The Punjab Kings (PBKS) bounced back in style in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 by defeating the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 54 runs on Sunday at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.

Liam Livingstone led from the front with an all-round show in Punjab Kings’ comprehensive victory over CSK as he scored his maiden IPL half-century and claimed two crucial wickets with the ball.

Chasing 181, CSK did not get the ideal start with the bat after openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Robin Uthappa were back in the hut. 

Ruturaj was caught in the slips by Dhawan while Uthappa’s leading edge was taken by PBKS skipper Agarwal. Kagiso Rabada and Vaibhav Arora claimed a wicket each.  

PBKS continued to mount pressure with the new ball as debutant Vaibhav Arora claimed his second wicket after Moeen Ali dragged a delivery onto the stumps. 

CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja was out for a duck after Arora disturbed the timber in the final over of the powerplay and CSK were 27-4 after 6 overs. 

Troubles grew further for CSK as half the side was back to the pavilion after Odean Smith joined the wickets tally and dismissed Rayudu in the 8^th over. 

With the asking rate climbing up, Shivam Dube decided to counter-attack and struck the ball cleanly as the left-handed batter smacked five fours and one six. 

However, CSK still required 108 from the final seven overs. Fifty partnership was up for the sixth wicket as 18 runs came from the 14^th over, bowled by Rabada after Dube hit consecutive sixes to reach fifty off just 26 deliveries. 

Liam Livingstone ended the Dube-Dhoni stand by taking two crucial wickets in successive deliveries. While Dube was caught at short-third man, Bravo was caught and bowled. 

Rahul Chahar conceded a six in the 16^th over but bounced back to dismiss Pretorius. CSK required 74 off the final four before Dhoni hammered a four and a six against Livingstone. 

However, the former CSK skipper was caught behind thanks to a sharp catch behind the stumps by debutant Jitesh Sharma. Chahar claimed his third wicket as PBKS wrapped the CSK innings in the 18^th over and won the game convincingly by 74 runs.

Earlier, the Punjab Kings, who were put in to bat first, made two changes – Jitesh Sharma and Vaibhav Arora were named in the eleven. 

CSK made a terrific start with the ball by claiming two early wickets. While PBKS skipper Mayank Agarwal was caught inside the circle, Bhanuka Rajapaksa was run out for 9, thanks to a magnificent fielding display by MS Dhoni and Chris Jordan.

However, Liam Livingstone announced his arrival in style and crunched four fours and three giant sixes which released the early-wicket pressure for PBKS. Shikhar Dhawan supported Livingstone with his aggressive strokes and PBKS were 72-2 at the end of powerplay.

Livingstone, who was dropped by Rayudu off Jadeja’s bowling, completed his maiden IPL fifty and PBKS sailed past hundred in the 10^th over. 

CSK bounced back by scalping two wickets in the space of two overs to dismiss both Dhawan and Livingstone. While Bravo dismissed Dhawan, Jadeja led from the front to claim the crucial wicket of Livingstone, who was caught by Rayudu.

Debutant Jitesh Sharma kept the momentum going for PBKS by playing confidently as the right-handed batter smacked three sixes before he was dismissed by Dwaine Pretorius for 26 in the 15^th over. 

Jordan, on the other hand, brought Shahrukh Khan’s innings to an end after the right-handed batter was caught by Pretorius for 6. PBKS were 152-6 at the end of 16 overs. 

Jordan scalped his second wicket of the innings to dismiss Odean Smith in 18^th over. Rahul Chahar smacked a four and a six each before he was caught in the deep by Bravo. 

Only 4 runs were conceded by Dwayne Bravo in the final over as PBKS posted a total of 180/8 in the first innings. 

Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 180-8  (Liam Livingstone 60, Shikhar Dhawan 33; Chris Jordan 2-23) beat Chennai Super Kings 126 all out (Shivam Dube 57, MS Dhoni 23; Rahul Chahar 3-25) by 54 runs.