IPL 2020: CSK win by 9 wickets, KXIP knocked out

Chasing Kings XI Punjab's 153 for 6, CSK won the match by whopping 9 wickets with 7 balls to spare.

Abu Dhabi: After Lungi Ngidi has done an excellent job with the ball, opening batsmen Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis have taken Chennai Super Kings on the finishing line as the Yellow Army finished their 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign on a high here at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Sunday. CSK's win meant KXIP are officially out of the tournament.

Chasing Kings XI Punjab's 153 for 6, CSK won the match by whopping 9 wickets with 7 balls to spare. This was CSK's third successive wins in IPL 2020.

In their final match in IPL 2020, skipper MS Dhoni decided to field winning the toss and his decision received efficient support from his bowlers. Lungi Ngidi has especially been fiercest as he picked up three wickets, including the scalps of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, to add early blows to the KXIP, who were vying for a playoff berth.

Kings XI Punjab are officially out of IPL 2020.

Following Ngidi's superb performance with the ball, Gaikwad (62 off 49 not out) and du Plessis (48 off 34) shared an 82-run partnership to lay the foundation for CSK's thumping victory. After du Plessis' dismissal by Chris Jordan, Ambati Rayudu played a prolific innings (30 off 30 balls not out) and shared an unbroken 72 runs partnership with Gaikwad to complete the proceedings.

Earlier, being put in to bat in the first match of Sunday's double-header, KXIP had set a modest 154 runs target for CSK on the back of Deepak Hooda's unbeaten 62 off 30 balls. They got off to a good start from the opening batsmen KL Rahul (29 off 27) and Mayank Agarwal (26 off 15). The duo added 48 runs for the opening wicket. However, their removals in a span of three overs left KXIP reeling at 62 for 2. Both Rahul and Agarwal were bowled by Lungi Ngidi.

They were soon reduced to 68 for 3 in the 11th over and 72 for 4 in the 12th over as Nicholas Pooran and Chris Gayle fell prey to Imran Tahir and Shardul Thakur.

Deepak Hooda (62 off 30 not out) then had rebuilt KXIP's innings playing a quickfire knock. Hooda hit four splendid sixes and three fours to help KXIP post a moderate total on the board. But there was no one at the other end to provide support to him. Mandeep Singh stayed for a while but his 15 balls 14 runs knock was cut short by Ravindra Jadeja. Hooda singlehandedly took KXIP past the 150 runs mark.

Deepak Hooda's 62 off 30 balls went in vain.

Ngidi soon struck for the third time in the match. This time he picked the wicket of James Neesham in the first delivery of the 18th over. Ngidi bowled four overs and took three wickets giving away 39 runs. In his final over, however, he conceded 14 runs that helped Punjab to set 154 runs target for CSK.

However, CSK had the last laugh as they finished their 2020 IPL campaign at the seventh position, and played spoilsport to KXIP's campaign.

In the second match of the evening, Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Rajasthan Royals. The winning team will qualify for the playoffs.