Delhi Capitals move to the top of the points table after 10th win of IPL 2021 against Chennai Super Kings

Delhi Capitals (DC) jumped to the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 points table, following a triumph by a margin of three wickets against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Monday. The Delhi-based franchise chased down a target of 137 runs in 19.4 overs, with Shikhar Dhawan and Shimron Hetmyer the key contributors with the bat. While Shikhar accumulated 39 runs off 35 balls in an innings comprising of three boundaries and two sixes, Hetmyer delivered a fine finish down the order. The West Indies-based cricketer smashed 28 from 18 deliveries, in an innings which included two fours and a maximum. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur were the pick of the bowlers for CSK, accounting for two wickets apiece. Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood and Dwayne Bravo chipped in with a dismissal apiece.

Fine performance by DC bowlers

CSK were restricted to a paltry total of 136 runs, following a fine performance by the Delhi bowling attack. Axar Patel was the pick of the bowlers accounting for two dismissals while conceding just 18 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin was quite economical as well, picking a wicket with just 20 runs leaked. Anrich Nortje and Avesh Khan were expensive, but ensured a dismissal apiece to ensure constant pressure on the CSK batting department.

Ambati Rayadu was the only player who provided some resistance among the batsmen. Ambati scored an unbeaten 55 off 43 deliveries in an innings comprising of five boundaries and two sixes. None of the other batsmen managed to leave much of an impact, which is an indication of the fine performance by the DC bowlers.

“We made it tough for ourselves”

“Not a birthday present, was a tough match, we made it tough for ourselves. In the end if we win everything is fine. In the powerplay, they came hard and got away. After that we bowled some good overs. In the end, they got away with some extra runs. With the bat, Prithvi got us to a good start. We were always in the chase as it was a low total, in the end we got over the line,” said DC skipper Rishabh Pant as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“Prithvi is going to play that well and Shikhar is going to help him playing that way, but started well. We got what we needed from him and in the Hetty (Hetmyer) finished it off for us. (On Ashwin’s promotion) We were just trying to keep the right-left combination. Big win, because of this we can be absolutely sure that we can finish in top two. So it’s a great win for us,” he added.

MS Dhoni stated that the wicket was two-paced, but accepted that the batsmen had failed to accelerate as effectively as required.

“We were looking to get closer to 150. After we lost a few wickets, around the 15-16th over mark the platform was nice. We failed to accelerate. I thought it was a tough pitch. Anything close to 150 would’ve been a good score. It’s a two-paced wicket. It’s not like it slowed down drastically. Can’t just play your shots. That’s what the Delhi batters also faced. The taller bowlers were getting movement. It was a very good effort to make a game out of it. Was important not to give too many in the first six. Was one expensive over in the first six, but when quality players are batting it can happen,” stated the CSK skipper.