One of the most dangerous players of T20 cricket, Suresh Raina’s bludgeoning 56 runs innings and the fatal bowling owns half credit of the Chennai Super Kings’ one sided straight big win in IPL match against Delhi Daredevils on Monday by 93 runs. This is first victory of Chennai in this season of IPL tournament.
In addition to Raina’s smashing 41 ball innings laced with five fours and a six, the small but significant contribution made by middle-order batsmen, help Chennai to score strong score of 177 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs. In its reply, the Delhi team winded up at just 84 runs in 15.4 overs. Jimmy Nishm scored 22, which is highest from Delhi’s side whereas other seven top batsmen don’t even touch double figures. Delhi lost its last five wickets for just 34 runs. After failing in defending a tall score of 200 against Punjab, Chennai made some changes in its bowling attack this time giving way to Ishwar Pandey (2/23) and Ben Hilfenhaus (1/9). Both bowled well justifying their captain’s decision. Spinner R Ashwin proved fatal yesterday. He took two wickets in two overs giving only three runs. Ravindra Jadeja (2/18 ) also fine tunes with him in support.
Earlier, Chennai won the toss and decided to bat. The opening pair Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith tried to give a brisk & swift start, but McCullum, despite a lease of life, could not move too far. After that, Delhi bowlers hooked the new batsman Suresh Raina and Smith for long enough. Chennai team scored just 65 runs in 10 overs for one wicket. In 11th over, after Smith’s (29) dismissal, Raina unlocked his bat and smashed 4 fours to Murali Vijay, who came as a change in bowling attack. Maintaining the momentum, he completed his fifty in just 36 balls.
After Raina, Pfaff du Plessis and captain M S Dhoni aggregated more runs at the same pace. Places was dismissed for 24 runs off 17 balls, whereas captain Dhoni hits a 15 ball smashing innings laced with two fours and two sixes amassing his individual score with 32 runs. The helped the team to score 66 runs in last five overs. In last over, Mithun Manhas (13 n.o.) hits two fours & transported the team score across 170 runs mark. Unadkat from Delhi spear headed the bowling attack by taking 3 wickets for 32 runs.
