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Needing some wins to put their lackluster campaign back on track the Chennia Super Kings were up against the impressive Delhi Capitals in this much anticipate encounter at Sharjah . And in the end it was the all- round fire fire power of the Delhi Capitals that won by 5 wickets and taking them at the top of the points table with 14 points.
Earlier electing to bat after Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss, the men in yellow lost opener Sam Curran early for ( 0). But South African Faf du Plessis ( 58) and Shane Watson ( 36 ) put on 87 for the second wicket to get the innings back on track. Ambati Rayudu scored a quick- fire 45 off 25 balls . Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s poor form continued . he was out for 3. Ravindra Jadeja added the impetus towards the innings end witha unbeaten 13 ball 33 to help CSK reach 179/ 4 in twenty 20 overs.
For the Delhi Capitals the wicket-takers were , Anrich Nortje 2/44 (4 overs), Kagiso Rabada 1/ 33 ( 4 overs), Tushar Deshpande 1/ 39 ( 4 overs), Ravichandran Ashwin 0/ 30 (3 overs), Axar Patel 0/ 23 ( 4 overs) failed to take wickets.
The Delhi Capitals in reply got off to a horrendous start , Prithivi Shaw having a horror run with the bat once again fell in the first over out for (0). Ajinkya Rahane too has looked out of sorts in the middle and was out for 8. As wickets fell around him, seasoned opener Shikahr Dhawan was in very aggressive mood and was in terrific form. Dhawan was in- fact at his very best . Shreyas Iyer ( 23 ) Marcus Stoinis ( 24) played some useful knocks. Alex Carey too has been struggling . He was out for 4. But that did not dter Dhawan for going on to score his maiden IPL hundred. A superb unbeaten 1010 off mere 58 balls. It was an astonishing innings from him. Dhawan hit 14 fours and one six in his power knock. He wa dropped as many as three times but that does not take away the quality of the innings. Towards the nd there were some jitters but Axar Patel smashed three towering sixes of the final over bowled by Ravindra Jadeja to seal the victory for the Capitals as they finished at 185/ 5 in 19.5 overs. Patel remain unbeaten with fantastic cameo 21 off 5 balls while Dhawan too remained unbeaten on 101. It would have been anti-climatic had his ton gone in vain.
For CSK , Deepak Chahar had figures of 2/18 (4 overs) , Sam Curran 1/ 35 (4 overs), Shardul Thakur 1/ 39 ( 4 overs), Karn Sharma 0/34 ( 3 overs), Dwayne Bravo 1/ 23 ( 3 overs) , Ravindra Jadeja 0/35 ( 1.5 overs)
While Delhi Capitals showed why they are serious title contender, CSK have a lot to ponder about on the road ahead. This loss dents their play- offs chances and their fate in the tournament will depend on the result of the other teams. They will have to win all their remaining matches to stay in the hunt.
