Chennai Super Kings saw off a dodgy fifties from Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer to beat Delhi Daredevils by 13 runs and move to the top of the points table.
Chasing an improbable 212, Delhi were off to the worst possible start. Their last match’s half-centurion Prithvi Shaw was sent back by KM Asif for just 9. Shreyas Iyer and Colin Munro then calmed down the nerves but could not stitch a big stand.
They added 36 runs before Asif struck once again to remove Munro. Delhi’s hopes then all but ended when their skipper was run out for 13 which left them reeling at 64 for 3. 10 runs later, they suffered another setback when Glenn Maxwell departed too. At the halfway stage of the innings, Delhi were reeling at 78 for 4.
But just when it looked all over, Rishabh Pant and Vijay Shankar revived the chase. Pant scored a 34-ball fifty to keep his team in hunt. At the end of the 15th over, Daredevils were 128 for 4. The equation was down to 55 runs off the last three overs. However, on the fourth ball of the 18th over, Lungi Ngidi dismissed Pant to all but end Delhi’s bleak hopes. The southpaw scored 79 off 45. With 28 runs needed off the last over, Delhi finished their innings on 198 for 5. Shankar remained unbeaten on 54.
Earlier in the game, a MS Dhoni special and Shane Watson’s fifty propelled the Super Kings to a huge 211 for 4 in the allotted 20 overs.
Put in to bat first, the Super Kings were off to a solid start. Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis laid the foundation for a huge total by adding 102 runs for the first wicket. Watson was the aggressor during the stand while du Plessis looked more than happy to play the role of the second fiddle.
Delhi managed to break the stand after the duo completed the 100-run stand. Vijay Shankar drew the first blood by dismissing du Plessis who scored run-a-ball 33.
Du Plessis’ dismissal allowed Delhi to claw their way back in the game and they totally pounced upon it. A run after du Plessis’ wicket, Glenn Maxwell dismissed Suresh Raina for 1. Watson also could not convert his fifty into a century as Amit Mishra sent him back for 78. However, Super Kings did not lose the plot despite losing three wickets in quick succession.
The in-form duo of Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni then took the innings forward. Dhoni took the onus on himself to guide his team to a good total as he attacked from ball one. In the first ten balls he faced, the Super Kings skipper slammed three sixes, thus setting the tone for a strong finish. On the other hand, Rayudu was also firing on all cylinders, matching Dhoni shot for shot.
The Super Kings crossed the 200-run mark in the final over when Dhoni hit another six. He and Rayudu added 79 runs before the latter was run out for 41 on the penultimate ball of the innings. Dhoni reached his fifty on the last ball, thus remaining unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
Wonderful hitting from Mahi and Watson. Only way Delhi can get anywhere close is if Munro or Maxwell mein Mata aa jaayein.#CSKvDD
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 30, 2018
Vijay Shankar was 25 off 22. Raised his 50 in 28. Crazy acceleration. #IPL
— cricBC (@cricBC) April 30, 2018
This is why I love IPL, it gives such a great opportunity for players like Dhoni to watch talent like Rishabh Pant and learn how to bat under pressure
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) April 30, 2018
Lungi 1, Pant 0.
But well played Pant !#CSKvDD— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 30, 2018
If I had a penny for all the Lungi vs Pant jokes on my TL,… I would be able to buy out Zara and make it an exclusive Lungi boutique.#IPL
— cricBC (@cricBC) April 30, 2018
lungi ne pant gira di
— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/46Sampath/status/991011004111900677
: Rishabh Pant is extremely unimpressive and lucky; just playing the same leg side shot and getting runs. #IPL2018 #CSKvDD
— Abbas Khambati ?? (@Oye_its_Abbas) April 30, 2018
Have to feel for young players like Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan when Dhoni fans celebrate their failure. At 19 or 20 people want them to fail, they could not have started their career in a better way #IPL
— Retarded Writer (@retardedwriter) April 30, 2018
Dhoni haters will soon become dinosaurs – Extinct & their remains be kept in museums. People would buy tickets to watch them & wonder “Oh My God, did they really exist?”
— Ra_Bies 2.0 (@Ra_Bies) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/990993110510587905
This is MS Dhoni from a decade ago. Insanity! ??? #CSKvDD
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) April 30, 2018
Sorry Pant, Saha and all other wicket keepers. There's no change in the wicket-keeper's place for the 2019 world-cup. #RCBvCSK
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 25, 2018
MS Dhoni is turning back the clock. Enough said. Thala?#CSKvDD
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 30, 2018
I know we are just halfway through this years IPL but isn't it true that @msdhoni is having one of the best seasons in the IPL. Is this his Best so far? #CSKvsDD
— Stay Home – Stay Safe – Get Vaccinated ? (@hemangkbadani) April 30, 2018
Longest six of the season:
111m ~ ABD
108m ~ MSD*
106m ~ ABD— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) April 30, 2018
All the credit goes to CSK bowlers, they made MS Dhoni to play like this.#CSKvDD
— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 30, 2018
MS Dhoni hitting Trent Boult for 6 6 4 but remember, his hitting powers are on the down. pic.twitter.com/EBY9FXSRSL
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 30, 2018
Most runs as CAPTAIN in the IPL:
3536* runs – MS DHONI
3518 runs – Gautam Gambhir
3333 runs – Virat Kohli
2198 runs – Rohit Sharma#IPL2018 #CSKvDD— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 30, 2018
Helicopter Has Landed At Pune. MS Dhoni Haters, Go And Buy Some Burnol Before Stores Get Closed. You'll Need It Badly Tonight. ??? #CSKvDD #CSKvsDD #WhistlePodu #Dhoni
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 30, 2018
Dhoni ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
— Wolfgang (@UniqueIdiot_) April 30, 2018
Rayudu has always been a great striker, especially on the leg side, but his off-side play this season has been prodigious ,definitely seems like something, he has worked on #CSKvDD #IPL2018
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) April 30, 2018
Leave aside the number of runs comparisions and all…This definitely is @msdhoni's best #IPL with the bat…Been ages since he has been this confident at the crease… #IPL2018
— …. (@ynakg2) April 30, 2018
In the 80s, who knows, Vijay Shankar could've been part of a World Cup winning team. #CSKvDD
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 30, 2018
Shane Watson made most of the umpire's gift. 78 in 40. Csk though will risk losing the momentum if they don't finish well.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 30, 2018
Shane Watson for CSK
8 Games = 281 runsFor RCB
24 Games= 250 runsMF’s Played him at 5,6,7 @RCBTweets RCBTweets ? #CSKvDD #CSK
— Revanth (@revanthbandari7) April 30, 2018
Delhi getting walloped by Watson. The old geezer still hits them some distance!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/990968976535621632
No Shardul Thakur, think he's done for the season if the replacements step up.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 30, 2018
Lungi is playing for CSK. Pant is playing for DD. This match is below the belt.#CSKvDD
— Karan Talwar (@BollywoodGandu) April 30, 2018
Tonight's captains… the oldest and youngest in #IPL2018
MS Dhoni #CSK – 36y-297d
Shreyas Iyer #DD – 23y-145d #CSKvDD#IPL— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 30, 2018