Dubai: Delhi Capitals edged past Chennai Super Kings in a thriller beating them by 6 wickets in the Indian Premier League on Monday. Batting first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a mere 137, Delhi had to dig deep as Chennai’s bowler were very tight throughout the game denying the batsmen anything to have a go. Opener Shikhar Dhawan(39) held the anchor of the of the innings having seen seen his partners getting dismissed like a pack of cards. Shreyas Iyer went on a single digit while skipper Rishabh Pant got just 15 and that too after player 12 balls.
Ravindra Jadeja(2/28) and Shardul Thakur(2/13) topped the charts for CSK dragging the game to the wire. Dhawan got dismissed at crucial moment and it looked like CSK would get the victory. However, with 28 needed off the last the last three overs, Shimron Hetmyer(28*) Hammered a few lastly blows to reduce the deficit. Delhi needed 6 off the penultimate over, CSK’s Dwayne Bravo despite bowling a good spell was unable to hold off the Capitals as Kagiso Rabada flicked one from the West Indian’s for a boundary to seal the deal helping his side climb to the summit.
Earlier, CSK batters too had a outing to forget after only posting 136/5. Ambati Rayudu(57) scored a fighting knock on a day when both of the inform batters Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis failed. Moeen Ali was a guest of mere 8 balls while Robin Uthappa after getting the chance for the first time in the second phase of the tournament struggled with timings managing a runner ball 19. Skipper MS Dhoni too was finding it difficult to score against Delhi bowling unit who have been solid the whole season. Axar Patel(2/18) was the leading man while the two seamers Anrich Nortje and Avesh got a wicket each.
Brief Scores: Delhi Captials 139/7 in 19.4 overs(Shikhar Dhawan 39, Shimron Hetmyer 28* ; Ravindra Jadeja 2/28,Shardul Thakur 2/13) beat Chennai Super Kings 136/5 in 20 overs (Ambati Rayudu 55, MS Dhoni 18; Axar Patel 2/18, Ravichandran Ashwin 1/20)
