Opener hits 87 as team coasts to win over Capitals
Delhi Capitals were in disarray leading up to their game against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday with a Covid outbreak in their camp. James Hopes, a member of the team management, said in an interview with the broadcasters they didn't even have a team meeting going into the game, and it showed.
Rishabh Pant's boys lacked the planning and the execution to deal with the guile of CSK, who are hoping for a miracle to make the Playoffs. While CSK didn't put a foot wrong, DC were absolutely awful both with the bat and ball and following the 91-run loss, will need to win the last three games to stay in hunt.
The fact that their Net Run Rate too, took a severe hit, will make things even more difficult going forward. The win may not finally make a difference to CSK's fortunes this season, but it provided them building blocks for the future.
As for CSK, from Matthew Hayden to Faf du Plessis, they have always been blessed with top quality foreign openers who have single-handedly won them matches.
On Sunday, they unearthed their new star foreign opener who is going to serve them for a long time. Devon Conway wasn't the most sought-after opener going into the auctions. But following coach Stephen Fleming's inputs, CSK went for the Kiwi to replace Faf, who was snapped up by RCB. Conway had an insipid start to his CSK career, then left the camp to get married, and since his return to the fold, has been in great touch.
1/10:Chennai thrash Delhi
<p>Devon Conway's 87 and inspired bowling by Mooen Ali helped holders Chennai Super Kings thrash Delhi Capitals by 91 runs in the Indian Premier League on Sunday. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
2/10:Devon Conway
<p>Conway recorded his second 80-plus score in just his fourth match this season to guide Chennai to an imposing 208/6 in Mumbai. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
3/10:Moeen Ali
<p>Moeen then returned figures of 3/13 as Chennai bowled Delhi out for 117 in 17.4 overs with Mukesh Choudhary, Simrajeet Singh and Dwayne Bravo taking two wickets each. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
4/10:CSK openers
<p>Conway set up the victory for Chennai with a 110-run stand with opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made 41, before Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni exploded. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
5/10:Shivam Dube
<p>Dube hit a 19-ball 32 in another attacking stand with Conway, who struck seven fours and five sixes in his 49-ball knock, but fell to Marsh. (BCCI/IPL/ANI Photo)</p>
6/10:Khaleel Ahmed
<p>Khaleel Ahmed denied Conway his hundred after getting the batter caught behind. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
7/10:MS Dhoni
<p>The 40-year-old Dhoni smashed an unbeaten eight-ball 21 to roll back the years. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
8/10:David Warner
<p>Delhi were never in the chase after opener Srikar Bharat (8) and David Warner (19) returned to the dugout inside five overs. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
9/10:Rishabh Pant
<p>Moeen soon sent back Mitchell Marsh for 25 and then struck twice in one over including the wicket of skipper Rishabh Pant for 21. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
10/10:Dwayne Bravo
<p>The Delhi batting soon caved in as wickets fell like nine pins and Bravo wrapped up the innings with two successive wickets. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>After a couple of impressive performances in the last two matches, Conway showed his full range against Delhi Capitals on Sunday. It was Conway's 87 off 49 balls that helped CSK race away to 208-6 after being put in by Rishabh Pant.
In an opening partnership of 110 with Ruturaj Gaikwad (41) off 11 overs, Conway threatened to take the game away from Capitals. While Ruturaj looked solid at one end, it was Conway who took it upon himself to push on the accelerator.
To make a match of 208, the Capitals needed a start similar to CSK's. But David Warner & Co. were not ready to give themselves the time so that they could attack the CSK bowling which isn't the best at the back end of the innings. Quick wickets fell within the first 10 and the chase withered away in no time.
