Another wonderfully crafted knock from Devon Conway (92 not out) and some vintage finishing by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (13 not out off 4 balls) had delighted the rapturous crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. But it was Punjab Kings who had the last laugh.

The visitors produced even better batsmanship to overhaul the Super Kings’ 200/4 and clinch a terrific four-wicket victory that lifted them to fifth on the points table. None of their batters could register a half-century, yet Punjab Kings could chase that big total down, thanks to the combined effort of their batting group.

Liam Livingstone (40 off 24 balls) and Sam Curran (29 off 20 balls) brought Punjab Kings’ run chase back on track with their game-changing 57-run stand for the fourth wicket, while keeper-batter Jitesh Sharma (21 off 10 balls) complemented their efforts thereafter.

Punjab Kings’ Liam Livingstone hits one of his four sixes against CSK at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. The England all-rounder’s 40 off 24-ball provided the thrust to Punjab’s 201-run chase after Devon Conway’s 92 not out off 52 balls helped CSK post 200/4. Punjab opener Prabhsimran Singh made 42 off 24 balls. PTI picture

But the Super Kings were back on top again when Jitesh perished in the penultimate over with Punjab still requiring 15 off the last eight balls. However, Sikandar Raza, coming out at No.8, helped Shikhar Dhawan’s team be in the chase as he got a boundary off the first ball he faced.

The job still wasn’t easy for Punjab as they had to knock off nine runs off the final over, which was to be bowled by the consistent Matheesha Pathirana. Raza made sure he took most of the strike in that deciding over, with M. Shahrukh Khan having to face just one ball. Pathirana, the Sri Lankan slinger, gave little room or width, but Raza ran hard between the wickets to pick up consecutive twos of the fourth and penultimate balls of that final over. With three needed off the last ball, Pathirana dropped it a tad short and Raza (13 not out off 7 balls), not looking to hit it too hard, placed it towards the vacant region over square leg.

Shahrukh and he ran as hard as they could as Punjab got those required three runs to record what certainly was a priceless win.

Punjab were losing their way even after Prabhsimran Singh (Impact Player for Kagiso Rabada) and captain Dhawan (28) had taken them off to a flier, smashing 50 inside the first five overs. But Ravindra Jadeja removed Prabhsimran (42) and No.3 Atharva Taide while Tushar Deshpande was lucky to pick up Dhawan as Punjab slipped to 94/3 in the 11th over.

But then, Livingstone took on Deshpande and smoked him for three sixes in the 16th over, which cost the Super Kings as many as 24. In the next over, Curran and Jitesh smashed Jadeja for a six each.

A total of 41 runs from those two overs put the pressure right back on the CSK camp and eventually cost them the game. “The win shows the great character of our side to bounce back from that loss (to Lucknow Super Giants),” skipper Dhawan said.

Lauding the effort of Livingstone and Jitesh, Dhawan stated: “As a captain, I wanted Liam to play more overs, and Jitesh too. The good sign is that all the boys are performing.”

Dhoni has done most things right so far in this IPL, but too much of faith in pacer Deshpande seems to be hurting CSK. Deshpande can pick up wickets, but his economy rate is a big concern. In this game too, he struck thrice but conceded 49 off his four overs.

Precisely, barring Pathirana, CSK’s pace attack continues to struggle.