By BV Swagath
Chennai Super Kings drubbed a weak Delhi Daredevils unit by 33 runs at Chepauk tonight. It was a poor show from Delhi on their way to a 11th defeat in 14 matches. Chennai Super Kings who have made it to the play-offs before this game are topping the table with 11 wins in 15 games.
MS Dhoni scripted this victory for the CSK with a brilliant knock of 58 not out from 35 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes. Chennai posted 168 for 4 in 20 overs on a slow track. CSK had got off to a good start of 61 for 1 in 7.2 overs with Vijay scoring 31 from 23 balls and Hussey scoring a run-a-ball 26. For the Delhi Daredevils, Umesh Yadav bowled well for his 2 for 26.
Delhi Daredevils were simply hopeless in the run chase with Virender Sehwag falling for a duck in the second ball of the innings. None of its batsmen with the exception of David Warner spent any significant time out in the middle and wickets kept on falling at regular intervals. Warner provided a ray of hope but got out after scoring 44 from 37 balls. When Warner got out, Delhi had lost its 7th wicket with just 115 runs on the board in 16.3 overs.
Eventually the visitors were kept down to 135 for 9 in 20 overs. R Ashwin and Dwayne Bravo produced identical bowling figures of 4-0-19-2. Albie Morkel took 3 for 32 while Mohit Sharma got two wickets.
Toss and Teams: In what is an inconsequential match, the Chennai Super Kings have won the toss and elected to bat first against the Delhi Daredevils who are led by David Warner. CSK are already in the play offs along with Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.
Delhi Daredevils: David Warner (C), Virender Sehwag, Unmukt Chand, Ben Rohrer, Johan Botha, Kedar Jadhav (WK), Irfan Pathan, Roelof van der Merwe, Siddarth Kaul, Umesh Yadav, Ashish Nehra
Chennai Super Kings: Michael Hussey, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, MS Dhoni (C&WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Albie Morkel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Mohit Mahipal Sharma
