Dube, Uthappa’s blistering knocks take CSK to 216/4

Mumbai, April 12 : Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 95 off 46 and Robin Uthappa’s 88 off 50 powered Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to 216/4 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in an IPL match here at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday. The 200th match for CSK was studded by the duo’s combined 17 sixes, the most for CSK in an IPL game. Dube and Uthappa put up a show after the team lost two quick wickets. Playing his first game for RCB, Josh Hazlewood trapped Ruturaj Gaikwad for 17 in the Powerplay. RCB bagged another wicket, thanks to Suyash Prabhudessai’s sensational fielding. Moen Ali (3) left the crease for a run but Prabhudessai’s accurate throw to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik gave no chance to Ali to get back. After seven overs CSK were struggling at 37/2. However, the incoming Dube and opener Uthappa changed the picture of the match. The duo hammered RCB bowlers mercilessly, with Akash Deep being the most expensive as he conceded 58 runs in his four-over quota. Dube and Uthappa stitched a solid 165-run partnership off 74 balls for the third wicket. Wanindu Hasaranga finally got rid of Uthappa as Virat Kohli caught him at deep midwicket in the penultimate over. The Sri Lankan leg-spinner made it two-in-two as CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja was caught at deep midwicket for a golden duck. The final over saw a loud reception for MS Dhoni, but it was Dube who was on strike. Dube, who was on 80, effortlessly smashed two maximums to reach 94. While he needed one six off the last ball to register his ton, Dube could manage only a single as Faf du Plessis dropped him.

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