Highlights, IPL 2018, DD vs CSK at Ferozshah Kotla, Full Cricket Score: Spinners guide Delhi to 34-run victory over Chennai

Harshal Patel: I think bowling is difficult on this pitch, especially knowing how the ground and the dew coming into play. Four-over spells more important than a 25-run cameo. You can bowl one good over and you lose the match in an over. I was just watching the ball and reacting to it. Just about consistency, how often can I produce such performance.  I have been studying my own, need not do anything out of my capabilities. It was just executing my process.

Chennai looked off-colour throughout their innings, and missed out on a chance to move past SRH to the top of the table. They still can do that, provided Hyderabad lose to Kolkata and they beat Punjab.

Harshal Patel is the Man of the Match

Shreyas Iyer, DD captain: We were craving for this victory. Coming against one of the best teams, it was a satisfying victory. Batting, bowling and fielding lived upto the expectations. It wasn’t easy to bat on this wicket. Harshal at No 7, we didn’t expect it from him, but he delivered, especially that last over was amazing. The way he bowled has also stated his calibre and showed what he is here for. In regards to preparation(over the entire season), we weren’t lacking but weren’t able to execute it. All three departments couldn’t click together. In the matches we’ve won, all three departments have clicked and it is a good thing.

MS Dhoni, CSK captain: I think the wicket got difficult and slower and slower in the second half. Nobody was middling it. Difficult to predict how the wicket would better. If we got extra 15-20 runs it would have been better. Need to be very practical about why something went wrong. We know the reasons. Overall dissapointed with the loss but don’t think we would have done anything different.  It’s important not to look at the points table.Anyone can get an opportunity. Need to be mentally prepared, more than physical. If we get our death sorted out it would be good. You can give 100 different plans to the bowlers, but sometimes you have to shuffle the bowlers.

Always fear the man that has nothing to lose. Delhi played as if they had a point to prove today. They fought gamely with the bat especially towards the end and made a par total appear unassailable with some disciplined bowling. It will be interesting to hear what Dhoni and Fleming will make of their batsmen’s effort in the chase today.

A morale-boosting victory for the Daredevils, and even though there is little that they can do to avoid the wooden spoon this year. They still have the pride to play for, and their performance with the ball and on the field today certainly was commendable. 

Chennai looked off-colour throughout their innings and missed out on a chance to move past SRH to the top of the table. They still can do that, provided Hyderabad lose to Kolkata and they beat Punjab.

The result of this match won’t have any direct effect on the two remaining spots for the playoffs as CSK have already qualified and DD have already been out from the competition.

David has beaten the Goliath here. The bottom ranked team has beaten the high-profile Chennai Spuer Kings by 34 runs.

Chennai Super Kings finish with 128/6 ( Ravindra Jadeja 27 , Deepak Chahar 1)

DD wrist spinners made the difference between the two sides and as always Trent Boult was special, with all-round effort from Harshal Patel.

OUT! From the toe-end of the bat. But the ball soared high in the night sky until the ball fell into Vijay Shankar’s hands

After 19 overs,Chennai Super Kings 124/5 ( Ravindra Jadeja 24 , Dwayne Bravo 1)

After being hit for six off the first ball. Harshal Patel bowled well to not allow CSK any sniff. Five runs off the last five deliveries. That is 11 off the final over, finishing by giving away just 23 off his four overs capping a fantastic all-round night. 39 off last 6 balls

SIX! Right in the hitting zone for Jadeja and he has pick the bones off it clobbers it straight down the ground for six.

This could be curtains for CSK as Dhoni departs. He was never allowed to get away by some excellent death bowling from the Delhi seamers. The game seems beyond Chennai’s reach now.

After 18 overs,Chennai Super Kings 113/5 ( Ravindra Jadeja 15 , Dwayne Bravo 0)

MS Dhoni attempts forehand smash and tell you what if that would have found the middle of the bat, the ball could have fone outside Kotla. But props to Boult who held the length back and rolled his fingers over not giving the batsman any pace to work with. He follows it up with a wide yorker angled across, MS Dhoni shoulders arms, but it is inside the tramline. Another short ball and Dhoni swats the pull but no timing on it, cannot get outside the 30-yard circle, Boult trips as tries to turn and go for the catch, so he is on the floor, MS Dhoni hares back for two and gets one extra for the overthrow. But Dhoni falls off the last ball off the over, making it almost impossible for CSK to come back from here. 50 off 12. Excellent over from Boult!

The lowest total defended by DD in IPL is 150 which they defended against RR at Bloemfontein in 2009.

OUT! No Dhoni magic tonight. No miracle from MSD. He succumbs to the ever-rising required rate. Boult has been absolutely brilliant in the death. Mixed his length, varied his pace and went straight and full, Dhoni cannot generate the power on that low full toss. Holes out to long on.

