VISAKHAPATNAM: Like their coach Ricky Ponting had said on the eve of their clash, Delhi Capitals played good cricket throughout 40 overs and recorded their first win of the season by defeating Chennai Super Kings by 20 runs at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
After posting a challenging 191-5 riding on fine half-centuries by skipper Rishabh Pant and David Warner, Mukesh Kumar (3-21) and Khaleel Ahmed (2-21) restricted the defending champions to 171-6.
Super Kings had the worst possible start to their chase. Khaleel Ahmed used the bounce in the wicket to good effect, dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad (1) in the first over and Rachin Ravindra (2) in the third to reduce them to 7-2 in three overs.
Ajinkya Rahane (45; 30b; 5x4, 2x6) and Daryl Mitchell (34) kept them in the hunt with a 68-run third wicket stand. But Axar Patel foxed the New Zealand batter. Seamer Mukesh Kumar then tilted the match in favour of Capitals with a double strike in the 14th over. He got rid of Rahane and Sameer Rizvi off successive deliveries to reduce them to 102-5.
CSK's hopes rested on big-hitting Shivam Dube. But Mukesh put paid to their chances by dismissing him in the 17th over. Though Dhoni (37*) entertained the crowd with some big hits, the match was out of their reach by then. Earlier, skipper Pant found his touch and his entertaining 51 (32b; 4x4, 3x6) along with Warner's 52 (35b, 5x4, 3x6) helped Delhi Capitals set a daunting target.
Electing to bat, the hosts got off to a strong start with Prithvi Shaw (43; 27b), who made the playing XI at the expense of local lad Ricky Bhui, and Warner laying the platform with their 93-run opening stand. It took a brilliant catch from Matheesha Pathirana at short third to dismiss Warner off Mustafizur. Shaw then took his side past the 100-run mark with a six off Jadeja but departed next ball, edging to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.
Two quick wickets slowed down the scoring. Pathirana's twin blows in the 15th over knocked out Mitchell Marsh's middle stump and Tristan Stubbs' off stump as hosts slumped to 134/4.
Back in his elements, Pant cut loose in the 18th over, hitting Mustafizur for a six and a four. He then went after Pathirana to reach his half-century with a 6, 4, 4. But he ballooned the next delivery to Ruturaj Gaikwad. The Capitals managed 57 runs in the final five overs.
1/10:IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals down Chennai Super Kings
PTI
2/10:Rishabh Pant
<p>Rishabh Pant led Delhi Capitals with his first IPL fifty since his comeback from a car crash, guiding them to a 20-run victory over Chennai Super Kings.<br /></p>PTI
3/10:Prithvi Shaw and David Warner
<p>Warner and Prithvi Shaw's opening partnership of 93 set the stage for Delhi before Chennai's bowlers fought back, including Matheesha Pathirana's two strikes in an over.<br /></p>PTI
4/10:David Warner
<p>David Warner's 52 coupled with Captain Pant's 51 off 32 balls, propelled Delhi to 191-5 in Visakhapatnam, their adopted homeground due to the upcoming general elections.<br /></p>PTI
5/10:Matheesha Pathirana
<p>Pathirana, nicknamed "Baby Malinga" for his slinging action and trademark yorkers reminiscent of the former Sri Lankan pace ace Lasith Malinga, finished with figures of 3-31.<br /></p>ANI
6/10:Khaleel Ahmed
<p>Khaleel Ahmed claimed the wickets of CSK openers and returned with bowling figures of 2-21 and was named the Man of the Match.</p>PTI
7/10:Ajinkya Rahane and Daryl Mitchell
<p>Ajinkya Rahane (45) and Daryl Mitchell (34) stitched together a 68-run partnership in their bid to revive the chase. However, after their dismissals, wickets tumbled in quick succession.<br /></p>PTI
8/10:MS Dhoni
<p>In Visakhapatnam, the crowd largely supported CSK, chanting "Dhoni, Dhoni". The former skipper responded with an unbeaten 37 off 16 balls, featuring four fours and three sixes.<br /></p>PTI
9/10:Mukesh Kumar
<p>In his spell of 3 overs, Mukesh Kumar claimed 3 wickets while conceding 21 runs.<br /></p>PTI
