SRH vs CSK, 44th Match at Sharjah, IPL, Sep 30 2021 - Match Result

That is it then. Super Kings make the playoffs, while Sunrisers are now officially out of the race. All teams have now played 11 matches each, with six teams competing for three slots now, as the points table confirms. Thanks for your company tonight, as we bid goodbye and goodnight! Take care!

Hazlewood is the Player of the Match: "Very satisfying... Feel like I have been learning every game. [Roy] is obviously a guy who sets the game for them and comes hard... We have been working really hard as a group. We have obviously been together and train together. We have some seniors like DJ [Bravo] there..."

The winning captain Dhoni: "It means a lot because the last time in the post-match presentation I had, I said we want to come back strong... You keep learning out of it, and that is what we have done this year even though we played the first half [of the season] earlier. Every credit must be given to the players and the support staff. It wasn't a wicket where it was turning or stopping a lot. But there was good bounce. Bowlers varied their pace and length very well... That is what I told them before the start of the game as well. The execution was there. [The nature of the wicket changed in the second half?] Probably some dew... But I don't think the bounce changed at all. The fans have been great from the start. I can proudly say on behalf of CSK that we are really proud of the fans."

Time for the presentations

Pragadeesh: "Josh for MOM??" --- Should ideally be.

karthik siram: "I'm a biiiig CSK fan. But I feel bad for Bhuvi!"

Rummy: "I believe it's time to replace Raina with Gowtham or Robbie. I can't remember the last time Raina played a match winning innings."

Harish: "19.4 Reminisence of The 2011 World cup Winning Six. "Dhoni finishes off in style.....""

Here's Williamson speaking after the defeat: "Not quite [enough runs]. We were still competitive. It was fantastic, and it is important we keep bringing that. At the end of the powerplay, we were 40-something... The cameos from boys in the lower-middle order gave us something... So we need to look at how to win games. It is hard when you end up on the losing side. Chennai played really well. It looked challenging and variable, and in the end if you can inch out another 10-15 runs... It is tough, it isn't a W next to your name..."

Rahul Oak: "Honestly, this should've been done and dusted in the 18th or 19th over. "

9.30pm Super Kings took it deep, but did the job in the end. Kudos to Sunrisers for fighting right till the end despite having a paltry total. As it has mostly been, du Plessis and Gaikwad set the platform for Super Kings, and despite a wobbly middle order, they get home to make the IPL playoff or semi-final for the 11th time. Tight stuff from Holder and Rashid, but not enough runs on the board means they fall short in the end.

Around the wicket now

Dhoni tightening his gloves, as Williamson has his arm around Kaul while having a chat

2 off 3 now

And Williamson and Kaul in conversation again. Mid-off inside the circle.

Sri: "It's been ages of Raina and Dhoni showing some convincing performance with bat"

Rajkumar Lingav: "CSK should give chances to fringe players. May be Pujara, Gowtham and Robbie."

Over the wicket

Kaul will bowl the final over. Conference between him, Holder and Williamson

Will Dhoni finish it off this ball, and with a boundary?

Charan: "I hope CSK lose this. So that they address their middle order blues before playoffs!!!"

16 needed from 12.

Seetharaman: "Realising his current potential, Dhoni should opt to come only after Jaddu "

Midwicket back, third man in

Fine leg in, and mid-off back now

Over to Dhoni too

Animesh Kherwar: "I knew picking up Dhoni in my fantasy team wasn't a mistake. 3 dismissals and possible 10-15 runs." --- You have looked at it really positively, despite the situation.

Kaul returns, from over the wicket

Anwar Hossain: "Waiting to watch DHONI the finisher!"