Dhoni c Shreyas Iyer b Boult 17(23)

It’s amazing how there are a few CSK fans who are still hopeful of Dhoni performing a miracle now. And then we have MSD holing out to long on off the last ball of the 18th over, one that should pretty much seal the fate of the match

After 17 overs,Chennai Super Kings 108/4 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 14 , Ravindra Jadeja 13)

Harshal Patel goes round the wicket to Jadeja, who misses to run it down the third man off the first ball and the dot ball just adds on to the pressure. Turns the strike to Dhoni with a single on the onside. Patel rolls his fingers over to a back of length delivery, MSD tried to pat the bat down the third man , but he fails too. Finds the fine square leg fielder as he looks to pull, but unable to get any run. Pace taken off the ball once again and Dhoni gets some part of the bat to short third for a quick single. Dhoni wants to take this deep as he always wants to, so Jadeja has to be the aggressor. The left-hander goes for the big shot, but slices it over backward point for a single with Avesh Khan from sweeper cover deciding against of going for the catch. Harshal gestures that he should have gone. 55 required off 18 balls.

CSK’s scoring rate of 12.04 in the death overs this IPL – the best among all the sides. When will Dhoni up-the-ante?

After 16 overs,Chennai Super Kings 105/4 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 13 , Ravindra Jadeja 11)

After the six off the first ball, Jadeja hangs back in his crease to get on top off the wrong’un that was pitch halfway down the wicket to taps it to the cover boundary. A little fumble allows the two quick runners an extra run. Three singles and a little yes-no between MSD and Jaddu, before the latter returned into his crease. End of Lamichhane’s spell. 4-0-21-1. Between him and leg spin partner, Mishra. they have bowled really well giving away 41 runs off the 8 overs between them, that is just over 5 runs an over and they have picked three wickets in the process. 58 off 24 balls.

Delhi’s leggies have been effective in keeping the CSK batters in check, and Dhoni is now left with a very difficult 58 off four overs.

Delhi’s leg spinners have been revelatory in today’s match against Chennai Super Kings. Veteran cricketer Amit Mishra was impeccable tonight 

SIX! Lamichanne loops it on the middle stump. Jadeja facing just his second ball dances down the pitch, gets to the pitch of the ball and hits it straight over the sight screen. Very good use of his feet.

The leggies are doing it for Delhi. Why haven’t Sandeep and Mishra played all the games for them will be something to ponder upon as they look back at their season. Raina never got his timing going in this innings and has now perished trying to break free against Sandeep. Mishra comes back from the other end and tempts Billing into a false shot. CSK are in a spot of bother here. Dhoni surely has his calculator on at the other end. He will wait for Mishra and Sandeep to finish here and try to get a big over against one of Delhi’s young quicks.

After 15 overs,Chennai Super Kings 94/4 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 12 , Ravindra Jadeja 1)

How good has Amit Mishra been tonight.He finished with just 2 off the final over and finisahes with 20 off his 4 overs, including two wickets. Showed his class and years of experience in outsmarting Billings and then not allowing Dhoni to hit him away for runs. The required rate is fast surging towards 14 runs an over. CSK need 69 off 30.

Now Billings perishes while trying to launch Mishra down the ground. The Delhi leggie is in great touch today, and is putting his experience to good use at the moment. CSK suddenly facing an uphill, although certainly not impossible, task.

OUT! Sam Billings falls to wrist spin. Was tossed up outside off stump and Billings went for the sweep, gets the top edge and the ball ballooning up for the short fine leg fielder to come under it and take the simplest of catches. CSK falling apart. Leaving it for Dhoni again.

Billings c Abhishek Sharma b Mishra 1(5)

After 14 overs,Chennai Super Kings 92/3 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 11 , Sam Billings 1)

Another fantastic over from Lammichanne. He has given just 10 runs off the three overs that he has bowled. MS Dhoni almost hit it down long on’s throat and new man Billings hasn’t the best of the starts, getting a leading edge, not reading the wrong’un. His six balls could well be very decisive.

OUT! Lamichhane strikes first ball after the time out. Was full and on the pads of the left-hander, who finally gets one from the middle of the bat, but he finds the fielder in the deep. He didn’t have to move an inch. DD are well in it.

S Raina c Vijay Shankar b Lamichhane 15(18)

Lamichchane breaks the partnership right after the timeout, and I have to say that the balance has tilted in Delhi’s favour slightly. Nobody gave the Daredevils a chance at the start of this game, and now they have made things a lot more interesting.

Mishra is showing his full repertoire here. The sliders, the loopy leg breaks and the well disguised googly are all on display. Things are a little easier against the one dimensional Maxwell. Mishra’s tight spell has ensured that CSK are going to need a few big overs from here to see them through.

After 13 overs,Chennai Super Kings 90/2 ( Suresh Raina 15 , MS Dhoni (C) (W) 10)

Tidy over from Amit Mishra! MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina will have to up the ante after this over. They were happy to knock it around for singles, taking four runs off the over.

