10th May 2023 - TATA IPL 2023, Match 55 - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
In a thrilling encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) showcased their dominance once again, securing their seventh victory in the tournament by defeating the Delhi Capitals (DC).
Batting first after winning the toss, CSK's middle and lower-middle order batsmen played crucial cameos to set a competitive total of 167/8. Led by the ever-reliable MS Dhoni, who blasted a quickfire 20 off just 9 balls, CSK put up a challenging target. Matheesha Pathirana was the standout bowler for CSK, claiming three wickets for 37 runs. His disciplined bowling, combined with the collective effort of the CSK bowlers, choked the DC batsmen and restricted them to 140/8, securing a convincing 27-run victory for CSK.
DC's chase got off to a rocky start as Deepak Chahar dismissed the dangerous David Warner early in the innings. Phil Salt launched a counter-attack, hitting boundaries off Tushar Deshpande but fell victim to Chahar's cunning variation. Rilee Rossouw and Impact Player Manish Pandey tried to rebuild the innings, but CSK's bowlers maintained a disciplined line and length. Pathirana made his presence felt, picking up crucial wickets and applying pressure on the DC batsmen.
Despite some late fireworks from Axar Patel, who hit a powerful six and a boundary, the required run rate proved to be too much for DC. Pathirana's guile deceived Patel, leading to his dismissal and sealing the match in CSK's favor. DC fell short, managing only a meager total of 140/8.
Earlier, after winning the toss, CSK skipper MS Dhoni opted to bat. The team made one change to their playing XI, with Ambati Rayudu replacing Pathirana. DC introduced Ripal Patel and Manish Pandey into their lineup.
CSK's innings got off to an uncertain start, with Ruturaj Gaikwad surviving on a few streaky boundaries before finding his rhythm. Khaleel Ahmed bowled with discipline but was unfortunate not to claim the wicket of Devon Conway, who survived an edge that went unnoticed. However, David Warner's decision to bring on Axar Patel worked wonders as he dismissed Conway with a plumb LBW decision and later removed Gaikwad as well.
DC's bowlers continued to apply pressure, restricting CSK's scoring rate during the middle overs. Moeen Ali, attempting to accelerate, fell victim to Kuldeep Yadav's crafty bowling. Shivam Dube provided some respite by smashing a much-needed six, but Ajinkya Rahane's dismissal, courtesy of a stunning caught and bowled effort by Lalit Yadav, halted CSK's momentum.
In the final overs, Dube and Rayudu shifted gears, smashing boundaries off Lalit Yadav. However, Mitchell Marsh's introduction into the attack led to the downfall of both batsmen. Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni provided a late surge, with Dhoni's onslaught comprising two towering sixes and a boundary. Marsh's impressive spell of 3/18 helped restrict CSK to 167/8.
Matheesha Pathirana, CSK's Impact Player, replaced Shivam Dube at the start of the bowling innings and made an immediate impact with his precise bowling.
With this victory, CSK showcased their prowess once again and maintained their position as strong contenders in TATA IPL 2023. With this win, CSK has become closer to Qualifying for Playoffs. But for Delhi Capitals, the chances are almost over, until n unless a miracle happens.