END OF OVER:
20 | 21 Runs | CSK: 179/4 | RR: 8.95

  • MS Dhoni44 (22b)
  • Ambati Rayudu5 (2b)
  • Trent Boult4-0-37-0
  • Chris Morris4-0-47-1

Peter: "Very poor captaincy from Delhi, Mishra has a 5 runs per over and he did not finish his full quota! "

Jay: "Who said Rayudu is slow this season? He has a better strike rate than Thala- see for yourself"

Drskattu: "Boult 1st 12 balls 2 runs/last 2 balls 12 runs.. poetic "

Sathish K: "Boults first spell went for 2 runs, last spell went for 35, thx to Dhoni"

Iain Climie: "Apparently MSD was "pretty sick" this week. What would he have done if fully fit?"

Vinod Rajpal: "27-1 in Powerplay & 152 in 14 runs - Super comeback by Thala & Co."

Kush: "Dhoni is too old! He should retire... a plea from a prospective bowler! Please!"

Sai Krishna: "Dhoni of the old! What a freakin' legend. Finishes with two sixes like a boss or should I say like a Thala! "

9:40pm Whew! Some turnaround from CSK. They had three in their first three overs. Just over 50 after ten overs. They've got 13 an over after that! 44 from 22 from Dhoni. Took a little bit of time before going after Delhi, but in that time, Raina and Jadeja provided the impetus. Once again, CSK have clawed out of a sticky situation. Capitals' spinners did so well. The seamers couldn't follow through. Are those good signs for them as they step out now for the chase? At 180, I'm not sure even they'll feel too thrilled.

19.6
6
Boult to Dhoni, SIX, clears deep square! The Dhoni finish! Short ball at leg stump, swivels and pulls from underneath it. Out at the boundary, Dhawan is underneath it as it teases him first and then clears his head
19.5
6
Boult to Dhoni, SIX, go and pick that up! Quite literally in this case because it's into the closed stands. Hangs back, picks the offcutter and wallops it over the midwicket boundary. That sounds, my goodness...
19.5
2w
Boult to Rayudu, 2 wides, full and very wide outside off. Can't get bat on it, but the spikes are in shape as he responds to Dhoni's call and gets to the other end
19.4
1
Boult to Dhoni, 1 run, slower short ball, inside edge onto pad as he looks to pull
19.3
4
Boult to Dhoni, FOUR, over the bowler with a subdued helicopter. Or chinna helicopter as they'd call it there in Chepauk. Near yorker length, just missing from Boult. Leg stump line. Gets the front leg out and whips it, flat, over the bowler

Rizwan Basheer : "18.4 & 18.5 shows how poor form Ambati Rayudu is in! In the slot and just a 4 and 1, that's 9 Runs short!! If MSD or jadeja would read 18.4 - 6, 18.5-6!! " --- You're a tough coach, sir, expecting him to get 14 runs off two balls!

19.2
2
Boult to Dhoni, 2 runs, full on leg stump, heaves this out to deep midwicket's right and comes back for the second

Mohit: "Bowlers apologize to batsmen for the no ball full tosses. Batsman scores a boundary of that ball + get a free hit -> May be the batters are happy inside :)"

19.1
0
Boult to Dhoni, no run, inside edge won't trickle past Pant. Slower ball, skids on and Dhoni is through the slog early. It keeps a tad low

END OF OVER:
19 | 18 Runs 1 Wkt | CSK: 158/4 | RR: 8.31

  • MS Dhoni25 (16b)
  • Ambati Rayudu5 (2b)
  • Chris Morris4-0-47-1
  • Trent Boult3-0-16-0

nishant thaccke: "To add to Axar debate -- most important point is : Jadeja has had continuous backing (irrespective of his performance) of a certain MS Dhoni (similar to here in CSK team) so till he was captain there was no chance of anyone else even getting a look in ..."

18.6
1
Morris to Dhoni, 1 run, low full toss wide outside off, carted straight to deep extra

This close to finishing off tidily. Now Morris has to bowl a free-hit to Dhoni.

18.6
7nb
Morris to Dhoni, (no ball) SIX, beamer goes for six! Morris apologizes to the batsman and then asks the dugout for a towel. Oh boy. Straight up at the shoulder. Dhoni is trying to get out of the way, swipes one handed and manages to get it over the fine leg boundary

Stays around the wicket

18.5
1
Morris to Rayudu, 1 run, high before plopping into the turf well in front of long-on. Slower ball hits the toe-end as he looks for another slog
18.4
4
Morris to Rayudu, FOUR, speaking of ugly heaves! Rayudu goes for one first ball and it is near perfect. Length at middle, gets it over square leg and beats deep midwicket's slide to the right
18.3
W
Morris to Jadeja, OUT, Morris dupes Jadeja and Morris completes the job! And then he chucks the ball into the ground in frustration. Hasn't been a great season so far and you can see it in his reaction. A top ball though. Offcutter, dipping on Jadeja who would have been thrown out of the nets 10 years ago for attempting this filthy heave into the leg side. It was on though, and it was coming off for him today. Just not this time. Cuts away from a length on off stump, he loses his shape, gets a top edge. Morris runs to his left and holds on at midwicket with a slide to keep his balance

