The Delhi Capitals (DC) have lost the game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 8 wickets with 15 balls to spare. This was a double defeat against the Men in Yellow this season. The mid-table clash was a low-scoring one as Sanju Samson played a match-winning innings of 87* off 52 deliveries on a tough wicket.
Delhi Capitals could not make their winning momentum count in this match, as they lost yet another match due to batting failure. They were exposed while batting first in the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where they were bowled out for 75 runs. This was a must-win game for both sides to keep the equation for the playoffs simple.
DC batters struggled against CSK spinners
DC openers, Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul, had a decent start with the CSK bowlers, bowled brilliantly inside the power play. As a result, the batters could not take charge, and they kept on falling as both were dismissed on the score of 19 and 12 runs respectively. Half the side was back in the pavilion inside 70 runs.
Then a brilliant 65-run partnership for the 6th wicket by Tristan Stubbs and Sameer Rizvi, who was used as an impact sub, played a brilliant knock along with the South Africa batter. The two scored 38 and 40 runs respectively to put the score past the 150-run mark.
A small, impactful innings from Ashutosh Sharma of 14 off 5 deliveries helped the home side finish with the score of 155/7 in their 20 overs. The spin duo of CSK Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad worked brilliantly, picking three wickets among themselves.
Sanju Samson shines against Delhi
While chasing CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson had a similar kind of start to the DC batters. Skipper Gaikwad, after scoring back-to-back fifties, was dismissed on a low score of 6 runs. Then Urvil Patel scored 17 off 9 deliveries and was dismissed by Axar Patel.
Sanju Samson sticked through one end and kept the runs ticking on a pitch that was a bit tacky. He scored a brilliant half-century in 32 balls, and then he kept on continuing his innings, and played a knock of 87* off 52 deliveries, and Kartik Sharma was also unbeaten 38* runs as the Men in Yellow chased down the total with 15 balls to spare.
I like Sanju more- Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson played yet another match-winning knock for CSK as he won the Player of the Match. Sanju Samson was the POTM last time these two sides met at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where Sanju scored a brilliant century and was unbeaten at the score of 115*.
Sanju Samson said, “They’re calling me Chetta, but I like Sanju more. You try to see what serves well, stick to the basics and trust your hands to do better. I just stuck to the process and it’s working out well. I’ve been doing it for the last 3-5 years, it’s a tactical bit as well, I move around a bit according to the bowlers.”
“I’m always like this, the biggest change is you’re seeing more of me, but I’m always calm. Looking at what we were chasing and how the wicket was behaving, even if were 30 or 35 for 1 in the batting PP, looking at the shots I can play in the middle overs and against the spinners, I was confident about scoring runs. Hundreds are always special.”
Sanju Samson concluded, “There was a desire, but I had to be a bit too selfish to get it, my partner was playing well and winning the game gives you more confidence and happiness. A few more matches to come, let’s see if it comes around.”
Also Read: “Grateful to have Sanju”: Ruturaj Gaikwad’s lauds Sanju Samson’s match-winning knock vs DC
