Sanju Samson with the bat and Jamie Overton with the ball powered Chennai Super Kings to their first win of this year’s Tata IPL against the Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on Saturday night.
The result electrified the whistle-blowing Chennai crowd after their team had lost their first three matches in the competition.
Samson struck a brilliant century, his fourth in the IPL but the first for his new franchise, while Overton, bowling with great pace and off a good line and length, claimed 4-18 in his four overs on a good track for batting. Those figures are the best so far in this year’s IPL.
Chennai also impressed in the field with South Africa’s Dewald Brevis, back from injury but who didn’t get a bat, claiming three catches in the deep while Sarfaraz Khan caught a contender for catch of the season as he flung himself to his right at point to catch Axar Patel at full stretch.
Only Pathum Nassanka (41 off 21 balls) and South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs (60 off 38 balls, including four fours and three sixes) really threatened an upset after Samson led his team to an impressive 212 for two in their innings after Delhi won the toss and inserted the home team.
Aside from Overton, paceman Anshul Kamboj also impressed with 3-35 while legspinner Noor Ahmad gained some confidence with his first wicket of the campaign.
Delhi had their moments with Nissanka and KL Rahul putting on 61 in five overs for the first wicket, while Stubbs and David Miller added 45 in 26 balls for the fifth wicket. But once Miller had gone, bowled neck and crop by the excellent Overton, Delhi always looked second best despite Stubbs’ efforts.
Earlier, Samson struck a superb unbeaten 115 in 56 balls, including 15 fours and four sixes. His knock was particularly welcome for CSK as he has struggled for form thus far this season. He featured in three key partnerships with fellow opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (62 in 38 balls), Ayush Mhatre (113 in 67 balls) and, after Mhatre was retired out on 59, 37 in 15 balls with Shivam Dube.
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh
DELHI CAPITALS: KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar