Chennai Super Kings defeated Delhi Capitals by 27 runs at Chepauk thanks to an all-around performance that allowed the four-time winners advance to the IPL playoffs.
Shivam Dube led CSK in scoring with 25 runs. Six other hitters also reached the 20-run mark, including MS Dhoni with 20 in nine pitches.
After Deepak Chahar dismissed both of the Capitals openers in the space of three overs, CSK gained the upper hand by scoring 167 thanks to Dhoni’s late hits.
Soon Capitals fell to 25 for 3 after which Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja applied the squeeze. In the end, Matheesha Pathirana put the finishing touches on a victory for the hosts that increased their NRR.
With 15 points in 12 games, CSK are now almost guaranteed to finish in the top four. Another victory in their next two games should guarantee a top-two finish. The best the Capitals can do right now is 14 points, which may not be enough for this season.
Dhoni provides the Midas Touch
Although Jadeja took a little to get going, he launched CSK’s attack in the 18th over by hitting Kuldeep for a six.
Dhoni, who was having trouble sprinting, then wrecked Khaleel Ahmed’s statistics. After three overs, Khaleel had a four economy rate, but he misplayed Dhoni by being predictable. Dhoni seized on deliveries that Khaleel pushed across to him by pulling him for six, getting an edge for four, and concluding the over with a straight six.
Marsh did grab two wickets in the 20th over but CSK managed to end their innings with a score of 167 on the board. This score proved to be sufficient to seal a victory on a slow Chepauk surface. That 21-run over in the 19th enabled CSK reach 160. choosing to bat first at the toss the wise decision.
In reference to his nine-ball 20, Dhoni said, “That’s what my job is,” following the game. “I told them not to make me run around too much. This is what I’m meant to do. I’m glad to contribute because this is working and other people are performing their jobs. I’m also practicing as a result.”
“To be honest, we had no idea what a good score was. You never know if a score of 160–170 is enough when you get them.”
Chennai Super Kings 167 for 8 (Shivam Dubey 25, Gaikwad 24*, Marsh 3-18) beat Delhi Capitals 140 for 8 (Rilee Rossouw 35, Manish Pandey 27, Matheesha Pathirana 3-37) by twenty-seven runs