Delhi Capitals failed to cross the Chennai Super Kings hurdle at the Chepauk in Chennai on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 168, the Capitals fell short by 27 runs. Once David Warner was dismissed off the second delivery of their innings, the Capitals struggled.
Only Rilee Rossouw (35 off 37 balls) and Manish Pandey (27 off 29 balls) tried to stage a recovery after being reduced to 25 for three. But their dismissals put an end to the Capitals’ challenge on a tricky wicket.
Matheesha Pathirana was the most successful bowler with three wickets though Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja were equally impressive.
This was CSK’s seventh win in 12 matches and the four-time champions are now one step closer towards making the IPL playoffs.
Earlier, three wickets by Mitch Marsh and economical spells by Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Lalit Yadav helped the Capitals restrict CSK to 167 for eight.
None of the CSK batters got going and it was reflected in their slow run-rate. Ultimately, a 21-run penultimate over, which included two sixes and a boundary by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Khaleel Ahmed, helped the Super Kings reach a respectable total. Dhoni ultimately was dismissed for 20 off nine balls.
The Capitals bowlers put up a good show keeping the Super Kings batters on the leash on a slugging pitch. Shivam Dube (25) was the highest scorer, while Ruturaj Gaikwad (24), Ambati Rayudu (23) and Ajinkya Rahane (21) failed to build on the starts.
The big-hitting Dube smacked the first six of the innings, hoisting Axar into the stands in the 11th over. He hit two more before a pull off Marsh landed in Warner’s hands. He made 25 (12 balls) and helped increase the CSK scoring rate which had been slowed down due to some good bowling.
Devon Conway survived early in the innings when he edged Khaleel but the Capitals didn’t opt for a review.
