Delhi Capitals down CSK to go top

The Delhi Capitals secured a nervous three-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings in a top-of-the-table clash in the Indian Premier League at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Monday.

An excellent bowling display from Delhi, led by Axer Patel (4-0-18-2) helped restrict the Super Kings to just 136 for five after Rishbah Pant had won the toss and sent MS Donhi’s men in to bat first. In reply, the Chennai bowlers pushed Pant’s men all the way with Kagiso Rabada hitting his first ball for four to win the game as Delhi ended on 139 for seven with two balls to spare.

Delhi kept losing wickets at crucial intervals and Chennai’s hopes were lifted of an unlikely victory when Shikhar Dhawan was caught at short extra-cover by Moeen Ali off Shardul Thakur (4-0-13-2) for 39. Dhawan had struck three boundaries and two sixes from 35 balls and had been given out caught behind just two balls earlier, but reviewed successfully.

Prithvi Shaw (18) struck three fours before lofting a ball from Deepak Chahar (3-0-34-1) straight to Faf du Plessis at mid-off. Shreyas Iyer (2) lasted just seven deliveries before Pant himself struck one four and a six from 12 balls before offering Ali another catch in the covers off Ravindra Jadeja (4-0-28-2).

Debutante Ripal Patel (18) looked full of confidence, playing the ball nicely off the pitch, striking two fours but then was caught at long-on by Chahar from the bowling of Jadeja. Ravichandran Ashwin (2) was sent in ahead of Shimron Hetmeyer and lasted just three deliveries before being bowled off his pads by Thakur.

Hetmeyer was dropped in the deep off Dwayne Bravo (1.4-0-20-1) on 12 with Delhi still needing 22 runs but the West Indian made his lifeline count, striking two fours and a six to end unbeaten on 28 from 18 deliveries to help get his side home.

Despite losing Axer Patel (5) in the final over, caught by Ali at short extra-cover off Bravo, Rabada clipped his first ball down to fine leg for the winning runs.

Earlier, Chennai’s innings was rescued by Ambati Rayudu who registered his 21st IPL half-century, ending unbeaten on 55 from 43 balls with five boundaries and two sixes as his side struggled to score freely.

Anrich Nortje (4-0-37-1) had Ruturaj Gaikwad (13) back in the pavilion early while Axer had Du Plessis caught at deep mid-wicket for just 10. Robin Uthappa (19) struck just one boundary from 19 balls before being caught and bowled by Ashwin (4-0-20-1).

Rayudu and Dhoni (18) then combined for a vital fifth-wicket stand of 70 from 65 deliveries to rescue their side and give their bowlers something to bowl at. Dhoni, uncharacteristically, did not find the fence in his 27-ball innings but proved valuable as Rayudu dominated the stand.

Dhoni eventually fell, edging Avesh Khan (4-0-35-1) behind to Pant. Rabada, despite going wicketless in his four overs, only conceded 21 runs but will be happy at scoring the winning runs and sending his side top of the log with just one game remaining.

DELHI CAPITALS: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Ripal Patel, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, MS Dhoni (capt, wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood