Wednesday, Aug 10, 2022
Chennai Super Kings chased down Delhi Capitals' 172/5 with two balls to spare and entered ninth IPL final. Catch highlights of DC vs CSK, Qualifier 1 here.
Published: 10 Oct 2021, Updated: 11 Oct 2021 12:03 am
MS Dhoni to the fore as the legend finally played a knock worthy of his legacy. He delivered in style, hitting 18 off 6 with the help of three fours and a six. Earlier, he won the toss and put Rishabh Pant's table toppers, Delhi Capitals in to bat. Prithvi Shaw (60 off 34), Pant (51 off 35) and Shimron Hetmyer (37 off 24) helped Delhi post a good total of 172/5. But that, as it turned out, wasn't going to be enough for a team seeking redemption after the last season's debacle. And leading the charge was young opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad who hit 70 off 50. He got just the perfect support from a man who himself seeking his own redemption -- Robin Uthappa (63 off 44) -- before Dhoni's arrival with the bat.
CSK, three-time champions, are in the final again, their 9th. DC, last season's finalists, can still make the final. They play the winners of Monday's Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, in Qualifier 2.
Then, a wide as Tom Curran wilts under the pressure. Chennai need four off three and MS Dhoni (14 off 5) is on strike. And a four as Dhoni pulls it behind the wicket. CSK are in the final, once again. In fact, 9th final. CSK - 173/6 (19.4); DC - 172/5 (20)
Back-to-back fours for MS Dhoni, this time an inside edge. Very lucky. 5 in 3 now.
Tom Curran, on a hat-trick, is hit for a four by MS Dhoni to through extra over. Dhoni picks the half-pitch, slower delivery. 9 in 4.
Tom Curran strikes first ball. Moeen Ali (16 off 12), holes out. Kagiso Rabada takes a cool catch at deep square leg. Ravindra Jadeja joins MS Dhoni.
Well, MS Dhoni still got it. He connects and a massive six. 11 from the over. Avesh Khan's figures: 1/47. Chennai need 13 in 6. Tom Curran with the last over. CSK - 160/5 (19)
Avesh Khan on with the penultimate over and he gets the big wicket. Ruturaj Gaikwad (70 off 50), caught by Axar Patel. Chennai now need 24 in 11. MS Dhoni is the new man. CSK - 149/5 (18.1)
Anrich Nortje on with his final over. Ruturaj Gaikwad hits the first ball for a four. Another one off the fifth ball. And 600 runs for Gaikwad this season. 11 from the over. Nortje's figures: 1/31. Chennai need 24 in 12. CSK - 149/4 (18)
Anrich Nortje returns for his third over. And runs for Chennai as Moeen Ali hits the fifth for a four. Eight from the over. Chennai need 44 in 24. 35 runs and three wickets in the last five overs. CSK - 129/4 (16)
Kagiso Rabada returns for his third over. and what an effort from Delhi. Shreyas Iyer and Rabada team up to send Ambati Rayudu back. Run out for 1 off 3.
Unbelievable retrieval and throw from mid-wicket by Iyer, then a stunning work to dislodge the bails at the bowler's end by Rabada. Moeen Ali is the new man. CSK - 119/4 (14.4). Photo - IPL/BCCI
Shardul Thakur is promoted with a clear mandate. He can do the damage. And another fifty for Ruturaj Gaikwad (50 off 37). But Thakur departs (0 off 1). Skier. Second for Curran. Caught by Shreyas Iyer, again. Chennai need 56 in 36. CSK - 117/3 (14)
Almost a collision. But Shreyas Iyer keeps his senses alert and completes the catch to send Robin Uthappa (63 off 44) back. Wicket for Tom Curran. CSK - 113/2 (13.3)
Ravichandran Ashwin returns for his second, and he pulls out again. Ruturaj Gaikwad keeps his calm this time. Not playing the 'pull out game'. And a single. Robin Uthappa hits the second for a four, over the midfield. And 100-run stand in 70 balls. Another four, straight down the ground. Uthappa is revitalised, in so many ways. 12 from the over. Chennai need 62 in 42. CSK - 111/1 (13)
A hamstrung Robin Uthappa is getting medical attention. He's done the hard work. Unbeaten on 51 off 37. Chennai need 76 in 51 balls. CSK - 97/1 (11.3)
Fifty for Robin Uthappa, 51 in 35 with five fours and two sixes. Chennai need 92 in 60. Tom Curran's figures so far: 0/10 from two overs. CSK - 81/1 (10)
Ravichandran Ashwin gets his first over. Seven runs from it. Some fun battle. Ashwin doesn't release the ball despite completing his routine, then Ruturaj Gaikwad pulls out when it's reloaded. The second-wicket stand between Gaikwad (25 off 25) and Robin Uthappa (47 off 32) is now worth 72 runs in 50 balls. In the previous two overs, Delhi conceded five and four runs respectively. CSK - 75/1 (9)
Avesh Khan continues. A dot, then Robin Uthappa hits the second ball for a massive six over cow corner. A free-wheeler. A four off the next, to mid-wicket boundary. Ok, another six, this time over long on off the fifth. And fifty-run stand with Ruturaj Gaikwad in 31 balls. A huge over as Uthappa (40 off 24) hits another four. 20 runs. CSK - 59/1 (6)
Anrich Nortje continues. He's generating some pace. Four runs from the over, a double and two singles. CSK - 20/1 (3).
Earlier, new man Robin Uthappa hit the first ball he faced for a four in the first over. Then, Avesh Khan leaked eight runs in the second over.
Anrich Nortje strikes first over. He cleans up fellow South African, Faf du Plessis (1 off 2). CSK - 3/1 (0.4)
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis to open for Chennai. Anrich Nortje with the new ball. Target - 173.
The highest target chased down in Dubai this season was 166 by Kolkata Knight Riders against Punjab Kings. 173 is seven more. Prithvi Shaw top-scored with a 34-ball 60, while Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer hit 51 not out and 37 respectively. Josh Hazlewood (2/29) got two wickets.
Shardul Thakur with the last over of the innings. Two dots to Rishabh Pant. Then another. Then a streaky four, behind the wicket. MS Dhoni stands still. No chance. A double, to long off. And another double, this time to long on. And fifty for Pant (51 off 35). Eight from the over, and 58 in the last five. DC - 172/5 (10)
Dwayne Bravo with the penultimate over. Rishabh Pant hits the second ball for a six, then loses his bat while going another swing next ball. Then the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer (37 off 24) to break an 83-run stand in 50 balls. Tom Curran is the new man. Pant is unbeaten on 42 off 28. 58 runs in the last five overs. DC - 163/5 (18.4)
First boundary for Rishabh Pant, a one-handed six over mid-wicket, off the 15th ball. 14 runs from Shardul Thakur's second over. 45 in the last five. DC - 128/4 (16)
100 up for Delhi with a six. Shimron Hetmyer lofts the second ball of the over for a six deep mid-wicket. Moeen Ali completes his spell, for figures of 1/27. DC - 107/4 (14)
Deepak Chahar returns for his third over as Shimron Hetmyer (8 off 8) looks to rebuild Delhi innings with skipper Rishabh Pant (9 off 10). Six from the over, and 32 in the last five. DC - 96/4 (13)
Ravindra Jadeja returns for his third over, and the big wicket. Prithvi Shaw (60 off 34), caught by Faf du Plessis at deep. DC - 80/4 (10.2)
Moeen Ali strikes soon after the strategic break. Axar Patel (10 off 11) holes out at long on, caught by sub fielder Mitchell Santner. Rishabh Pant joined Prithvi Shaw. DC - 77/3 (9.4)
Fifty for Prithvi Shaw (57 off 30) with a four, in 27 balls. He hits Ravindra Jadeja for another four as Chennai spinner concede 10 runs in his second over. 38 runs and one wicket in the last five overs. DC - 74/2 (9)
Ravindra Jadeja on his first over. Nine from it, including a four by promoted Axar Patel. DC - 60/2 (7)
Josh Hazlewood continues. And the big wicket of Shreyas Iyer (1 off 8), caught by Ruturaj Gaikwad at point. DC - 50/2 (5.3). In the previous over, Shardul Thakur leaked 14, including two sixes, both hit by Prithvi Shaw.
Josh Hazlewood continues and is hit for a four by Shikhar Dhawan. But the Aussie pacer finds the edge next ball. Easy take for MS Dhoni. Dhawan made run-a-ball seven. Shreyas Iyer is the new man for Delhi. DC - 36/1 (3.2)
Deepak Chahar continues. And 17 from it with Prithvi Shaw (29 off 13) hitting four fours. Shikhar Dhawan is yet to hit one. In the previous over, Josh Hazlewood conceded 12 runs, including a four and six, both bit by Shaw, behind the keeper. DC - 32/0 (3)
Deepak Chahar with the new ball and he pulls out his delivery start. Fresh start from the pacer. A single off the second ball as Prithvi Shaw scores the first run. Shikhar Dhawan takes three balls to open his account. Another single. Three from the first over.
Players and match officials are ready for the showdown. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan to open for Delhi.
Delhi completed a league double over Chennai, winning the first leg by six wickets in Chennai in April then by three wickets in Dubai on Monday. But intersestingly, Chennai are yet to lose a match chasing this season - five in five.
CSK are unchanged, meaning no place for Mr. IPL Suresh Raina. DC bring in Tom Curran for Ripal Patel.
Delhi Capitals: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant(c & wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Tom Curran, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.
MS Dhoni wins the toss and Chennai Super Kings will bowl first against Delhi Capitals.
Meanwhile, England have named a 17-man squad for the Ashes tour.
Squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Finalists in 2020, league toppers in 2021, Delhi Capitals look good going into Sunday's IPL fixture against Chennai Super Kings at the Dubai International cricket stadium. This DC vs CSK is like a virtual semifinal with the winning team going into the final scheduled on October 15. Delhi Capitals have not lost to Chennai Super Kings in the league stage but that does not make them favourites against a dangerous CSK team that knows how to play the big matches. CSK did not make the playoffs last year but this time, MS Dhoni's team has been tactically smart and made the knockouts after finishing No. 2 in the league table. DC and CSK look well-matched in terms of personnel but Delhi have been sweating over the fitness of Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who has missed much of the UAE leg due to injury. If Stonis is available, he will replace Ripan Patel. CSK have sorted out their fourth overseas player problem. Veteran West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who has chipped in with crucial breakthroughs, is a ready replacement for seam-bowling all-rounder Sam Curran, who is out injured and out of the IPL. Both Delhi and Chennai lost their last league games. DC were stunned by a last-ball six from RCB's KS Bharat while CSK suffered a heavier defeat when they lost to Punjab Kings by six wickets and with 42 balls remaining.
Naseer Ganai / In happy times and sad, Habba Khatun’s sensuous songs make both young and old emotional. With the never-ending conflict bringing tragedies to every doorstep, Habba’s lyrics of separation amplify their mourning.
Haima Deshpande / In India, only those relationships between a man and a woman are considered to be legitimate when there is a marriage between the two.
Jayanta Oinam / Virat Kohli, 33, had recently stepped down as India's T20I captain and was subsequently removed as the ODI captain.
Ashutosh Sharma / A Mahila Congress leader, who is the face of the ‘Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon’ campaign, however, has accused the party of anti-women bias after she was denied a ticket.
