shikhar Dhawan celebrates 200th IPL game with unbeaten 88 v Chennai Super Kings

Punjab Kings opener Shikhar Dhawan en route his unbeaten 88 against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday. Pic/PTI

Punjab Kings (PBKS) started the evening on a struggling note against defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, two left-handers - Shikhar Dhawan (59-ball 88 not out, 9x4, 2x6) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (32-ball 42, 2x4, 2x6) - helped the team post 187-4 in their allotted 20 overs at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

At the time of going to press, CSK were 64-3 after nine overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad was batting on 21 while Ambati Rayudu was on 16. Chennai opener Robin Uthappa (1) and Mitchell Santner (9) were back in the dugout inside the Powerplay overs. Mumbai-based Shivam Dube departed for eight.

Rajapaksa rules

Put in to bat, PBKS lost opener Mayank Agarwal (18 off 21 balls) early and managed just 37 in the Powerplay. Even at the half-way mark, Punjab had 72-1 on the board when Dhawan and Rajapaksa were playing on 27 and 19 respectively. However, both left-handers showed patience and waited for the loose balls which helped them share a partnership of 110 runs off 71 balls.

After two single-digit scores in his last two games against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals, Dhawan scored his second half-century of IPL-15. He reached his 50 with a sweep shot off left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. In the process, Dhawan, who was playing his 200th IPL game, reached 6,000 runs.

Jaddu unlucky

Sri Lankan Rajapaksa was lucky to be dropped on one and five by Gaikwad and Santner respectively. On both occasions, the unlucky bowler was CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja (0-18).

The penultimate over of the innings, bowled by South African pacer Dwaine Pretorius (0-50), cost CSK dearly as Liam Livingstone (19 off 7 balls) hit him twice for a six, creamed a four before Dhawan ended the over with a four, getting 22 from six balls. Medium pacer Dwayne Bravo had two scalps, but conceded 42 runs from his four overs.

Brief scores
PBKS 187-4 (S Dhawan 88', B Rajapaksa 42; D Bravo 2-42) v CSK (scores incomplete)