Watson, Dhoni set up CSK win
Seasoned former champions move to top of table with a 13run win over bottomplaced Delhi Daredevils
PUNE:IN a format where it’s important to pick your moments, Chennai Super Kings were clinical unlike Delhi Daredevils as they coasted to a 13-run victory on Monday.
Super Kings showed more maturity than their counterparts from the first ball in both departments. Openers Shane Watson (78) and Faf Du Plessis (33) picked out the right deliveries to raise a 102-run opening stand that set the stage.
MS Dhoni (51 – 22b, 2x4, 5x6) and Ambati Ruyudu (41 – 24b, 5x4, 1x6) applied the finishing touches to help Chennai Super Kings post 211/4, the fourth highest total of the season. Daredevils were restricted to 198/5 despite the knocks of Rishabh Pant (79 – 45b, 7x4, 4x6) and Vijay Shankar’s (54no – 31b, 1x4, 5x6) late charge as they remained stuck at the bottom of the points table.
The Daredevils line-up fell into the trap of going after the every ball and paid price. While Super Kings innings was built on two decent partnerships, Daredevils never looked like putting one at the top of the order.
Watson (78 -- 40b, 4x4, 7x6) had scored a stunning century on the same ground against Rajasthan Royals, Super Kings’ first match in Pune after their fixtures were shifted out of Chennai.
CSK lost momentum for while after Du Plessis, Suresh Raina (1) and Watson were dismissed in the space of four overs. But Dhoni and Ruyudu made sure CSK didn’t lose the way like the last match against Mumbai Indians as they attacked.
They came together in the 14th over with Super Kings’ on 130/3. After seeing off few deliveries, they started swinging their willows intelligently, finding gaps to keep the scoreboard running. They shared a 36-ball 79 run stand for the fourth wicket.
Like their batsmen, Daredevils bowlers neither applied themselves nor varied their pace and were punished. Their two most experienced bowlers Liam Plunkett (52/0) and Trent Boult (48/0) relied on pace to tie down the Super Kings batsmen but the strategy backfired.
Daredevils’ downfall with the bat started with Prithvi Shaw (9) and Colin Munro (26) falling to pacer Asif.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer (13) fell to his own mistake as he was run out. Glenn Maxwell (6) was cleaned up by Jadeja, which broke the back of Daredevils. Only Rishabh Pant showed some maturity.