Twitter Reactions: Shivam Dube, Robin Uthappa power Chennai to crushing win over Bangalore

Bangalore and Chennai faced each other in the 22nd match of the Indian T20 League at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai. After winning the toss, Bangalore decided to bowl first. They had a good start as pacer Josh Hazlewood trapped out of form, Ruturaj Gaikwad (17) plumb in the fourth over of the innings. The bowling unit bowled well as they conceded only 35 runs at the end of the powerplay.

On the fourth ball of the seventh over, Moeen Ali (3) got run out due to a brilliant piece of fielding from debutant Suyash Prabhudesai. Ali played the cut short and took off for a run thinking that the ball will pass the fielder. However, the ball was stopped by Prabhudesai, who threw the ball towards Dinesh Karthik. The latter disturbed the bails and the English all-rounder’s inning came to an end.

In came Shivam Dube and what followed was an absolute carnage from him and Robin Uthappa. The duo took the attack to the opposition bowlers as they stitched a partnership of 165 runs of just 74 balls. Dube remained unbeaten on 95 off 46 balls, including eight sixes and five fours. On the other hand, Uthappa scored 88 off 50 including nine sixes and four fours before getting out to Wanindu Hasaranga.

The partnership helped the team to post a daunting total of 216/4, which is the highest team total in the season so far. In reply, the three-time finalists had a poor start as their skipper Faf du Plessis (8) became the first-ever ITL wicket of Maheesh Theekshana in the third over of the innings. Two overs later, former skipper Virat Kohli (1) got out to Mukesh Choudhary. Theekshana struck once again as he trapped Anuj Rawat (12) for lbw on the last ball of the powerplay.

Glenn Maxwell, who was going great guns with an innings of 26 off 11 with two fours and as many sixes, was clean bowled by skipper Ravindra Jadeja. At 50/4, youngsters Prabhudesai (34) and Shahbaz Ahmed stitched a partnership of 60 runs and tried to up the scoring rate before the former got out to Theekshana. 

Ahmed (41) followed two overs later as he became the fourth victim of Theekshana. Dinesh Karthik (34) tried his best but the target was way beyond his reach. Chennai eventually won the game by 23 runs.

This is how Twitter reacted