Dhoni and Raina still going about business with some precaution. With the required run-rate steadily creeping up, the big shots have to come in the next couple of overs to keep the RRR under check.

After 12 overs,Chennai Super Kings 86/2 ( Suresh Raina 13 , MS Dhoni (C) (W) 8)

Raina and MS Dhoni strike boundaries and keep the run rate in check. Bowling Maxwell wasn’t the best of the decision here. 10 runs off the over.

Indian players to score 6000-plus runs in T20 cricket: 

Suresh Raina
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Gautam Gambhir
MS DHONI*

FOUR! Nice placement! Flat one just outside off, and Dhoni cuts it through gully and backward point for four.

FOUR! Flighted from Maxwell and Raina makes room to drill it through covers for a boundary.

After 11 overs,Chennai Super Kings 76/2 ( Suresh Raina 8 , MS Dhoni (C) (W) 3)

Lamichhane comes into the attack. Dhoni squeezes out to extra cover to get off the mark. These two start the rebuilding work with six singles off the over.

Rayudu departs after another useful knock but his team needed him to see off the spin threat and sail the team through the middle overs. That job rests with Dhoni and Raina now.

After 10 overs,Chennai Super Kings 70/2 ( Suresh Raina 5 , MS Dhoni (C) (W) 0)

MS Dhoni is in at number four and now upto Thala and chinna Thala to get the remaining 93 runs off 60 balls. Rayudu did well to notch his half-century but just got out at the time when he was looking to provide the impetus. Timely for DD.

MS Dhoni v leg-spinners in IPL 11:

Runs – 87
Balls – 68
Dismissals – 3
Average – 29.00
SR – 127.94

MSD walks out to a rousing reception, with the stands going all starry with the flashlights from phones. Rayudu is dismissed right after getting to his fifty, but has essentially laid the foundation with another fine knock. Over to the veterans now.

OUT! A length ball and charging Rayudu goes for the big shot, even though he wasn’t quite to the pitch of it, didn’t time it well. Maxwell does extremely well to settle under it at deep mid-wicket and hold on it.

Rayudu c Maxwell b Harshal Patel 50(29)

Ambati Rayudu has now completed 3,000 runs in IPL.

Ambati Rayudu continued his consistent performances in this year’s IPL with a strokeful half-century against Delhi Daredevils 

FIFTY! Fantastic knock from Ambati Rayudu. He has been splendid for the team in yellow this year. Gets to the landmark 28 balls.

FOUR! Full from Patel and Rayudu is alert enough to play it fine getting a tickle to fine leg boundary.

After 9 overs,Chennai Super Kings 62/1 ( Ambati Rayudu 44 , Suresh Raina 3)

Eventful over from Mishra. In the second half off the over Rayudu attacks the leg spinner. But however he took an uncalled for a single off the last ball and a direct hit from mid off could have drawn curtains on his innings.

Indian players to hit 30-plus sixes in an IPL season:

38 – Virat Kohli in 2016
33 – Rishabh Pant in 2018
32 – KL Rahul in 2018
32 – Ambati Rayudu in 2018*

An indifferent innings from Watson comes to an end. He looked scratch throughout and finally gave away his wicket trying to break free. The required run rate is creeping up to the 10 mark after a few tight overs of spin, but CSK don’t have much to worry about yet with their star-studded line up of power hitters in the dug out.

Suresh Raina’s batting average of 27.33 against DD in IPL – the lowest for him against an opposition in IPL. He has scored 492 runs against them with two fifties from 21 innings.

SIX! Rayudu goes downtown for half a dozen! Mishra delivers a full toss and Rayudu has smashed it straight over the bowler.

FOUR! Tossed up by Mishra and Rayudu, charges down, makes room, and nails that through deep extra cover for four

After 8 overs,Chennai Super Kings 50/1 ( Ambati Rayudu 33 , Suresh Raina 2)

Raina still looking a little circumspect and not very difficult to understand why. He hasn’t had the best of IPLs and has been dropped off the first ball. He knocks around a couple singles, so does Rayudu as CSK bring 50 in the 8th over.

Glenn Maxwell comes on to roll his arm.

After 7 overs,Chennai Super Kings 46/1 ( Ambati Rayudu 31 , Suresh Raina 0)

Despite the wicket of Watson, Mishra would be ruing the fact that he could so easily have had another wicket. Fine start, just two runs and a wicket. Necessary for DD after the expensive previous over by Avesh Khan.

DROPPED! Mishra could have had two in two. Raina got an edge to Pant behind the stumps off the first ball as he tried to play inside the line but the slider went on with the arm. Life for Raina off his first ball

OUT! There is the first one that Delhi were looking for. It has come after the time out and Watson is sent on his way by Amit Mishra. Watto never quite got going. He tried to strike it down the ground, never got any timing on that one. Easy catch for Boult at long off.

Watson c Boult b Mishra 14(23)

Leg spinner Amit Mishra into the attack

After 6 overs,Chennai Super Kings 44/0 ( Shane Watson 13 , Ambati Rayudu 30)

After a sedate start in the first five overs. Rayudu ran amok against Avesh Khan, who didn’t alter his back of length plan after he was smashed for runs early in the over. 22 off it.

CSK finally break free as Rayudu finds his range against young Avesh Khan who continuously pitched short against Rayudu and got the treatment with 3 sixes and a 4 in the over. Not the usual flying start CSK are used to but 44 in the powerplay for no loss will do in a chase of 160 odd.

Ambati Rayudu’s last five innings against DD in IPL:

41, 13*, 25, 49*, 30

He has again got a good start but the only question is that can he convert this start into a big one?

SIX! Another short ball. Another short ball. Another six from Ambati Rayudu. This time it was hit slightly straighter, almost to wide long on, but this one was the furthest off the three sixes in the over.

SIX! Avesh persists with the short stuff and Rayudu has no problems pulling him away on the leg side. This time he advance down the wicket and pulls it over deep mid-wicket.

FOUR! Almost a maximum. Rayudu gets across the stumps and slams it over mid-wicket for another boundary.

Has been a slow start from CSK so far, with the DD bowlers not giving Rayudu and Watson not much room to work with. Chennai however, can do with preserving their wicket for now, and launch a counter-attack later in the game  

Speaking of counter-attack, Rayudu seems to have gone into that mode in the sixth over already

SIX! Short ball angled into Rayudu and he has decided to pull the ball way. Strikes it from the middle of the bat to dispatch the ball over mid wicket.

After 5 overs,Chennai Super Kings 22/0 ( Shane Watson 13 , Ambati Rayudu 8)

Harshal Patel too begins well for the Delhi Daredevils. He would  aiming to build on the good work with the bat. Just a couple singles off the over with an lbw shout off the final ball as Watson wasn’t able to get a connection on his swipe.

Harshal Patel is now into the attack

After 4 overs,Chennai Super Kings 20/0 ( Shane Watson 12 , Ambati Rayudu 7)

Straight, full and pacy. Avesh Khan starts off well. Kept hitting the 145-mark on consistent basis, not allowing the batsman time to breakfree. Until he pitched one up outside off stump providing Rayudu to free his arms. He got away with a short and wide ball as the batsman did capitalise on the loose ball.

The Chennai bowlers found success by testing the middle of the pitch but that ploy is unlikely to work for Delhi against Watson who feasts on the short stuff. But barring that six against Boult, the CSK batsmen are taking their time here in the powerplay.

FOUR! Avesh Khan misses his length and Rayudu is in prime form to make the most off it. Plants his front foot and slams it past mid off for a boundary.

Avesh Khan comes into the attack

After 3 overs,Chennai Super Kings 14/0 ( Shane Watson 11 , Ambati Rayudu 2)

Rayudu prods forward tentatively as the ball beats the outside edge. Watson hacks Boult for a six off a back of a length delivery and Boult responds with a yorker, which dug out well by the former Aussie batsman. Couple of singles beside the six off the over.

SIX! Watto loves it there, doesn’t he? Tad back of a length and Watson plays his favourite pick up pull shot as he strikes the first six off the innigns.

After 2 overs,Chennai Super Kings 5/0 ( Shane Watson 5 , Ambati Rayudu 0)

Watto leans into cruncy drive through covers for a brace. Lamichhane bowls the wrong’un with Watto already in position to go for the cut, fortunately it wasn’t able at the stumps. Watson gets an leading edge as Lamichhane’s first over costs just two runs.

Shane Watson v DD in IPL:

Innings – 12
Runs – 373
Average – 41.44
S/R – 151.63 
50s – 3

Sandeep Lamichhane is into the attack. DD eyeing early wickets.

After 1 overs,Chennai Super Kings 3/0 ( Shane Watson 3 , Ambati Rayudu 0)

Bit of swing into Watson for Boult as the Australian is happy to take his time to get his first runs. Watson finds the fielder as he flicks it on the onside but the midwicket fielder is able to stop it and keep it down to zero. Eventually he gets going with a pull for a brace and then steers it to third man off the final ball.

DD’s economy rate of 9.34 in this IPL so far – the worst among all the teams.

CSK’s run-rate of 9.31 in this tournament – the best among all the teams in this IPL

We have a chase on our hands. 163 is good total on the surface with the likes of seasoned pros in Trent Boult and  Amit Mishra in the bowling ranks along with the mystery spin of Sandeep Lamichhane.

Rayudu and Watson are out in the middle Boult is ready with the new ball. Let’s go!

Dwayne Bravo is getting terribly found out in the death overs this year. This may be the last time we are seeing Bravo bowling the final over of a game for CSK in this competition. His slower balls don’t have the same dip they once had and his yorkers aren’t hitting the blockhole. His deliveries just sit up now and have “Hit Me” written over them. 26 off the final over gives DD a fighting chance in what was earlier looking like an easy chase for CSK.

At the end of 20 overs, Delhi have managed to put up a respectable 162/5 courtesy an unbroken 65-run partnership between Harshal Patel and Vijay Shankar 

DD’s run-rate today:

First six overs: 6.50
Next nine overs: 7.00
Last five overs: 12.00

A few days ago it was Bhuvneshwar who got hammered all over the park by Rishabh Pant. Today, another death-overs specialist Bravo concedes 26 off the last over, thanks to some explosive hitting by the all-rounders Shankar and Patel. The big-hitting would give Delhi some confidence going into the second innings, though 162 isn’t quite a safe total at this ground, giving the Delhi attack a real challenge.

After 20 overs,Delhi Daredevils 162/5 ( Vijay Shankar 36 , Harshal Patel 36)

Four sixes off the over as DD hammer out 26 runs off the over. Harshal Patel and Vijay Shankar have lifted DD to a very good score, importantly they will go into the innings break with momentum on their side. Fantastic recovery from the home side.

SIX! What a way to finish the innings. Another six to end the innings. Bravo’s death bowling woes continues. Delhi have finished with 162. A score that the team would have never thought of acheiving at the 15th over mark. Bravo again pitched it full and Patel was severe as he blast it over the boundary.

SIX! Smashed! Harshal Patel is on fire here! Again prefers the straight region. In the arc of Patel’s swing and the ball crashes into the sight screen. DD go past 150.

SIX! Shankar mows it over midwicket this time. Bravo misses his length and that has been struck on the onside for the second six off the over

SIX! WALLOP! Length from Bravo and you could tell the minute bat made the contact with the ball, it was going way back in the stands. Patel goes straight and the ball sails far over long on.

After 19 overs,Delhi Daredevils 136/5 ( Vijay Shankar 29 , Harshal Patel 17)

Thakur bowls the penultimate over that will also be his final over. Delivers a fine over keeping the batsmen guessing with his bag of tricks, short ball, knuckleball giving away six runs off the over.

After 18 overs,Delhi Daredevils 130/5 ( Vijay Shankar 25 , Harshal Patel 15)

This is a nice rearguard partnership by Shankar and Patel as they keep DD’s hopes of going past the 150-mark alive. 12 runs off Bravo’s over.

SIX! Bravo bowls the slower delivery and Patel has managed to flick it over backward square leg. Terrific shot! Picked up really well.

After 17 overs,Delhi Daredevils 118/5 ( Vijay Shankar 21 , Harshal Patel 7)

Couple of singles and a huge six from Vijay Shankar. Doesn’t mind taking on the short stuff outside off stump. Thakur needs to bowl more towards his throat or helmet to cause him any discomfort

SIX! Gee! That was right from the screws. Short ball outside off stump and Shankar pulls it way into the stands over mid wicket boundary. Fantastic shot!

After 16 overs,Delhi Daredevils 110/5 ( Vijay Shankar 14 , Harshal Patel 6)

Straying in lines a couple of times as Lungi Ngidi bowls down the legside. Patel gets the boundary off the last ball to collect eight runs from the over. DD must still try for 150-155.

FOUR! Short and wide was asked to be hit and Patel fiercely thumps it through covers for a boundary off the last ball.

Another Delhi batsman gets beaten by some extra pace. Abhishek Sharma hasn’t been able to repeat his heroics from the previous game. The word may start going round that the young southpaw is suspect against short-pitched stuff.

After 15 overs,Delhi Daredevils 102/5 ( Vijay Shankar 13 , Harshal Patel 1)

Harshal Patel did show us the other night that he can bat a bit. He will have to stay put alongside Shankar to take DD to a respectable total. Thakur has evolved as a bowler, developing a sharp bouncer and using it as a surprise weapon. With the boundary off the last ball, Delhi go past the 100-run mark. 5 more overs to go.

Never mind what I wrote about Maxwell earlier. The Aussie never looked settled at the crease, and was dismissed rather comically, getting his stump uprooted while going for a reverse sweep. That’s followed by Abhishek getting dismissed rather tamely in the next over. Unless DD can get a whirlwind cameo from Shankar, this game’s pretty much out of their hand already (keeping CSK’s rock-solid batting order in mind).

FOUR! Thakur misses his line, bowling it into the ribs of Shankar, who gets inside the line to run the ball down to fine leg fence.

OUT! And Delhi’s batting is starting to crumble.  Abhishek Sharma departs early today. Shardul’s bouncer got the better of the youngster. The ball hurried onto him while he miscued the pull straight up giving Bhajji a simple catch at mid on

 Abhishek Sharma c Harbhajan b SN Thakur 2(4)

Atrocious from Maxwell. Delhi are playing just 3 overseas players for this game and one of them has played a disappointing hand. Beaten all ends up by a delivery that turned square from Jadeja, Maxwell premeditated the very next ball that was a dart fired full and straight at stumps. Maxwell missed, Jadeja hit. Maxwell deserves to sit out the final game of the season just for that shot.

After 14 overs,Delhi Daredevils 95/4 ( Vijay Shankar 8 , Abhishek Sharma 1)

Jadeja comes in to bowl his fourth and the final over of his quota. Appeal for a stumping behind the stumps by Dhoni after Jadeja got some turn to beat Maxwell’s outside edge. His foot was firmly planted, but his stay doesn’t long last. Jadeja ends up giving 19 runs and a bagging a wicket in his four overs.

Ravindra Jadeja’s economical spell has worked well for Chennai Super Kings and the wicket of Glenn Maxwell in his last over was the proverbial icing on the cake. 

OUT! And there it is! The fatal stroke from Glenn Maxwell. Didn’t like the idea of bringing him back in the side and the move hasn’t worked. Attempted a premeditated expansive reverse sweep against Jadeja, who fires it straight into the base of the leg stump.

G Maxwell b Jadeja 5 (7)

After 13 overs,Delhi Daredevils 93/3 ( Glenn Maxwell 5 , Vijay Shankar 7)

Bravo with a stifled appeal for a caught behind after Shankar missed the pull. After three singles, Shankar pumps it straight back past the bowler. No chance for the fielder in the deep. Nine runs off the over.

FOUR! Where did that come from. Powerfully struck by Shankar down the ground with the ball racing off the turf bisecting the long off and the long on fielder.

What difference an extra yard of pace can make. Lungi Ngidi gets Shreyas and Pant in the same over and both young Indian batsmen appeared a fraction late on their attacking shots.

It’s been a season that has seen a lot of young talented cricketers prosper, and Ngidi certainly is one of them. The South African pacer makes good use of his height to bowl at uncomfortable angles to Iyer and Pant, getting rid of the two set batsmen. Two new faces at the crease now, and it certainly is a chance for Maxwell to take charge for the remainder of the innings, and justify his return to the side for this game.

After 12 overs,Delhi Daredevils 85/3 ( Glenn Maxwell 3 , Vijay Shankar 1)

Jadeja runs in to bowl a quick over. Three singles knocked around off the first balls followed by three dots to Shankar.

After 11 overs,Delhi Daredevils 81/3 ( Glenn Maxwell 1 , Vijay Shankar 0)

Big over in the context of the match. Ngidi’s twin strikes has ripped the life out of Delhi Daredevils’ batting line up. Iyer and then Pant both out in the same over. Onus on Maxwell to come good or else CSK will simply trample over them.

OUT! Gone! Another wicket! And it is the huge wicket off Rishabh Pant. Ngidi is smart bowler. He knew Pant prefers the leg side and kept it away from his range. Pant couldn’t resist, went for the big heave, getting a thick outside edge and DJ Bravo runs in from third man to takes the catch. Massive moment in the match. DD are pegged back in a space of an over.

Pant c Dwayne Bravo b Lungi Ngidi 38(26)

Glenn Maxwell has only had one 30-plus score for DD out of 10 innings in this year’s IPL. Will he fire tonight?

Rishabh Pant has hit 33 sixes in this IPL now – the most by any player, going past KL Rahul’s tally of 32 sixes.

Players to score 600-plus runs in IPL:

KL Rahul
Kane Williamson
Rishabh Pant

OUT! Lungi Ngidi knocks out Iyer’s off stump. Very good delivery by the tall quick as he hit the top off the stump. Iyer was backing away trying to slice the ball, but it was too quick for him as the ball canoed into the stumps.

Shreyas Iyer b Lungi Ngidi 19(22)

After 10 overs,Delhi Daredevils 77/1 ( Shreyas Iyer (C) 19 , Rishabh Pant (W) 35)

Right then Pant has decided that is about time to get the scoreboard going. He was fortunate on an occasion but the fortunate favours the brave and Pant’ bravado need not be further highlight. 17 runs off the over. At the halfway stage DD are just about getting to the 8-run mark.

SIX! Tossed up from Bhajji  and Pant goes for the big heave, get the outside half of the bat, loses his shape and mishits it.. the ball takes a while to descend after going in the air, but just about clears the long off boundary. Ngidi perhaps misjudged it. Could have been interesting if he would have stood right at the edge.

FOUR! That has been cut away by Pant. Just a tad bit of width and Pant slashes from the backfoot.

SIX! Cannot bowl on Pant’s pads. Is that the release shot. Harbhajan angles it on Pant’s legs and he flicks it over mid wicket for a six.

After 9 overs,Delhi Daredevils 60/1 ( Shreyas Iyer (C) 19 , Rishabh Pant (W) 18)

After Pant missed the cover drive, he tries to loft it the next time around, mistimes it but is able to just clear the infield as he jogs back for the second. He ended up edging the pull on his body and then to short fine leg fielder but again it falls short of the man. Scratchy start for the man in form. Couple of singles to end the over. Pant moves on to 18 which means after KL Rahul and Kane Williamson, he becomes the third player to reach the 600-run mark in this edition.

