Picture Credit : BCCI
Aussie all- rounder Shane Watson and Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored scintillating half-centuries to set up Chennai Super Kings’s 13-run win over Delhi Daredevils in Pune , taking the two-time IPL champions closer to a play-offs berth.
Watson (78 off 40 balls) and Dhoni (51 not out off 22) gave a masterclass in power hitting to fire Super Kings to 211 for four after Daredevils opted to field on a good batting surface.
Needing more than 10 runs an over put pressure on the visitors and Delhi wilted under pressure. Rishabh Pant (79 off 45) and Vijay Shankar (54 not out off 31) ensured Daredevils got closer to the target but it was not enough as they finished with 198 for five.
Super Kings pacer Lungi Ngidi impressed on his IPL debut, with figures of one for 26 in four overs, and M K Asif, another debutant, had figures of 2 for 43.
It was Delhi’s sixth loss in eight games. They are all but out of the play-offs’ race.
With a sixth win in eight games, CSK consolidated their position at the top of the points’ table. They are tied on 12 points with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Delhi kept losing wickets in the chase and at 74 for four in ninth over it was all over for them. It is now battle for pride and salvage some reputation in the remaining IPL 2018 for them.