RA Jadeja c & b Morris 25 (22m 10b 2x4 2x6) SR: 250

Stays around the wicket

18.2
1
Morris to Dhoni, 1 run, low full toss pushed wide outside off. Scythed out to deep extra cover

Around the wicket

18.1
4
Morris to Dhoni, FOUR, starts poorly again. Overpitched on the pads. Fine leg and square leg are in the circle. Guess where this goes? Right between those two, off the thick inside edge. Dhoni just had to swing hard at this

END OF OVER:
18 | 14 Runs | CSK: 140/3 | RR: 7.77

  • Ravindra Jadeja25 (9b)
  • MS Dhoni13 (12b)
  • Trent Boult3-0-16-0
  • Chris Morris3-0-29-0

Pranav Suri: "@Jai: Don't forget Jadeja's 3rd Dimension -- fielding!!! Arguably the best in the world currently. "

17.6
6
Boult to Jadeja, SIX, pumps it high over long-on! Got right under that! All elevation. Overpitched on middle stump, gets the front leg out of the way and the back leg collapses a little to get flex in the knee. This means a big, big swinging arc from underneath the ball. It dips inwards just a touch and that adds to Jadeja's flourish because this goes off the inside part of the bat. Well over the fielder.

Stuart: "Delhi had a nightmare picking Morris. Him and Rutherfords expensive overs mean CSK have more than enough runs already with 2 full overs to go " --- Got to admit it pains me a little to see Morris struggle. Those persistent injuries took away his peak...

17.5
1
Boult to Dhoni, 1 run, slower bouncer. In control this time, Dhoni, but he can't do more than gently pat this to short fine's right
17.4
1
Boult to Jadeja, 1 run, full on middle stump, driven down to long-on

Jai: "@ Abhinav Dhar, Axar could not fulfill his potential with the bat which is why he lost his place. Both him and Jadeja are looked upon as allrounders and would lose their place(s) if they fail with the bat in the long run."

17.3
1
Boult to Dhoni, 1 run, slower ball at a length on leg stump, nudged straight to short fine

Back over the wicket

17.2
4
Boult to Dhoni, FOUR, not in full control but enough bat on this hook. Around the wicket from Boult. Cramps him at grille height. Closes his eyes and swings at it. Top edge goes high and wide of short fine

Karthik Mangal : "With Dhoni and Jadeja moved up in order CSK should go for a decent 170+. Good decision to shuffle the batting order as Ambati and Kedhar are very slow this season. The Partnership between these 2 folks is key. Let see what happens..."

17.1
1
Boult to Jadeja, 1 run, sweet connection on this, but it'll be one. Short ball at middle stump, pulled to deep midwicket's left. Dhoni happy with one, sends him back

END OF OVER:
17 | 10 Runs | CSK: 126/3 | RR: 7.41

  • Ravindra Jadeja17 (6b)
  • MS Dhoni7 (9b)
  • Chris Morris3-0-29-0
  • Axar Patel3-0-31-1

Sarah: "One might argue that csk's batting leaves something to be desired, but you can't ever bet against their think tank. "

16.6
1
Morris to Jadeja, 1 run, full and just outside off, driven along the floor to long-off

Abhinav Dhar: "Those last 2 balls do describe Axar's ODI career, don't they? He's done well, but Jadeja has been lucky to be ahead of him."

16.5
4
Morris to Jadeja, FOUR, deft. Smart. Slower ball, short of a length and just outside off. Jadeja has picked it. Allows it to skid on and dabs it fine of short third man
16.4
1
Morris to Dhoni, 1 run, length and in at middle stump, driven off the low part of the bat, down to long-on
16.3
4
Morris to Dhoni, FOUR, short, up at middle stump. Dhoni gets his weight onto the back foot and pulls from above the line of the ball. Might have been an offcutter too

Jeyenth: "Not taking anything away from CSK, but other teams do play into CSK's hands most times. Bowling Axar against someone who specifically walked in to tonk him seems like a tactical blunder. " --- Axar nearly got him twice though, so I don't know about that

16.2
0
Morris to Dhoni, no run, length ball sticks in the pitch as Dhoni gets on the back foot and stabs it back to the bowler

DC 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4S DhawanPP Shaw
2nd48S DhawanSS Iyer
3rd11SS IyerRR Pant
4th3CA IngramSS Iyer
5th15AR PatelSS Iyer
6th2SS IyerSE Rutherford
7th1CH MorrisSS Iyer
8th1J SuchithSS Iyer
9th7A MishraJ Suchith
10th7A MishraTA Boult