Watch: MS Dhoni smashed consecutive sixes off Sam Curran in the final over of Chennai Super Kings’ innings in the IPL today (April 30), taking his side past 200.
Devon Conway hit 91 off 51 balls from the first 19 overs of the innings, ensuring CSK were in with a chance of making the 200 benchmark. Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan threw the ball to Curran for the final over with Ravindra Jadeja on strike.
Curran made an instant impact, although was perhaps slightly fortunate. He bowled Jadeja a leg-stump full-toss which the all-rounder mis-hit and picked out Liam Livingstone in the deep. That wicket brought Dhoni to the crease with a rapturous reception as ever.
He struggled from his first two balls, however, beaten with the first before knocking a single to long on off his second. Conway now on strike after a wide from Curran, there was controversy over a grassed catch again from Livingstone. Conway had pulled a slower ball short of the boundary, with Livingstone running round and picking up the ball low to the ground. He immediately signalled to the umpire to go upstairs, unsure whether he had caught the ball. Although the different TV angles gave contrasting perspectives, the TV umpire returned a not-out ruling and Dhoni was back on strike – a single having been taken in amongst the chaos.
From there, the CSK captain took centre stage. He uppercut a wide short ball from Curran over point, just clearing the boundary. One more maximum short of the 200, Dhoni was then able to capitalise on a missed yorker from Curran. He smashed the final delivery of the innings over mid-wicket to pick up an 88-metre maximum.
That six was Dhoni’s seventh final over maximum of IPL 2023, despite having faced only 21 balls in the last over of an innings.
Watch: MS Dhoni whacks consecutive sixes off Sam Curran in four-ball final over knock taking CSK past 200
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