CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings maintained the second spot in the points table of Indian Premier League with 7th win in 12 matches as they beat bottom-placed Delhi Capitals by 27 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, here on Wednesday night.
After scoring 167 runs on board, the hosts reatricted the visitors at 140 in allotted overs.
Opting to bat first, skipper MS Dhoni's late cameo (20 off 9) guided Chennai Super Kings to a competitive total of 167/8.
DC spinners were at their best as they kept the CSK batters at bay with six batters crossing 20 and the highest individual score was 25. But Dhoni's crucial cameo ensured CSK finished with a fighting total.
CSK lost the in-form opener Devon Conway early in the Powerplay. It was Axar Patel who got the big fish for lbw. Ajinkya Rahane, who came next, started off with two boundaries and Gaikwad played an aggressive pull shot on the front foot for a boundary in the next over as CSK posted 49/1 at the end of the Powerplay.
Axar delivered another blow to CSK as he got rid of Gaikwad in the next over.
Kuldeep Yadav struck in the 10th over to dismiss Moeen Ali. The spinner pushed it wider after seeing the batter come down. Moeen got a thick outside edge which went straight to the fielder at backward point and CSK were reduced to 66-3 halfway through the innings.
In the penultimate over of the innings bowled by Khaleel, Dhoni pulled the ball over midwicket for six. He followed it up with a boundary and lofted it back over his head for a flat six, taking 21 off the over and CSK reached 160-6.
Jadeja began the last over well with a boundary, the next he miscued it and handed an easy catch to the long-on fielder, ending a crucial 38-run partnership. A dot ball and a single later, Marsh put an end to Dhoni's cameo as CSK eventually posted 167/8 in 20 overs.
In reply, DC lost out-of-form David Warner in the first over, then lost Philip Salt in the third who was Deepak Chahar’s second victim. Manish Pandey (27) and Rilee Rossouw (35) added 59 runs for the fourth wicket.
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 167/8 in 20 overs ( Shivam Dube 25 off 12, MS Dhoni 20 off 9; Mitchell Marsh 3/18, Axar Patel 2/27) beat Delhi Capitals 140/8 in 20 overs (Manish Pandey 27, Rilee Rossouw 35, Deepak Chahar 2/28).
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