Pune: Shane Watson (78, 40b, 7×4, 4×6) and MS Dhoni (51 n o, 22b, 2×4, 5×6) hit brutal half centuries to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Delhi Daredevils (DD) by 13 runs in an IPL-XI encounter here Monday.
Chasing a target of 212 Delhi had a bad start. But Rishabh Pant (79, 45b, 7×4, 4×6) and Vijay Shankar (54 n o, 31b, 1×4, 5×6) accelerated towards the end with attacking half centuries, but it was too little too late for the visitors. IPL debutant KM Asif (2/43) was the pick of the bowlers for CSK.
Earlier Watson and Dhoni powered CSK to 211 for four. Watson was back to his brutal best after three low scores and shared a 102-run opening stand off 66 balls with Faf du Plessis (33, 33b, 3×4, 1×6) after surviving a close lbw call early on. Dhoni showed his devastating touch in the last five overs which produced 74 runs.
Delhi opted to field on a good batting wicket and CSK pounced on the opportunity. Watson was unstoppable after Trent Boult (0/48) almost had him trapped in front of the stumps with a pacy inswinger at the start of the match. The visiting team took the DRS but the third umpire did not have conclusive evidence to overrule the not out call of the on-field umpire.
It was also a bit surprising that the tournament’s leading run scorer Ambati Rayudu (41, 24b, 5×4, 1×6) did not open the innings with Watson. However, the Watson-Du Plessis duo produced the desired result for CSK who raced to 100 in just 10.2 overs.
After the departure of the former Australian all-rounder, the dangerous combo of Rayudu and Dhoni got together in the 14th over. The captain got into the act with successive sixes off Boult, one over mid-wicket and other one from a bottom-handed jab over long on. The third one was a whip off Avesh Khan over square, almost going out of the ground.
Rayudu too made sure the big hits coming as he hit five fours and a six in his cameo. His fourth wicket stand of 79 with Dhoni came off just 36 balls. The Delhi bowlers were all over the place especially the experienced Boult and Plunkett who leaked 100 runs in seven overs.
Brief scores: CSK 211/4 (Shane Watson 78, M S Dhoni 51 n o, Ambati Rayudu 41; Amit Mishra 1/30) bt DD 198/5 (Rishabh Pant 79, Vijay Shankar 54 n o; KM Asif 2/43) by 13 runs.