Dwayne Bravo into the attack. He comes on to bowl the 9th over.

After 8 overs,Delhi Daredevils 54/1 ( Shreyas Iyer (C) 18 , Rishabh Pant (W) 15)

Iyer missed out on a scoring opportunity off the third ball that was bowled wide and short, but Pant doesn’t as he creams it the square drive to cover the boundary. When Bhajji goes full, Pant plays it with deft hands on the offside for a single. 7 runs off the over.

FOUR! Short from Harbhajan and Pant punishes him. He is in too good a nick to miss out. Was hit hard as you would expect with Pant propelling the ball to jet to the fence.

Harbhajan Singh has taken 21 wickets against DD at an average of 21.43 — the most by any player against them in IPL.

Delhi have simply not been allowed to get away by the Chennai bowlers. There haven’t been any demons in the pitch, just tidy line and lengths to keep the batsmen quiet. DD need a big score here if they want to put any pressure on this strong CSK batting line up.

Offspiner Harbhajan Singh into the attack

Ravindra Jadeja in IPL – 11:

First six matches – Only one wicket
Next six matches – Six wickets

Has been an average start from DD so far, as they could only score at six-and-a-half an over in the Powerplay. Delhi still have their best batsmen out at the centre right now, and that should give them some hope of boosting their run rate.

After 7 overs,Delhi Daredevils 47/1 ( Shreyas Iyer (C) 17 , Rishabh Pant (W) 9)

DD will be just getting a little uneasy with the scoring rate still under 7 runs an over. Jadeja keeps it wicket-to-wicket allowing four singles off the first four balls, before Iyer carves a boundary behind point.

FOUR! Just the amount of width Iyer wanted so that he could slice the ball between backward point and short third.

After 6 overs,Delhi Daredevils 39/1 ( Shreyas Iyer (C) 11 , Rishabh Pant (W) 7)

CSK will be mighty pleased with how the powerplay has gone. DD haven’t be able to score freely. After couple of play and miss from pant, he pulls one from outside off to mid wicket fence. Six runs off the 6th over.

FOUR! Was the short ball from Thakur and Pant watches the ball till the very end to play the pull well. He swivels and rolls his wrists to keep it along the ground.

Shardul Thakur will bowl his first over, which will be the last over off the powerplay

After 5 overs,Delhi Daredevils 33/1 ( Shreyas Iyer (C) 11 , Rishabh Pant (W) 1)

Chahar strikes off the first ball of his third over with the wicket of Shaw. Pant, in at number 3, taps on the offside and completes a quick single. With these two around a run out is always around the corner. It could well have been another run out (their third this season) had the mid on fielder got the direct hit. Couple off boundaries from Iyer, that will help the DD’s scoring rate.

FOUR! Innovative strokeplay. Banged in short from Chahar and Iyer was ready for that. Ramps it over the keeper for another boundary off the over.

FOUR! Iyer moved on the leg side, just to create enough room and place it through the offside for a four.

Rishabh Pant holds the record of scoring most runs in an IPL season for DD (582 in 2018).

Shreyas has decided to promote himself up the order today, and open alongside Prithvi Shaw. Iyer has exhibited the ability to go slam-bang from ball one earlier in the tournament. A strong start is of utmost importance for Delhi if they are to post a total between 180-200. And Shaw’s early dismissal certainly doesn’t help the side at all.

DD have now tried eight different opening combinations so far in this IPL – the most among all the teams.

OUT! It was on the cards, wasn’t it. Chahar provides the first breakthrough. Shaw isn’t able to make most of his reprieve, neither was he able to resist the temptation of playing and mistiming another flat-batted swat to long on and this time around Thakur makes no mistake.

Prithvi Shaw c SN Thakur b Chahar 17(17)

After 4 overs,Delhi Daredevils 24/0 ( Prithvi Shaw 17 , Shreyas Iyer (C) 3)

Shaw miscues a slog sweep, but with only two fielders outside the ring, the players from the infield aren’t able to get under the ball. The youngster isn’t afraid as he attempts another sweep this time a lot straighter and mistimes it one more time. Thakur is able to pull it back in play, before dropping Shaw off the next ball.

DROPPED! Shaw is relentless. Keeps going after Jadeja. Flat-bats hard it to mid on and Thakur was in the air with the ball travelling away from him when he strecthed his hands, he was able to get there but not cling on to it.

Ravindra Jadeja is brought into the attack.

