Shivam Dube's half century takes CSK to 206/ 6 against GT

Chennai, March 26: After a brisk start by the openers, defending champions Chennai Super Kings ( CSK), powered by a rapid fire half century by south paw Shivam Dube, scored 206 for six in their second IPL match against Gujarat Titans ( GT) at the M. A. Chidambaram stadium here on Tuesday night.

Asked to bat first in a repeat of last year's title clash, the CSK openers got off to a brisk start, lost a couple of wickets in the middle, before Dube's powerful hitting and a late assault by young Sameer Rizvi, helped the home team to post a competitive total.

For GT spinner Rashid Khan picked up two wickets conceding 49 runs in his two overs.

After being dropped on one in the first over by Sai Kishore in the slips off medium pacer Azmattulah Omarzai, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad got into his groove hitting some delectable boundaries.

But the Kiwi star Rachin Ravindra, who was the dominant partner, struck a flurry of boundaries and sixers, as the openers gave a strong start adding 62 for the opening wicket in just 5.2 overs.

However, the wicket of Ravindra ( 46, 20 balls, 6x4, 3x6), who was off- balance, and stumped by Wridhaman Saha of Rashid Khan in his first over after the ball richocheted off his pads, gave the much- needed breakthrough for the visitors.

Ajinkya Rahane, the No. 3 batsman, too started off on a positive note, but failed to build on his start and threw away his wicket, stepping out to left arm spinner Sai Kishore and local lad and was easily stumped by Saha after a run- a- ball- 12, after adding 42 runs for the second wicket in 4.5 overs with Ruturaj, as CSK reached the 100- run mark at the halfway stage.

The wicket of Rituraj Gaikwad ( 46, 36 balls, 5x4, 1x6), who was well set for a deserving half century-- edging to Saha off medium pacer Stephen Johnson-- put the innings in a spot of bother as the home favourties were reduced to 127 for three by the 13th over.

But the entry of Dube, who started with a pair of sixers and Darryl Mitchell ( 24, 20 balls, 2x4), raised hopes of a big total as they added 57 runs for the fourth wicket in 5.5 overs.

But from 154 for four, with five overs left, Shivam Dube ( 51, 23 balls, 2x4, 5x6) provided the much needed momentum and the young Sameer Rizvi ( 14 off six balls, 2x6) gave further impetus.

After both of them exited going for the runs in the death overs, all rounder Ravindra Jadeja ensured that the team crossed the 200- run mark to give the CSK bowlers, a decent target to defend.