Chahal's hat trick seals Punjab win, ends Chennai's IPL hopes

Chennai Super Kings became the first team eliminated from playoff contention in this year’s Indian Premier League following a four-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings on Wednesday, highlighted by a stunning hat trick from Yuzvendra Chahal.

Punjab chased down the target with confidence, powered by half-centuries from skipper Shreyas Iyer (72) and opener Prabhsimran Singh (54), reaching 194-6 and moving up to second place on the points table with 13 points.

Chahal turned the game in Punjab’s favor during the penultimate over, claiming all four of his wickets in that spell to finish with figures of 4-32. Chennai, in response, were bowled out for 190 in 19.2 overs.

It’s been a disappointing campaign for the five-time IPL champions, who have now missed the playoffs three times in the last four seasons. Despite a promising start with a win over Mumbai Indians, Chennai’s season quickly unraveled with five consecutive home defeats. After briefly halting their slump by beating Lucknow Super Giants, they slumped again with three more losses and have managed just four points from 10 matches.

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Iyer smartly controlled Punjab’s solid run-chase in the company of Singh with both batters hitting 10 fours and seven sixes in between them.

Priyansh Arya (23) provided a brisk start of 44 off 28 balls before he was caught behind of a short ball from Khaleel Ahmed in the fifth over.

Chennai struck back briefly in the middle overs when Singh slog swept spinner Noor Ahmad and was caught at mid-wicket and Maheesh Pathirana dismissed Nehal Wadhera in the 15th over.

But Iyer upped the ante by smacking 20 runs in Pathirana’s next over that featured two straight sixes. Shashank Singh smashed two sixes in his 12-ball knock of 23 before he was spectacularly caught by Dewald Brevis at deep mid-wicket.

With only three required for victory Punjab lost two more wickets before Marco Jansen raised the victory with a winning boundary. Iyer dragged Pathirana’s full pitched delivery back onto his stumps which ended a scintillating 41-ball knock and Suryansh Shedge was caught at mid-wicket against Ahmed, reports UNB.