Blackcaps batter Devon Conway continued his hot streak in the Indian Premier League (IPL), picking up man-of-the-match honours even in his Chennai Super Kings' four wicket defeat to Punjab Kings.
With three half-centuries in his last four innings, Conway put in a season-best effort at the top of the Chennai order, striking an unbeaten 92 runs from 52 balls, with 16 fours and one six in the Super Kings' 200/4.
The 31-year-old combined in an 86-run stand for the opening wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad (36) and another 44-run partnership with Shivam Dube (28).
Conway's innings - his fifth fifty of the season - also moved him to within touching distance of the IPL's leading run-scorers in 2023.
His 414 runs at an average of just over 59 puts him just 14 back from leader Yashasvi Jaiswal (428 at 47.55) and ex-South Africa captain Faf du Plessis (422 at 60.28).
Unfortunately for Conway, though, Chennai's bowlers couldn't back up his efforts with the bat.
In response, Punjab chased down the 201 run target from the final ball of the innings, as a six-laded 40 runs from 24 balls to England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, and 42 runs from 24 balls at the top of the order to Prabhsimran Singh got the Kings home.
The win has Chennai in fourth place on the IPL ladder on net run rate, tied with Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals and now Punjab on 10 points.
Meanwhile, in the day's later game, fellow Blackcap Trent Boult picked up a single wicket, removing India batter Suryakumar Yadav as his Rajasthan Royals lost by six wickets against Mumbai Indians.
Batting first, 124 runs to Jaiswal gave Rajasthan 212/7 from their 20 overs, as Yadav (55) and Australia's Tim David (45 not out) got Mumbai home with three balls to spare.
At present, both Conway's Chennai and Boult's Rajasthan will qualify for the IPL finals, needing a top four finish.
