Twitter Reactions: Matheesha Pathirana, bowlers shine in CSK's homecoming victory against arch-rivals MI
Pathirana registered his career-best bowling figures of 3/15 in his four-over spell.
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Arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians locked horns in the 49th game of the Indian Premier League 2023 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, May 6. This was the second time that the two sides were meeting each other this season, and the four-time champions CSK managed to get an edge over the five-time champions MI again, defeating them by six wickets.
The MS Dhoni-led side, who were coming off two losses (PBKS and RR) and a washed-out game against LSG, were at their best in the ‘El Clasico’ fixture as they made it two in two against the Rohit Sharma-led side this season. Chasing a target of 140 runs at their home ground, which they fondly call ‘Anbuden’, the CSK batters showcased composure and finished off the job after brilliance by the bowlers.
Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad gave CSK a good start in the second innings as they notched up 46 runs in 4.1 overs before the latter was dismissed. Though Gaikwad failed to convert his start into a big knock, his quickfire 16-ball 30 included four fours and two sixes as he batted at a magnificent strike rate of 187.50.
Conway and Ajinkya Rahane continued to bat their way out on the crease before Piyush Chawla struck for the second time to dismiss Rahane. While Mumbai bowlers tried to add pressure on CSK by dismissing Ambati Rayudu in the 13th over, the hosts played calmly and kept sending the ball over the fence at regular intervals. Conway too was dismissed towards the end, but skipper Dhoni promoted himself up, hit the winning runs and and finished off the chase with ease.
Matheesha Pathirana's career-best spell helped CSK set the tone for the chase
Earlier in the game, CSK won the toss and elected to bowl first. MS Dhoni’s decision worked well as the CSK bowlers picked up three wickets within the powerplay, thereby denting Mumbai’s batting lineup. For a change, Cameron Green opened the innings alongside Ishan Kishan, and skipper Rohit Sharma came in at No. 3, but none of the top-order batters could work their magic with the bat.
Tushar Deshpande got the first breakthrough by dismissing Green in the second over, and Deepak Chahar joined the celebrations when he dismissed Kishan and Rohit, striking twice in the third over, and finally opened his account at the IPL 2023. Nehal Wadhera and Suryakumar Yadav stabilised the innings in the middle, but Ravindra Jadeja spoiled the party for the visitors when he scalped Yadav in the 11th over.
Wadhera was the standout performer for Mumbai as he finished as the highest run-scorer for not just his team, but in the contest overall. His 51-ball 64 helped Mumbai put up 139/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The visitors could not do much in the death overs as after dismissing Wadhera in the 18th over, Matheesha Pathirana added two more wickets to his kitty in the final over to finish with his career-best figures of 3/15 in four overs.
Pathirana has grown and developed immensely and has proved it to the entire world why he has been given the tag of ‘Jr. Malinga’. Thanks to his and the entire team’s efforts, Chennai Super Kings jumped to second place in the IPL 2023 points table. After his impressive spell, he also earned praise from his idol- Lasith Malinga.
On that note, let’s look at how Twitter reacted to CSK's victory:
@IrfanPathan
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90
28412
280
13719
@ChennaiIPL
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1.4K203
@mipaltan
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@iamyusufpathan201
@ImRaina8.1K2.4K@IrfanPathan44915
@IPL1K186@ChennaiIPL4.7K1K@ChennaiIPL2.8K617
@paro_nair
11415
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