Chennai Super Kings’s cement-like grip at the top of the table was shaken a bit from unexpected quarters when Delhi Daredevils, second from the bottom, beat them by six wickets. Delhi bowlers, led by Zaheer Khan’s 2-9 effort, stifled Chennai to 119 before Shreyas Iyer (70) took them to a fifth win this season.
Chasing 120, Delhi reached the target fairly comfortably in 16.4 overs with 20 balls to spare.
The win was Delhi’s fifth in what has been a disappointing campaign for them. They improved to 10 points after 13 matches but remained at the seventh spot in the standings. Chennai too retained their summit spot with 16 points from 13 matches.
Delhi floundered initially while chasing the modest target losing South African duo of Quinton de Kock (3) and skipper Jean Paul Duminy (6) in a space of 10 deliveries to be reduced to 24 for two in the fifth over.
But opener Shreyas Iyer (70 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (32) steadied the Daredevils innings, forging a 69-run third-wicket partnership to guide them towards the target.
Earlier, Delhi’s opening bowlers, spinner Shahbaz Nadeem (4-1-18-0) and Zaheer (4-1-9-2) bowled an impeccable line and length in the first few overs, giving away just 16 runs in the first six overs, the lowest in this IPL.
MS Dhoni bemoaned the fact that the team never got going after that in the post-match presentation. “We got off to a horrible start. We got under 20 in the first six and from there it was difficult,” Dhoni said.
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