Sharjah: Shikhar Dhawan (101 not out, 58b) scored a brilliant unbeaten century as Delhi Capitals kept their superb form going beating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets in the ongoing Indian Premier League at Sharjah on Saturday (October 17).
Chasing a target of 180, Delhi stumbled early as Prithvi Shaw went home in the opening over for a duck. Ajinkya Rahane’s bad stint continued as he went for just eight. Shreyas Iyer along with Dhawan started re-building the innings before the skipper got out going for a big hit.
Marcus Stoinis started hitting from the word go but got out for 24 off 14. However, Dhawan continued his onslaught at the other end hitting 14 fours and one six in the process. Although Sam Curran bowled a superb 19th over to keep the fight going till the end, Patel’s three hits over the ropes in the last over clinched the victory.
Earlier in the match, MS Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat. CSK got hit early as Curran went home in the first over. Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis started steading the ship before the former was bowled for 36 off Anrich Nortje. Faf got to his fifty but got out short after thanks to a good catch from Dhawan for a well-made 58.
Skipper Dhoni wasn’t able to do much as he went hard a delivery from Nortje only to edge it to Alex Carey behind stumps. Kagiso Rabada (1/33) was the pick of the bowlers again for Delhi. But a late onslaught by Ambati Rayudu (45 not out) along with Ravindra Jadeja (33 not out) made sure the scoreboard kept ticking scoring a chunky 45 runs in the last three overs to take the score to 179/4 in 20 overs.
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 179/4 (Faf du Plessis 58, Ambati Rayudu 45 not out) lost Delhi Capitals 185/5 in 19.5 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 101 not out) by five wickets.
