New Delhi: Zaheer Khan, Shreyas Iyer guided Delhi Daredevils to a convincing 6-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the 49th match of the Indian Premier League at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur.
Chennai Super Kings innings: 119/6 (Du Plessis 29; Zaheer 2/9)
Delhi Daredevils innings:120/4 (Iyer 70; Pandey 2/27)
Over 16.4 | Score 120/4 (Iyer 70; Jadhav 1)
6 needed off 24 balls, Kedar Jadhav is the new man in. Kedar took a single off the first ball. Second ball was pitched slightly short and Iyer bisected the gap between long-on and midwicket for another boundary. Negi spun the third ball sharply away from Iyer and he was almost stumped there. Iyer worked the fourth ball towards long-on for a single which will be the winning runs! DD have registered a comprehensive 6-wicket win here! CSK have a lot to ponder over.
Over 16 | Score 114/4 (Iyer 65)
Negi to bowl his third over. He started with a short ball and Iyer pulled it over midwicket for a boundary. He followed it with another short ball and Iyer once again pulled it over midwicket for the same result. Iyer scored a couple of runs off the third ball. Iyer took a single off the fourth ball. Morkel was down the wicket off the fifth ball and launched it high and long over long-on for a Six! Morkel tried playing a similar shot off the next ball, didn't time it well and it went straight to the fielder at long-off. CSK have another breakthrough but it's too late now. Time for a strategic break.
JA Morkel c Pandey b Negi 8 (8b)
Over 15 | Score 97/3 (Iyer 53; Morkel 2)
Ashwin to bowl his final over. Just two from the over. Ashwin has gone wicketless today and with seven overs remaining, it could be difficult for the other bowlers to contain runs now.
Over 14 | Score 95/3 (Iyer 53; Morkel )
Negi into his second over. He bowled a much slower delivery to Yuvi, the left-hander went for the slog-sweep and holed it straight to Mohit at deep midwicket. Albie Morkel is the new man in. Just three from the over.
Yuvraj Singh c Sharma b Negi 32 (28b)
Over 13 | Score 92/2 (Iyer 51; Yuvraj 32)
Ashwin into his third over. Yuvi shimmied down the track off the second ball and launched it high over long-on for a Six! Iyer worked the fifth ball towards midwicket, rushed back for the second run which brought his half-century off just 36 balls. DD are cruising here!
Over 12 | Score 82/2 (Iyer 48; Yuvraj 25)
Negi is finally brought into the attack. Yuvi was offered width off the third ball and he cut it past third man for a boundary. 8 from the over.
Over 11 | Score 74/2 (Iyer 46; Yuvraj 19)
Raina has been brought into the attack, ahead of Negi. He bowled one down the leg side and Iyer cheekily played it past fine leg for a boundary. 8 from the over.
Over 10 | Score 66/2 (Iyer 40; Yuvraj 17)
Jadeja to continue. He bowled one down the leg side and Yuvi swept it past fine leg for a boundary. Six from the over. CSK spinners need to strike as DD are going at almost six runs per over and will easily win the match at that rate.
Over 9 | Score 60/2 (Iyer 39; Yuvraj 12)
Ashwin to continue. Iyer charged down off the fourth ball, hit it high towards midwicket, Mohit Sharma got under the ball and spilled it at the last moment. Iyer has been dropped on 34. Iyer was offered width off the next ball and he cut it past short third man for a boundary. Time for a strategic break. That miss could prove to be costly for CSK, that was the first poor stroke from Iyer's bat today.
Over 8 | Score 52/2 (Iyer 32; Yuvraj 11)
Ravindra Jadeja brought into the attack. Good start for him, just two from the first over.
Over 7 | Score 48/2 (Iyer 30; Yuvraj 9)
Ishwar to bowl his third over. He offered width off the first ball, Yuvi made some room and whacked it between point and covers for a boundary. Ishwar bowled a half-volley to Iyer and he slapped it high over wide of long-off for a Six! Ishwar bowled one at the pads and Iyer use the pace and worked it past midwicket for another boundary. Ishwar ended the over with a slow ball, Yuvi picked it and lifted it past long-off for another boundary. 20 from the over. The move to continue with Ishwar has backfired for Dhoni.
Over 6 | Score 28/2 (Iyer 19; Yuvraj 0)
Ashwin has been brought into the attack. The first ball drifted down the leg side and Iyer played it past fine leg for a boundary. 4 from the first over.
Over 5 | Score 24/2 (Iyer 15; Yuvraj 0)
Ishwar to continue. He started with a short of a length ball, Duminy was once again looking to steal a single toeards third man, there wasn't much width on offer and the DD skipper has played onto the stumps! Another big blow for DD. Yuvraj Singh is the new man in. Wicket maiden for Ishwar!
JP Duminy b Pandey 6 (7b)
Over 4 | Score 24/1 (Iyer 15; Duminy 6)
Mohit to continue. He offered width to Duminy off the second ball and the South African played it between point and covers for a boundary. 8 from the over and sensible batting from these two.
Over 3 | Score 16/1 (Iyer 13; Duminy 0)
Ishwar to continue. He bowled a short ball to de Kock, who smashed it straight into the hands of Ashwin at deep fine leg. JP Duminy is the new man in. DD can easily win the match by dealing in singles. The track is slow and aiming for big strokes will only work against them.
Over 2 | Score 10/0 (De Kock 2; Iyer 12)
Mohit Sharma to bowl from the other end. Iyer was offered width off the second ball and he used the pace and once again cut it past point for another boundary. Mohit bowled a length ball to end the over and Iyer drove it through covers for another boundary.
Over 1 | Score 5/0 (De Kock 1; Iyer 4)
Quinton de Kock and Shreyas Iyer to open for DD, Ishwar Pandey will bowl the first over. Iyer was offered width off the fifth ball and he cut it past point for a boundary. 5 from the first over.
Over 20 | Score 119/6 (Negi 5; Jadeja 3)
Snadhu to bowl his final over. Negi took a single off the first ball. Jadeja followed it with another ball. Sandhu followed it with a short ball and Negi hit it over covers for another single. Sandhu bowled a sharp inswinger to Jadeja, who was almost bowled there. Sandhu bowled another short ball and Jadeja worked it towards short midwicket for another single. Negi charged down the wicket off the last ball, got an edge which went to the keeper and they ran a single. Excellent bowling effort from DD. Zaheer Khan has led from the front and Delhi have an excellent opportunity to win a game here. It's not going to be easy against CSK's quality spin attack, but DD have the edge here.
Over 19 | Score 114/6 (Negi 2; Jadeja 1)
Zaheer to bowl his final over. He started with a slower one, Dhoni mistimed it towards long-off where Nadeem held on to a good catch. The skipper departs at a crucial juncture for CSK. Ravindra Jadeja is the new man in and he will face the hat-trick ball from Zak! Jadeja took a single off the second ball to deprive Zaheer of a hat-trick. Zaheer bowled a full-toss to Negi who worked it towards long-on for a couple of runs. Negi made room for himself for the fourth ball, didn't connect as Zak bowled it wide. Zaheer surprised Nadeem with a sharp bouncer next ball for no run. Zaheer ends an incredible spell: 4-1-9-2
MS Dhoni c Nadeem b Khan 27 (24b)
Over 18 | Score 110/5 (Dhoni 27; Negi 0)
Sandhu is back. He started with a full-toss and Bravo whacked it over long-on for a Six! Sandhu followed it with a slower ball, Bravo went for another big hit but didn't connect. Sandhu surprised Bravo with a short ball and he mistimed it straight to Duminy at mid-off. Pawan Negi is the new man in. Sandhu bowled a short ball to Dhoni, who was ready for it and hammered it past deep fine leg for a boundary. Dhoni was down the wicket for the fifth ball and he hit it straight towards long-on for a single. 11 from the over.
DJ Bravo c Duminy b Sandhu 8 (8b)
Over 17 | Score 99/4 (Dhoni 22; Bravo 2)
Yuvi into his third over. MSD charged down the wicket off third ball and slapped it straight down the ground for a Six! Dhoni was offered some width off the fifth ball and he cut it between short third man and gully for a boundary. 13 from the over. Another 40 runs off the next 18 balls would make it a competitive total for CSK who have some of the best spinners in the business.
Over 16 | Score 86/4 (Dhoni 10; Bravo 2)
Morkel brought back into the attack. Faf was looking to cheekily work the second ball towards third man, there wasn't much width on offer and he was bowled! Dwayne Bravo is the new man in. Just three from the over.
F du Plessis b Morkel 29 (23b)
Over 15 | Score 83/3 (Faf 29; Dhoni 9)
Yuvi to continue. He bowled one down leg side and Faf worked it fine past fine leg for a boundary. CSK would be extremely happy if they manage to score 140 runs from here onwards.
Over 14 | Score 76/3 (Faf 23; Dhoni 9)
Sandhu to bowl his second over. His second ball went way down the leg side for 4 byes. 11 from the over. Boundaries are hard to come by and CSK are clearlystruggling here.
Over 13 | Score 65/3 (Faf 17; Dhoni 8)
Yuvi has been brought into the attack. 5 from the southpaw's first over. Time for another strategic break. With seven overs remaining, these two will have to step the gas from here onwards.
Over 12 | Score 60/3 (Faf 14; Dhoni 6)
Jayant into his second over. Dhoni charged down the wicket off the fifth ball and hit it past midwicket for his first boundary. Good intention from MS, they can't let DD bowlers dominate the proceedings. 7 from the over.
Over 11 | Score 53/3 (Faf 12; Dhoni 1)
Morkel to continue. Faf charged down the wicket off the second ball and hit it past the diving fielder at mid-off for a boundary.
Over 10 | Score 46/3 (Faf 6; Dhoni 0)
Jayant Yadav has been brought into the attack. Raina charged down the wicket off the second ball and handed over an easy catch straight to Duminy at short cover! Raina's poor run this season continues. MS Dhoni is the new man in, CSK need a Mahi special today. Just one from the over and a big wicket of Raina for Jayant.
SK Raina c Duminy b Yadav 11 (8b)
Over 9 | Score 45/1 (Raina 11; Faf 5)
Albie Morkel has been brought into the attack. He struck first ball with a length ball which nipped into the batsman and Smith was trapped in front of the wicket! Faf du Plessis is the new man in. Faf worked the second ball, another fuller delivery, towards mid-on and a misfield from Saurabh Tiwary converted it into a boundary. Morkel ended the over with a short ball and Raina pulled it past square leg for a boundary. Good over for CSK, 11 from it.
DR Smith lbw b Morkel 18 (24b)
Over 8 | Score 34/1 (Smith 18; Raina 5)
Gurinder Sandhu has been brought into the attack. Raina worked the first ball towards backward point, wanted a second run but Smith slipped, Raina turned and had Yuvi hit the stumps, Raina was gone. The second ball drifted down the leg side, Smith worked it past fine leg for a boundary. 10 from the over.
Over 7 | Score 24/1 (Smith 12; Raina 1)
Nadeem into his final over, Suresh Raina is the new man in. Smith had seen enought, Nadeem went slightly fuller and Smith tonked it over long-on for a Six! Despite that six, it was an incredible spell from Nadeem where he conceded just 18 runs and that too in four overs of the powerplay!
Over 6 | Score 16/1 (Smith 5)
Zaheer into his third over. No runs came off the first five balls, Baz took a chance off the last ball but holed it straight to Duminy at mid-off. Wicket maiden from Zaheer Khan. Dream start for the Daredevils!
BB McCullum c Duminy b Khan 11 (21b)
Over 5 | Score 16/0 (Smith 5; McCullum 11)
Nadeem into his third over. Another magnificent over from Nadeem, very well controlled bowling. McCullum tried his best to take a few chances in that over, but no result. 5 from the over. Nadeem has conceded just 10 runs from three overs, not to forget, in the powerplay!
Over 4 | Score 11/0 (Smith 4; McCullum 7)
Zaheer to continue. The fourth delivery was too short and Smith punished it by pulling it past square leg for a boundary. 5 from the over.
Over 3 | Score 6/0 (Smith 0; McCullum 6)
Nadeem to continue. He bowled a short one to Baz who pulled it past midwicket for CSK's first boundary of the innings. Smith is yet to get off the mark after having played 9 balls. Good control from Nadeem so far.
Over 2 | Score 1/0 (Smith 0; McCullum 1)
Zaheer Khan to bowl from the other end. Smith survived a run-out chance when Baz edged one towards the slip cordon, Iyer dived and stopped it and had he hit the stumps, Smith was out by some distance! Excellent start this for DD, just 1 run from the first two overs.
Over 1 | Score 0/0 (Smith 0; McCullum 0)
Shahbaz Nadeem to bowl the first over. Excellent start, he begins with a maiden to Dwayne Smith!
TOSS: CSK won the toss and MS Dhoni decided to bat first.
Delhi would be looking to spoil CSK's party to an extent as it has been another horrible season for them where they have won just four out of 12 matches.
Yuvraj Singh's failure has been a major disappointment for the team as the southpaw has scored just two half-centuries in 12 matches. There has been a huge pressure on JP Duminy to play a big knock every time the South African has come to the crease. With two matches remaining, DD will be looking to give their fans something to cheer about.
CSK, on the other hand are once again brimming with confidence and would try to win another match in order to end up in the top two teams of the points table. They would be devoid of the services of Brendon McCullum, who has been a force to reckon with for them at the top of the order. The Kiwi played a match-winning 81-run knock against Rajasthan Royals under soaring temperature at the Chepauk stadium in their previous game.
Form of Ashish Nehra is a matter of concern for the team as the Indian veteran went wicketless in the last two matches. While Ravindra Jadeja was back in form with a four-wicket haul against the Royals, MS Dhoni would want his team to end the league stage on a high.
