Chennai Super Kings (CSK) completed a double over Delhi Capitals (DC) with a convincing eight-wicket victory on May 5 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
After winning the toss, DC opted to bat first and posted 155/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Sameer Rizvi top-scored with an unbeaten 40 off 24 balls, including four sixes. For CSK, Noor Ahmad stood out with the ball, returning impressive figures of 2/22 in three overs.
In response, CSK chased down the target with ease, reaching 159/2 in just 17.3 overs. Sanju Samson led from the front with an unbeaten 87 off 52 deliveries, striking seven fours and six sixes at a rate of 167.31. With this win, CSK climbed to sixth place in the points table with 10 points, while DC dropped to seventh with eight points.
Talking points
DC choke in the powerplay
The Delhi Capitals struggled to get going as the Chennai Super Kings bowlers tightened the screws early in the powerplay, removing both openers for low scores. CSK maintained pressure beyond the first six overs as well, picking up wickets at regular intervals and keeping DC on the back foot throughout the innings.
DC middle order steadies the ship
Amid the early setbacks, Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs played crucial knocks to stabilize the innings. Their composed partnership ensured the scoring rate didn’t dip drastically, with both contributing scores in excess of 35. They guided DC to a respectable total of 155.
Sanju Samson anchors comfortable chase
Despite losing a couple of early wickets, Sanju Samson held firm and led the chase with authority. He remained unbeaten on 87 off 52 balls, smashing seven fours and eight sixes at a strike rate of 167.31. Kartik Sharma provided solid support with an unbeaten 41, as CSK completed the chase inside 18 overs with ease.
Who said what?
Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals), Losing Captain
(thoughts on the score) Obviously, the way the wicket was playing in the first innings, I felt that yes, 155 was a good score. But since we were playing with eight batters, I felt we were about 10-15 runs short. (on the pitch) I feel it got a little better, but I think the difference was made by the set batter. When a batter is well set, it feels like there is nothing in the pitch, but I still feel there was something in it. For a new batter coming in, it was not easy. Yes, it wasn’t easy for new players because, you know, the length balls were holding up, sometimes staying low, and occasionally even bouncing after holding. So I feel it was very difficult for new batters. But when set batters were playing, it looked easier. You could see the way Sanju took the game forward. (about their batting) Yes, obviously, considering our batting, I think that’s a positive. Even after losing five wickets, the way we finished at the end was good. So yes, that is a positive. But I feel in bowling, I missed my partner Kuldeep. (on their remaining matches) Yes, obviously, we cannot afford any mistakes now. So we have to go in with a clear mindset that whatever time or chances we get, we must win.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings), Winning Captain
I think even initially after the 2nd and 3rd game, Flem and myself were positive, we were closer to what we were last year. Sanju had come along and the bowling was doing well. We then got a couple of wins and everyone started to gel together. On the batting side, more than grateful to have Sanju after the tournament he had in the WC, he’s our backbone, but it’s the bowlers who do the job. Aleal and Jamie come and silently do the job, Anshul is someone who does his job silently, he had a bad game today, but they’ve all come well together. We don’t really well, we just let each other know what the wicket is doing and then assess the situation. Then it’s all about how the match is going . I think the skillset was already there, no such development, just that he needed some momentum. We were also chasing big targets and he didn’t get time. Last match, he got some time, he can play an all-around game and hit the pockets well.
Sanju Samson, Player of the Match
They are calling me Chetta but I like Sanju more … (laughs) I have been working a bit on my initial movement and it has been coming off. I’ve been doing it for the last few years and it’s tactical as well depending on the bowlers and how you want to approach them … to be very honest I am always like this (calm) but you are seeing me more in the middle now so you feel I am calm, even outside I am calm. Looking at what we were chasing, how the wicket was behaving, even if we were 35 for no loss in the powerplay, we could capitalise in the middle overs. I had to be a bit too selfish to get a hundred so I thought lets win the game … finishing not out, winning the game gives you more satisfaction.
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