Inconsistent Capitals and con†dent Titans eye a crucial win
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS
Ajinkya Rahane c Rahul b Henry 1 (3b), Ruturaj Gaikwad (not out) 108 (60b, 12x4, 3x6), Daryl Mitchell c Hooda b Yash Thakur 11 (10b, 1x4), Ravindra Jadeja c Rahul b Mohsin 17 (19b, 2x4), Shivam Dube run out 66 (27b, 3x4, 7x6), M.S. Dhoni (not out) 4 (1b, 1x4); Extras (lb-1, w-2): 3; Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs): 210.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-4 (Rahane, 0.6 overs), 2-49 (Mitchell, 5.2), 3-101 (Jadeja, 11.5), 4-205 (Dube, 19.4).
SUPER GIANTS BOWLING
Henry 4-0-28-1, Mohsin 4-0-50-1, Bishnoi 2-0-19-0, Yash Thakur 4-0-47-1, Stoinis 4-0-49-0, Krunal 2-0-16-0.
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
Quinton de Kock b Chahar 0 (3b), K.L. Rahul c Ruturaj b Mustafizur 16 (14b, 1x4, 1x6), Marcus Stoinis (not out) 124 (63b, 13x4, 6x6), Devdutt Padikkal (Impact Player in place of Yash Thakur) b Pathirana 13 (19b), Nicholas Pooran c Shardul b Pathirana 34 (15b, 3x4, 2x6), Deepak Hooda (not out) 17 (6b, 2x4, 1x6); Extras (b-1, lb-2, nb-3, w-3): 9; Total (for four wkts. in 19.3 overs): 213.
FALL OF WICKETS
SUPER KINGS BOWLING
Chahar 2-0-11-1, Deshpande 3-0-34-0, Mustafizur 3.3-0-51-1, Shardul (Impact player in place of Rahane) 3-0-42-0, Moeen 2-0-21-0, Jadeja 2-0-16-0, Pathirana 4-0-35-2.
Toss: LSG. PoM: Stoinis.
LSG won by six wickets with three balls to spare.
Game-changer:
Tewatia, who took Titans home against Kings, will be keen to continue the good run.
A heavy spell of rain and strong gusts of wind interrupted the practice sessions on the eve of the IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Both teams have had similar disruptions in their attempt to climb up the points table this season, failing to string together a series of positive results and more importantly strong performances. Another loss at home could put DC’s chances of making it to the playos in serious jeopardy.
Despite the drubbing Delhi Capitals’ bowlers received at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad, they will not have to look too far for inspiration, having bundled out the Titans’ batting unit for 89 in its backyard barely a week ago.
Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs have contributed to the team consistently, but Jake Fraser-McGurk has arguably been the most impressive, striking two half-centuries in three matches so far.
Titans have middle-order issues of their own to deal with, but will head into the game in a positive frame of mind after a crucial win against Punjab Kings last time out.
The gaping hole left by the unavailability of Mohammed Shami is also yet to be cloaked, with both Umesh Yadav and Sandeep Warrier proving to be ineffective. The team will bank on the spin triumvirate of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and the star of the last game, R. Sai Kishore, to do the damage with the ball.
A win would put the Titans in contention for a top-four nish, a feat they have achieved in each of the previous two editions.