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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are not done yet. The defending champions have managed to keep their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 playoffs hopes alive with a colossal win over Delhi Capitals (DC). Devon Conway's whirlwind 87-run knock followed by a Moeen Ali special with the ball led to DC failing to pose a threat at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai, on May 8.
Chaotic start
Playing his first match of the season in the absence of unwell Prithvi Shaw, Srikar Bharat was not impressive. The former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter scored runs eight runs off five deliveries before getting dismissed Simarjeet Singh.
Despite the wicket, DC kept up with the required run rate during fielding restrictions. In the fifth over, Maheesh Theekshana got the big wicket of the game. David Warner tried to play reverse sweep but missed the ball completely. The Aussie opener scored 19 runs off 12 deliveries.
Rishabh Pant attacked right from the start and hit hat-trick of boundaries off Theekshana in the same over. Mitchell Marsh attacked from the other end as well as DC scored 59/2 in the powerplay overs.
Ali, Choudhary derail Capitals’ chase
Moeen Ali did not have too many deliveries when he came to bat but he made up for it with the ball. In his first over, the off-spinner got the wicket of Marsh. The Aussie all-rounder scored 25 runs from 20 deliveries. Theekshana applied pressure from the other end with an economical over.
Ali's second over was even more destructive as he got rid of DC skipper. Pant could score 21 runs from 11 deliveries. Ripal Patel showed some intent with a huge six but then got out off the next ball. After 10 overs,
DC were 83/5.
Mukesh Choudhary was brought back to bowl his third over and he got a couple of wickets as well. Axar Patel and Rovman Powell got out for single-digit scores as DC feared getting bundled out with 85/7 in 11 overs.
Boring slog overs
Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur tried to prevent DC from getting all out. But, in the 16th over, Kuldeep's patience gave up and he got out to Simarjeet. The left-handed batter scored just five runs from 17 deliveries. Thakur hit a six off Theekshana and then two fours off Dwayne Bravo but got out in the 18th over. He scored 24 runs from 19 deliveries.
Bravo followed it up with a slower yorker to get Khaleel Ahmed out as DC got all out for 117 with 14 balls left in the innings. CSK won the match by a comfortable margin of 91 runs to rise to eighth spot with their fourth win from 11 games and second since MS Dhoni took over as captain.
Another century partnership
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Conway shared another 100-run partnership for CSK to help them post a big total. Conway and Gaikwad put on 57 runs in the powerplay overs. Conway negated the Kuldeep-threat straightaway by hitting for consecutive sixes and four. The Kiwi opener scored three more boundaries in Kuldeep's second over. Gaikwad missed his half-century as Nortje got the breakthrough in the 11th over. The two in-form batters shared a 110-run opening partnership.
Dube attacks
Replacing injured Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube got promoted up the order and took most of the strike. Dube hammered Thakur after a slow start. Meanwhile, Khaleel came back into the attack and took Conway's wicket. The southpaw scored 87 runs from 49 deliveries including seven fours and five sixes.
Dhoni finishes well
In the next over, Marsh managed to get Dube's wicket. The hard-hitting batter scored 32 runs from 19 deliveries. Dhoni came in to bat at no.5 and made a statement. The 40-year-old hit Marsh for a six and a four in the 18th over.
In the penultimate over, Ambati Rayudu got out after scoring a boundary. Khaleel was looking to finish his spell with an economical over but Dhoni hammered him for a maximum off the final delivery. In the last over bowled by Nortje, Ali and Robin Uthappa got out for consecutive deliveries. Dhoni ran a couple of twos and helped CSK post 208/6 with his eight-ball 21.