After 3 overs,Delhi Daredevils 18/0 ( Prithvi Shaw 12 , Shreyas Iyer (C) 2)

Chahar is one of those bowlers who can maintain the shape of the ball with the seam remaining absolutely upright, one of the primary reasons, he is able to generate some movement in the air and off the pitch. Shaw misses a hoick to the one going away, didn’t miss the stumps by a lot. But as soon as the ball was bowled slightly into him, he was set to whack it over mid wicket boundary. Tries to slap it again but gets a top edge that flies to the third man fielder on the bounce. Iyer makes room and cuts, but the point fielder gets a hand to it and saves three runs. Iyer to retain strike for the next over.

SIX! Was the inswinger again, just a touch too straight from Chahar and Shaw loves playing the pull from his midriff. Strikes the first six off the innings.

Tidy start from CSK. This is where they have been really good in this competition. Their fast bowlers have bowled great lengths at the start of the innings. Unfortunately, none of them have been able to crack the death bowling code this season.

After 2 overs,Delhi Daredevils 9/0 ( Prithvi Shaw 5 , Shreyas Iyer (C) 1)

Ngidi too strays in his line for the first delivery that was on Iyer’s hips, takes the thigh pad and after Dhoni only half-stopping the ball, it gives them the opportunity to return for the second run. Shaw is beaten by Ngidi as well. Couple off singles as Iyer opens his account with a single behind point.

Shreyas Iyer’s record as an opener in T20 cricket:

Innings – 31
Runs – 863
Average – 30.82
SR – 131.75

Prithvi Shaw has been dismissed by spinners five out of seven times in IPL.

Lungi Ngidi will bowl from the other end.

There are no dead rubbers in IPL. There is always professional pride at play for both players and owners. For DD, this is a chance to stake claim for the coming seasons as a young side. For CSK, it is a chance of finishing in the Top 2. Don’t expect any lack of intensity in this battle.

After 1 overs,Delhi Daredevils 5/0 ( Prithvi Shaw 4 , Shreyas Iyer (C) 0)

Chahar begins with a wayward delivery down the leg side and then follows it up with a corker of delivery that pitches and moves away to beat the outside edge of Shaw. Chahar continues to maintain good lines until his inswinger slides giving Shaw the opportunity to get off the mark with a boundary. Five off the first over.

FOUR! Two bounces and over the ropes. The inswinger slants into the hips of Shaw, who pulls it to backward square fence.

There are enough yellow jerseys at the Kotla for it to resemble Pune’s MCA Stadium. It’s not quite the mustard field as is the sight that one gets to see at the Chepauk, but still a decent support nevertheless, as the ‘Dhoni’ chants at the toss would suggest. 

Himanish, the CSK-supporting Delhiite I spoke to in the live discussion a while ago, told me how the DD merchandise isn’t exactly a hit among fans at the Kotla, and they quite often end up buying rival team shirts.

Deepak Chahar to start the proceedings with the ball for Chennai Super Kings

Can the ‘Big show’ from Australia Glenn Maxwell finally get going today? We will have to wait to see him bat as it is Shreyas Iyer, who charges out alongside Prithvi Shaw to open the innings for Delhi Daredevils.

It might be a dead rubber in terms of the battle for playoffs, but so much to look forward to especially with three of the brighest stars of future are playing for Delhi Daredevils in Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, how they fare against Dhoni and co. 

For CSK a position for going atop is at stakes and also fine tune some off their concerns as a team, before they head into the last leg of the tournament. Dhoni would want to address their issues regarding death bowling.

So lot in store for us. Stay tuned. Five minutes away from the start.

DD have won only one match against CSK at Kotla out of five matches in IPL.

DD v CSK in IPL:

Matches played – 17
DD won – 5
CSK won – 12

Delhi Daredevils XI: Prithvi Shaw, Glenn Maxwell, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Harshal Patel, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult

Chennai Super Kings XI: Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Sam Billings, MS Dhoni(w/c), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi

Home team captain, Shreyas Iyer reckons, 190 will be a par score on this surface. CSK have brought back Lungi Ngidi back for David Willey, while Glenn Maxwell and Avesh Khan return for DD, Jason Roy and Junior Dala make way.

Toss update: MS Dhoni wins the battle off the coin toss and he has decided to field first at Ferozshah Kotla.

Watch our correspondent Amit Banerjee  preview  the game from outside the Ferozshah Kotla as he interacts with a few fans who have come out to support Delhi Daredevils.

With five teams vying for the remaining two playoff spots, this is what KKR, MI, RCB, RR and KXIP need to do to seal their berths in the knockouts

With RCB on 12 points after 13 matches, the race for the other two playoff spots has heated up. Here’s how the teams are placed on the points table

Thursday’s match saw Royal Challengers Bangalore staying alive in the tournament with a thrilling win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy stadium, Bengaluru. Here’s a look at how the players fared in the match

Here’s a look at the preview of the match between Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings. While CSK would like to pick up a win and move to the top of the table, Delhi would be playing for pride in their home ground.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of Match No 52 of the Indian Premier League between Shreyas Iyer-led Delhi Daredevils and the Chennai Super Kings captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni