The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were at their best against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as the three-time winners registered a dominating 6-wicket win at Sharjah in Match 44 on Thursday (30 September) that knocked SRH out of IPL 2021.
The right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood bowled brilliantly against Kane Williamson and Co. as he returned figures of 3-24 in his 4 overs and the Aussie quick credited his CSK teammate Dwayne Bravo for this success.
“I put in a lot of hard work and learned a lot every game. It's hard to learn since there's a different team every game, but it's satisfying. It's good to learn from DJ Bravo over the last few weeks too, and it's been a great learning curve for me,” Hazlewood said in the post-match presentation.
The 30-year-old Hazlewood got the big wicket of SRH opener Jason Roy which helped CSK bowlers to restrict the Hyderabad-based franchise for a paltry 134/7 in their quota of 20 overs.
IPL 2021: WATCH - MS Dhoni takes CSK into the playoffs with a vintage shot for six
Current table toppers CSK batters on the other hand played brilliantly on the slightly slow wicket with openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (45) and Faf du Plessis (41) setting up the platform for skipper MS Dhoni to finish the game with a maximum which also took his side to the playoffs.
Hazlewood who is a part of Australia’s formidable bowling attack with the likes of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, then opined on the importance of Englishman Jason Roy’s wicket as well as weighed in on the nature of the wicket at Sharjah.
“Getting Roy was a big wicket, and it was good to put the pressure back on them early. The wicket offered a little, it was on the slower side and a little low as well. We are happy we are applying whatever we are doing in the practice,” the right-arm quick Josh Hazlewood concluded.
CSK became the first team to qualify for playoffs of IPL 2021 with the 6-wicket win over SRH. MS Dhoni and Co. will now take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Saturday (2 October) at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
